Oklahoma Republicans Against Indians as mascots bill - Say Names aren't Insulting

Native American activist leaders say they are “disappointed” that an Oklahoma lawmaker has come out in opposition to a bill that would ban the use of some Indian mascots. Oklahoma State Senator Judy Eason McIntyre, a Democrat from District 11, said that the legislation, SB 567, was necessary because “I realized it is offensive to some people. As an African American I know how hurtful some words can be.” Now State Rep. Mike Reynolds, (R-Oklahoma City), says he thinks the bill is taking “political correctness too far.” “Words once meant as terms of honor now seem to be derogatory terms,” said Reynolds. “I think we’re letting political correctness run amok when we start legislating names for football teams.” Acknowledging that the mascot of Tulsa-based Union High School, the Redskin, was one of the driving forces behind McIntyre’s bill, Reynolds said decisions on retaining mascots should not be made at the state level. “This whole process should be dealt with by school boards and not the Oklahoma Legislature,” he said. “If we take this too far, we’ll have to rename the state. Oklahoma means ‘land of the red man.’” Louis Gray, a member of the Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism and a former editor of the Native American Times, has sent Reynolds an e-mail in response. “I felt a great deal of disappointment after reading your release about your opposition to the Mascot bill. It's very unfortunate that you use the glib phrase "political correctness" to address unsavory mascot names like Savages and Redskins,” Gray wrote. “As the main proponent of the bill, let me state that we envision no other legislation to remove other team names. Of course it is beyond unthinkable to believe we also want to change the name of the state. I hope this is not the plan of those who don't see Indian people as equals, to scare good citizens. We remain hopeful that you can retain a level of intellectual open-mindedness. I believe a wise leader can change his mind, a lesser mind never will.” [more]

• SB 567: Ban Redskins and Savages [more]