According to the local rag, the Peru High School athletic teams will no longer be referred to as the "Indians". At Tuesday's school board meeting, the board voted to remove any mention of native Americans from any business having to do with the district. Of course there was a predictable backlash against the decision by many alumni who argue the mascot is a sign of "respect".
While I can see both sides of this issue, ultimately i have to agree with those who feel we need to remove racially insensitive nicknames involving native Americans and other minorities from sports teams at all levels, from professional teams to Pop Warner leagues involving 7 and 8 year old children. Perhaps if we had treated natives with the respect they deserved when we first encountered them, we might have had a better claim to use their images and names for our sports teams.
In the meantime, Peru will have to look for another nickname. The school's colors are blue and white. As a proud alumnus of Center Moriches High School, home of the Red Devils, I would suggest they borrow the moniker of Duke University and become the Blue Devils. Feel free to offer more suggestions in the comments section.
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