Dispute Over Names for Team Mascots

A San Diego State University student laments over the choice of an Aztec warrior as the new mascot for her school (Dec. 12). She concludes that people of color must now be officially considered “subhuman mascots.” I fail to understand how attempting to portray a more historically accurate figure equates with relegating a group of people to the level of subhuman.

Is it possible for only those who are not Caucasian to be offended by being portrayed as mascots? What about the Dallas Cowboys? Shouldn’t we consider that name suggestive of anti-wranglerism? And the Pittsburgh Pirates? Shouldn’t we be worried about how buccaneers’ sensitivities might be affected? Our society has gone completely overboard in wanting to avoid even the slightest possibility of hurt feelings. Perhaps we should name all school and professional teams after flowers. Then again, we might be charged with anti-florism.

Marianne Pesci

Downey