URL: https://www.indianz.com/News/archives/002772.asp

Monday, December 1, 2003

"I confess I don't understand why some Native Americans are so irate about the [YMCA] Indian Princesses. Considering some of the injustices in their past, I'd think they have bigger palefaces to scalp than suburban dads in headdresses.

But I have tried to look at it from their point of view. Ethnic stereotypes can be offensive, certainly. For instance: I am predominantly Polish-Irish. The Polish, you may have heard, are not considered to be particularly intelligent. And the Irish -- at least at Notre Dame -- are represented by a short, angular, angry cartoon leprechaun. None of this is exactly flattering.

But these generalities have never bothered me. I know who I am, and I don't see how a dumb joke -- or a losing football team -- can diminish that."

Get the Story:
Paige Wiser: The Princess and the peeve (The Chicago Sun-Times 12/1)

Relevant Links:
YMCA Indian Guide Story - http://www.yindianguides.org/ighistory.htm
YMCA Indian Guides - http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Social_Organizations/
YMCA/Indian_Guides_and_Princesses
YMCA - http://www.ymca.net/index.jsp

Related Stories:
YMCA Indian Guides program gets total makeover (09/18)
Column: Critics wrong about YMCA Indian Princesses (9/12)
YMCA drops Indian 'guide' and 'princess' program (04/28)
YMCA makes changes to 'Indian' program (10/03)
YMCA looks at 'Indian Guide' program (5/1)

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