Page 6
Foster a better understanding
Dear Editor,
Hello. In the hopes of fostering a better
understanding between the Native
American population and the mainstream
culture of Erie County and Behrend
College, I am requesting that your news
department consider standardizing the
ethnic description your staff uses in
describing the indigenous population of
the western hemisphere in news reports
and stories.
In the 504 years since the Columbus
encounter. aboriginal citizens of the
Americas have had to combat stereotypical
racism which has its historical roots in the
erroneous survey of the Native American
people whom Columbus enc o untered.
After determining that these peaceful
natives were not of the Muslim faith,
Columbus assumed that he had made his
way to the subcontinent of India and had
met up with Hindu citizens, hence the
term "Los indios" from where the
misleading term "Indians" originates.
Although the error was discovered
relatively soon after Columbus returned to
Europe, the damage was already done and
the stereotypes established.
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Approaching this subject from a
different, but equally important angle, I
would also like to request the
consideration of your sports department
staff writers from refraining the using of
the description of racially intolerant nick
names such as and including: the
Washington Redskins, the Kansas City
Chiefs, the Atlanta Braves and especially
the Cleveland Indians. By flowing the
precedent of a number of Oregon
newspapers which now refer to those
teams as the Washington DC NFL team,
the Kansas city professional football team,
the Atlanta National League baseball
team, and the Cleveland professional
baseball team, clarity of sports reporting
can be maintained without confusion.
This nickname ban also extends to
offensive college team nick-names, as well
as league standings and transaction ledgers.
This unprecedented move not only did not
hurt newsstand sales, it attracted many
accolades for the media owners and staff.
Please consider standardizing the future
references to western hemisphere
indigenous citizens to the legitimate
cultural term, Native Americans, as well
as any specific tribal nation identity. Due
to the increasing prevalence of news
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reports being utilized in a number of
academic classroom settings for current
events awareness, the historical accuracy
would be greatly appreciated.
Also, in this time of fiscal
conservativeness and the budget cutting of
redundant expenses, it is ludicrous to have
to re-educate our young people and
students in higher education to the
legitimacy of Native American land claims
in the western hemisphere, when respected
news venues such as yours could
progressively correct the longest standing
American historical inaccuracy through
editorial control. Thank you for your
concern.
If anyone would like any further
information regarding this matter, please
feel free to contact me at (814) 459-0907.
Cordially yours,
Charles J. Kader
Native American Journalists
Association
(Mohawk Nation)
~." 14
Thursday, March 28, 1996
The Bed rend College
Collegian
Published weekly by the students
of
The Pinnsylvania State University
•E The .fire .
Editor In Mei
Jennifer V. Cc&lin
Business Manager
Jennifer Heilman
News Editor
Danielle Muy
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Siffnerfklu E d itor
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tiregory a
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