Dear Mr. Keillor - I can understand your desire to become careless and of course your origins will inform how you use words. Respectfully as an American from India I applaud a more nuanced use of the word Indian. Your "Indian" friend may not use "Native American" to describe himself, but I find it quite confusing and irritating to be asked "which tribe" when I tell folk in the mid-west that I am Indian. Let's see if we can correct the silly mistake Columbus made, shall we?
Mr. Keillor - Names are peculiar indeed. Here, the local liberal arts college's mascot is known as the Green Terror. An interesting choice, as their sports teams' records and reputation, at least in recent years, has been anything but terrifying. The former Western Maryland College, they found it necessary for marketing purposes to change the name of the college to McDaniel a couple decades ago. Yes, what's in a name? Apparently nothing.
I remember being in first or second grade in northern Wisconsin, during recess everyone wanted to play cowboys and Indians. Of course I was designated and Indian as well as a John who was an actual Indian. John wanted to be a cowboy so bad he broke down crying nothing my "little mind" could think of or say to help him. Even now I have no words to tell him it is okay to be an Indian to be a proud Indian. Words can hurt.
Nice poem, but shouldn't photosynthesis be photosynthesesis? Rhymes better, don't you think? I don't believe that's actually a word, but - poetic license. As for St. Paul becoming East Minneapolis? Never! I would much prefer South Roseville, a much prettier name.
Well- my opinion should be the only one that matters- and I not only agree with everything you said in this column, but I think you are brilliant- but of course I think I am, too. (Or should I have said "also". Now I am torn!)
I imagine the young Keillor was of the Mississippi River Mohican tribe (Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore) running along its banks. Brave and strong you were able to read the land and know its nature. Capable and proud, you were part of this great land and it was part of you. I had similar aspirations when I was a young boy in Michigan along the Great Lakes with its great natural history. In school we learned about the tribes of our area, the Ottawa tribes were always of interest to me.
Mr. Keillor, at 88 years old I'm so glad to read this column, in order to find out that there is still sanity living in the liberal orbit you and I live in! I always thought using the name "Indians" was a compliment.
Well, the team names “Indian” and “Redskin” would probably be acceptable in a world where we also had “Washington Whiteskins, St. Louis Chinks, and San Diego Holy Rollers.” It's a tough world where we always have to be mindful of others, but as a fellow “Old Guy” I try to keep up. Always enjoy your essays. Mike Clay
I love that Unification poem! To me, it seems to sing of the way that human beings are a part of everything else, not isolated from the rest of the world somehow. In customary scientific thinking, "ecology" seems to be something that exists only in the "non-human world - outside the all-seeing observer. But, here it is in this poem! "Nothing in nature stands apart; All things rendezvous!"
Dear Mr. Keillor - I can understand your desire to become careless and of course your origins will inform how you use words. Respectfully as an American from India I applaud a more nuanced use of the word Indian. Your "Indian" friend may not use "Native American" to describe himself, but I find it quite confusing and irritating to be asked "which tribe" when I tell folk in the mid-west that I am Indian. Let's see if we can correct the silly mistake Columbus made, shall we?
Mr. Keillor - Names are peculiar indeed. Here, the local liberal arts college's mascot is known as the Green Terror. An interesting choice, as their sports teams' records and reputation, at least in recent years, has been anything but terrifying. The former Western Maryland College, they found it necessary for marketing purposes to change the name of the college to McDaniel a couple decades ago. Yes, what's in a name? Apparently nothing.
Loved the poem!
Such a lovely, lovely poem. Made my morning!
I remember being in first or second grade in northern Wisconsin, during recess everyone wanted to play cowboys and Indians. Of course I was designated and Indian as well as a John who was an actual Indian. John wanted to be a cowboy so bad he broke down crying nothing my "little mind" could think of or say to help him. Even now I have no words to tell him it is okay to be an Indian to be a proud Indian. Words can hurt.
Nice poem, but shouldn't photosynthesis be photosynthesesis? Rhymes better, don't you think? I don't believe that's actually a word, but - poetic license. As for St. Paul becoming East Minneapolis? Never! I would much prefer South Roseville, a much prettier name.
Well- my opinion should be the only one that matters- and I not only agree with everything you said in this column, but I think you are brilliant- but of course I think I am, too. (Or should I have said "also". Now I am torn!)
Dear Mr. Keillor - I am a retired Episcopal priest. The parish that presumed to preapprove my sermons would be told to bark up another tree.
Steven Bestejust now
I imagine the young Keillor was of the Mississippi River Mohican tribe (Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore) running along its banks. Brave and strong you were able to read the land and know its nature. Capable and proud, you were part of this great land and it was part of you. I had similar aspirations when I was a young boy in Michigan along the Great Lakes with its great natural history. In school we learned about the tribes of our area, the Ottawa tribes were always of interest to me.
ReplyDelete
I've been lonely as a cloud...wordsworthian:-). Loved the poem. Thanks.
I think all these teams should be named with just the letter of the alphabet. Pick one....eg Boston Z's, Cleveland G's, Washington O's etc.
An old (2014) blog of mine: What's In A Name : https://thebickerstaffblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/whats-in-name.html
Mr. Keillor, at 88 years old I'm so glad to read this column, in order to find out that there is still sanity living in the liberal orbit you and I live in! I always thought using the name "Indians" was a compliment.
Well, the team names “Indian” and “Redskin” would probably be acceptable in a world where we also had “Washington Whiteskins, St. Louis Chinks, and San Diego Holy Rollers.” It's a tough world where we always have to be mindful of others, but as a fellow “Old Guy” I try to keep up. Always enjoy your essays. Mike Clay
I love that Unification poem! To me, it seems to sing of the way that human beings are a part of everything else, not isolated from the rest of the world somehow. In customary scientific thinking, "ecology" seems to be something that exists only in the "non-human world - outside the all-seeing observer. But, here it is in this poem! "Nothing in nature stands apart; All things rendezvous!"
But … do you “fellowship,” verbly speaking🤔?
The very best nickname is “the Pickles,” at the UNC School of the Arts. Go, Pickles!