LETTERS: INDIAN NAMES ARE SOURCE OF PRIDE

To the editor:

Every once in awhile, something comes up that reminds a person of his ancestral heritage, and I wonder if the same incident might perhaps remind someone else of the same. Let me explain. Several years ago Cape Girardeau names two of the city parks. One was named Cherokee and the other Shawnee. More recently, the suggestion to name the new Highway 74 from the bridge the Shawnee Parkway was adopted. Also, Southeast Missouri State University has had concern over the mascot for the Indians. I am sure you have already guessed that I have some Indian heritage. My background is Shawnee.

The Cherokee are often thought of in terms of the Trail of Tears. However, the Shawnee have taken their place in history also. It is strictly my opinion that when we name our parks and our parkways and our team mascots after the Indians, it serves as a reminder that there is a contribution made by people who lived on the soil of the Americas in the past. They not only fought on this soil, but died on it also. They died for the same reasons that we honor our veterans. They fought for life, liberty and happiness. I guess that is why it does not bother me to name the university mascot after the Indians. True, there were atrocities that took place on both sides. That usually happens when fear replaces understanding. The fighting Indians can be viewed as positive as well as negative, depending on which side you are viewing things from. From my perspective, even though I have often laughed about the amount of Indian blood that I have and have said if I pricked my finer I might lose it, I think of it as positive.

The purpose of this letter is just to say thank you to the person or persons responsible for reminding us there were at one time Indians on this land of ours and for naming the city park and parkway after the Shawnee Indians.

ELIZABETH G. JUNG

Cape Girardeau