MetroWest Daily News
Sunday, March 4, 2007

Let the people decide 'Redmen' fate

Tomorrow night at Wilson Middle School, the School Committee has the opportunity to bow to the pressure of a few and drop the Redman name, or do the right thing by their constituents and stand up for this town and keep the name.

This ridiculous idea came from a ridiculous man named Peter Sanfacon, who is neither Native American, nor lives in Natick. Furthermore, his only connection to Indians is that fact that he watched the movie "Dancing with Wolves" in 1991, which piqued his interest in Indians.

As far as I can tell he has no Indians supporting his cause, only followers like Erin Miller, a 1997 Natick High graduate who officially proposed the name change to the School Committee, who are chronic protesters just looking for a cause. Although feelings are mixed, many Indian tribes look at the name Redmen as a tribute, not an insult.

While discussing this with a friend of mine, he said "As a person of mixed Celtic/Scandinavian heritage, I say get rid of that goofy leprechaun at Notre Dame. It's insulting to me to imply that all Irish are "fighting." Also, get rid of all of those horned helmet/blonde pigtail get-ups at the Minnesota Viking games. It degrades the image of my Norwegian grandfather."

Where does it end? So let's say we do the foolish thing and get rid of this 50-year tradition, what comes next? Do we change the name of the town Natick, because the mall likes the name, and would prefer to have it? And what do we replace Redmen with?

I propose is for the School Committee not bow down to a few radicals who love getting their name in the paper, or what I really think should happen is to put this to a town-wide vote. Let the people decide the fate of the mascot. We most certainly deserve it.

FREDERICK A. VALENS
Natick