I always check the Record Bee online to see what is going on at home, and yes, Lake County will always be home to me. I went to Lucerne Elementary and ULHS. The mascots are animals at both the schools I attended. And, in my current line of work as an enlisted Airman, I hold the rank of Master Sergeant.
What I can”t believe is all the turmoil over the name of Indian. As an enlisted man the highest rank that can be attained is Chief Master Sergeant, the key word being Chief. A rank that very few make, but is held in highest regards from the highest ranking officers to the lowest ranking enlisted members.
In a world with so many uncertainties and so much turmoil, we are fighting over a name? I can see how some may find the name Indians offensive and how others see the name with nothing but pride. For a people who were slaughtered and had all of their rights and traditions taken away from them I can”t say sorry enough, or in a way that can make up for the atrocities committed against all Native Americans.
A name like the Indians is proud and strong and should not be taken in a derogatory way. I believe it is a people seeing the wrongs of the past and trying to show a proud culture that we respect them and we are trying to honor them. I do believe that the school having the name Indians was not intended to do anything other than instill pride in the students.
Pride ? something that all Native Americans had and have regained ? a strong warrior spirit that kept them fighting for what they believed in no matter what the odds. They fought for freedom and their own way of life, to be able to practice religion, carry on with their traditions, and protect the land that provided for them.
My heritage is Irish and Native American ? very little Native American ? but I am proud of it. I would love to see a Native American president in my lifetime. I would rather the school systems teach a native American dialect over any other foreign language, but most of all I would like the people of Kelseyville to come to a mutual agreement on a suitable name for the school and would hope that someone can see the fact that the Indians is a name to be proud of. I view the name in the highest of regards and would consider it an honor to be called the Indians, the first and most noble people of this continent.
Michael A. Dunn
Meridian, Idaho
