Letter to the editor: Native American team names not intended to be disrespectful

As is our yearly family tradition, we watch both the Rose Bowl Parade and all the football games on New Year's Day. One of the Rose Bowl Parade bands was the Waukee Warrior High School Marching Band, which made the trip from Iowa. They were outstanding, but what made the unit especially interesting to me was its name and school mascot. Waukee is, in fact, an Indian/Native American word, and "warriors" traditionally are associated with warring tribes that one might find in Scotland or even our own United States of America.

Being from Northeast Ohio, where we have been subjected to more of those people who find the need to be "politically correct," we have forever, it seems, lost our Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland Guardians even though others in this great country feel that they are honoring their Native American heritage by sending the local high school band to the most-revered parade in the country. I find this interesting.

It seems to me that the few who constantly clamor for these kinds of changes may want to consider that not everyone feels the same. It certainly is not a sign of disrespect to tout our local Northwest Indians or the Tuslaw Mustangs who also hail from the Great Plains of America. My own family has a fascinating collection of arrowheads that once belonged to some of the local tribes; these were found on our family farm when the earth was turned over each spring to plant the new crops. It's all about perspective.

Naming a team or a high school using a Native American word is not intended to be disrespectful. There are those who may see it that way, but I for one do not. Just an opinion, of course.

— Phyllis J. Staver, Tuscarawas Township

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter: Native American team names not intended to be disrespectful