The following story was published by The Aztlán in the November issue of 1997. We did not publish this story because we agree with the stance it takes, but because it shows that the discussion of political correctness is actually one that has been going on for much longer than we usually think.

Well, my fellow students, the newest indictment has been made in the social witch-hunt known collectively as ‘Political Correctness”. According to a September decision made by some board somewhere, it is now illegal, immoral, and disgusting act of racism to emblazon school property with, or condone the use of Indian (Native American) mascots. Several schools, including perhaps our own, may be forced to change their symbolic namesakes to appease the extreme political left in our midst. Most effected, according to Shel Elrich of the Los Angeles Unified School District will be the Birmingham High School Braves, the University High School Warriors , The Gardena High School Mohicans and the Wilmington Middle School Warriors. If these schools do not comply with the recent legislation, and do not do so by the end of June, they will be penalized by some undisclosed legal ramification.

Am I the only one astonished by this? Not only is this an act of extreme small-mindedness, but also an infringement of our constitutional rights of self-expression. Okay, I’ll admit that Washington fans doing the “Tomahawk Chop” every Monday night is somewhat offensive. Not all tribes used tomahawks. Some had hammers, or slings, or the occasional big-rock-on-a-stick. Nevertheless, I feel that the calculating minds behind this move are raising a furor over a rather unimportant issue, merely for the sake of a few extra tentative votes. Why won’t they just leave us alone? We’re not hurting anyone.

Oh, but we are offending a nation of people. In that case what about the “Fighting Irish” of Notre Dame? I’m an Irish-American and quite frankly, I happen to believe that the image of a pipsqueak, pipe-smoking, boxing LEPRECHAUN is pretty blast demanding. Regardless of my extreme emotional pain and loss of ethnic pride over this obviously RACIST stab at my dignity, no one hears my cries! I don’t see throngs of protesters chaining themselves to the school walls, or charging the field in an act of suicidal act of patriotism. No, of course not, because I, and others like me do not represent enough of a VOTING MARGIN. In summation, this is not justice or civil rights activation. This is a thinly veiled agenda. I don’t know about you, fellow Aztecs, but I don’t feel much like being used today.