Re: Radio Announcer's comments

[Chuckigo@aol.com]

In a message dated 03/04/2000 7:49:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, Dib9@aol.com 
writes:
<< http://www.bangordailynews.net/cgi-bin/article.cfm?storynumber=7186 >>

here's a snip from the article:

"...‘‘Maybe we should name the new dollar coin ‘The Squaw Buck,’ but that 
would cause the Penobscot Nation to camp out on our doorsteps,’’ announcer 
Stu Marckoon said during his early morning show.
Barely three hours later, more than 20 members of the Penobscot and 
Passamaquoddy tribes — mostly women, but a few men, too — gathered at KISS 
radio in Brewer calling for an apology and demanding that Marckoon be 
fired."..."

in defense of Stu, a fine broadcaster and a nice guy, as well, (as evidenced 
by his willingness to apologize as necessary, as quoted in the article), this 
"phrase" was brought up by a caller to John MacDonald's WGAN Saturday show 
two weeks ago. (the idea of calling the new dollar coin a "squawbuck")   just 
out of curiosity, where was the hue and cry and deluge upon the studios of 
Western Avenue in South Portland?  the show Mr. MacDonald hosted was, as 
usual, well rounded with opinions expressed from both sides, including those 
of native Americans.  
     Stu did nothing more than use a word at the wrong time.  currently in 
Maine we are faced with rewriting history by renaming some twenty five 
geographical locations due to the inclusion of the word "squaw", (official 
legislation is pending) and as Stu stated in the article, a month or two ago, 
no one would have raised an eyebrow.
    it's too bad that political correctness now must include instantaneous 
sensitivity training for those of us who speak or write publicly.  
    and in the interest of the arguments that have once again risen irt the 
2nd amendment, the 1st amendment here is now under fire.  Stu was not guilty 
of using any form of hateful speech.  he simply made a connection to a common 
vernacular term for a ten dollar bill and transformed it to a nickname for 
the new one dollar coin.  the issue is that now it ("the word") is offensive. 
 
   am i sensing things of Orwellian proportions?  should i return to work at 
the ministry of truth?  or has the view screen managed to peer from its 
corner perch in the room and scan my every word?   and why did my parents 
name me Winston Smith?  (sarcasm off)
    the issue, at its base, is one of a "hurtful word".  the native American 
people in Maine have said enough is enough in regards to the every day use of 
the word "squaw".  various lexicons define it as a term of derision to native 
American women.  after generations of its common use, the people to whom this 
word is offensive need to allow for a bit of a learning curve; give the 
negative aspects of the term a little more than a month to sink in before 
putting it in a similar category with other, derisive, negative words that 
have long since fallen out of acceptable use.
   hang in there, Stu.  the only thing wrong about the remark was, 
unfortunately, the timing.  had the impetus to use the term come up two 
months ago, the "fallout" would've been nonexistent.  had the topic come up 
five months down the road, the acceptance of the word as a negative would 
have more than likely resulted in the thought being pushed away.
   
- -Chuck Igo