"We Are Not Honored"
According to this article in Indian Country Today Media Network, Robert Roche of the Apache Nation and others protested the use of the image of Cleveland Indian mascot Chief Wahoo just before the season opener at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the banners they displayed read, "WE ARE NOT HONORED."
While I do understand what the American Indian Movement, as exemplified by that banner about honor, is trying to achieve, I am suspicious as to the accuracy of this article. After all, the accused have not been given the opportunity to explain their side of the incident, which is understandable, since Indian Country Today has a built-in bias.
The source of these accusations is Deadspin.
The article mentions that a person named "Rodriguez," along with other Cleveland Indian fans "
allegedly proceeded to taunt Roche and the protesters." While I was not a witness to the described incident, the attitude of confrontation, by its very nature, inevitably brings out the worst in people.
While I do understand what the American Indian Movement, as exemplified by that banner about honor, is trying to achieve, I am suspicious as to the accuracy of this article. After all, the accused have not been given the opportunity to explain their side of the incident, which is understandable, since Indian Country Today has a built-in bias.
The source of these accusations is Deadspin.
Going to this site to check out the accuracy of the information was an eye-opener. First impression was the use of profanity, denigration, and condescending attitude: "shit," "idiot," "fucking up."
The "report" itself was basically the "analysis" of people's thoughts based on photographs. Sure, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but the writer doesn't have any scientific validation to backup his claims. The irony being the closing statement, "There is a lesson here, and that lesson is: For fuck's sake, don't do this." Perhaps better a better lesson would be "Two wrongs don't make a right."
There is nothing objective in Deadspin's report, yet Indian Country Today went ahead and used it as the basis for its article, which casts doubt on the accuracy of other statements.
All of this serves to illustrate in part, why social progress just creeps along, and why Robert Roche was victimized twice.
In the 60's, we were supposed to be entering the Age of Aquarius: love, harmony, and understanding:
"No more falsehoods or derisions"*. * from Aquarius by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot!