Tam High reunion invitation brouhaha { Tamalpais High Indians }

MoreMarin.com ^ | 7/28/10 | Pam Gould

[SmithL]

An invitation to a local high school reunion has caused the fur to fly in Marin.

The invite for a class reunion for Tamalpais High School class of 1980, contains images that are offensive-- or at the very least-- insensitive. The invitation in question has a graphic of the now-banned former school name and mascot, the Tamalpais High Indians. In addition, an old image of a flirty Indian maid is also pictured. The mascot was changed to the Red Tailed Hawks in 1990.

The Pacific Sun's Nikki Silverstein mentioned the invite in her Hero and Zero column chastising the senders of the invitation for their insensitivity to Native Americans.

But it didn't end there.

What followed were a torrent of commenters on the Pacific Sun website slamming Silverstein for being too PC in her condemnation. A sample of some of the comments-- "Wow! When did Ms. Silverstein become the annointed moral barometer for Marin?"

"We were the TAMALPAIS INDIANS you and your PC NAZIS, yes nazis, can't change that and if you weren't a TAM INDIAN, why do you care"

"Dear Ms. Silverstein, what is wrong with the country quite frankly is...YOU! You and all the crones that harbor this politically correct agenda that is primarily designed to control people."

Several commenters defend Ms. Silverstein, but they seem to be far fewer. We agree with the detractors in that it's one thing to use the images in a historical context; it's quite another to use them for marketing purposes. But what is really upsetting, are the vitriolic comments aimed at Silverstein.

The story is beginning to make its way into the blogosphere. The reunion takes place at the end of August which means there is enough time for it to really heat up.

[SmithL]

[VeniVidiVici]

I’m sure things like this are happening more frequently since PC has gotten rid of Indian team names.

High School near where I grew up changed their name from Indians to Pansies or something like that. Needless to say on one of their blogs the alumni are none too happy about it and refuse to go with the name change.

[buccaneer81]

Mine changed from the Warriors to the “Thunder” about 10 years ago. Just pathetic.

[Dr. Ursus]

The entire class is banned from our casino!

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

But what is really upsetting, are the vitriolic comments aimed at Silverstein.

Maybe people are just sick and tired of this crap. There comes a point where even the most patient of men will snap and resort to threats and physical violence. We as a nation have been very, very patient with the PC garbage that we have been forced to bear. I think people as a whole are starting to lose patience.

[Blue Devil Reaganite]

Warriors!?!?!?!?

Hasn’t your school thought about how insensitive that name is to the native Warrior turtle of upper Burma? Has your school learned nothing?

Look at how sad he is! It is all your fault! I hope he gets a lawyer!
http://startortoises.net/greek-tortoise.html

[Blue Devil Reaganite]

Thunder!?!?!?!?

Hasn’t your school thought about how insensitive that name is to the native Thunder turtle of upper Burma? Has your school learned nothing?

Look at how sad he is! It is all your fault! I hope he gets a lawyer!
http://startortoises.net/greek-tortoise.html

[fish hawk]

Way up north in California, Del Norte County, which borders the Oregon State line, still calls their sports teams, the Warriors. They have tried to ditch that several times in the past but every time it comes up a large majority of the citizens, including the local Indian Tribes, vote to keep it. I my self, as an American Indian, am not offended by the word “Warrior”. I am proud to be one and if you want to call me “Chief” that is even better. This PC crap is ruining our country. I guess there never was a Civil War as there were no Rebs and no Reb Flag. PC=BS

[BnBlFlag]

“PC=BS”

Amen!

[BenLurkin]

Exterminate the Skraelings.

[Vendome]

I never heard or even knew there Tamalpais Indians.

Of course now that have they are once again relevant.

Then again, if they can’t see this as a PR opportunity and raise awareness of their tribe and its various bands, they are more than welcome to slink back into irrelevancy and be forgotten.

[Vendome]

Warriors would be homage to strength. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with strength?

Did they, in fact, have any warriors?

Maybe they lived in such harmony with nature and their fellow man they never felt a need for a warrior class.

[rfp1234]

Oh, the horror! The hugh manatee!

[VeniVidiVici]

I my self, as an American Indian, am not offended by the word “Warrior”. I am proud to be one and if you want to call me “Chief” that is even better.

That's what I would think but some folks out there just stay pissed-off all of the time.

A few years ago when the NCAA was on the warpath to rid itself of Indian names they of course targeted Florida State. The Seminole Tribe basically told the busybodies at the NCAA to bugger off.

[fish hawk]

As with the Indians in Del Norte County, basically said, if we are not offended why are you so worried about it.

[Bob]

But what is really upsetting, are the vitriolic comments aimed at Silverstein.

Somehow, I don't find them the least bit upsetting. :=) They're certainly well deserved.

[VeniVidiVici]

Thunder? :)

Here is the school I was talking about. Almost missed it.