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Show HERALD DAILY Friday, May 30, 2008 Ed AS TORIALS EDITORIAL BOARD Craig Dennis. President & Publisher Randy Wright, Executive Editor Jim Tynen, Editorial Page Editor HERALD POLL Don't rename Squaw Peak tahns might want to resist the growing pressure to drop the word "squaw" from place names and landmarks. The recent drive to do so owes more to a misguided sense of political correctness than to any real sensitivity toward American Indians. In fact, a pretty good case can be made that dropping such references would, in most cases, be more harmful than helpful. Around the country, place names with "squaw" in them are being changed on the false assumption that the word is derogatory, even obscene. So far this year, the U.S. Board on Geograph22 loca- ic Names has tions to cut "squaw" from their titles. And more such changes are on the panel's o list. The board is a federal body created in 1890 that falls under the purview of the U.S. Geological to-d- What do you think? Should Utah change the names of places and landmarks to remove the word "squaw"? Send your comments to dhpollsheraldex-tra.coor call Please leave your name, hometown and phone number with your comments. comments should not exceed 100 words; voice-macomments should be no longer than 30 seconds. Anonymous and unverifiable responses will not be published. 344-294- il I MUKIIOK also register your opinion at our home page at You can heraldextra.com. The Daily Herald will publish results on June 8. GUEST OPINION Survey. The most noteworthy recent change came in Phoenix. Squaw Peak was renamed Piestewa Peak, in honor of Lori Piestewa, soldier killed in a Iraq. While honoring a soldier is a worthy goal, the movement may have gotten out of hand. Nine states have acted to strike "squaw" from place names. With more than 900 places nationally that have "squaw" in their names, activists have their work cut out for them. They offense at the Sleeping Maiden, whose upturned body forms the crest of Mount Timpanogos, which was named for a local Ute Indian tribe. They could say, for example, that the word "maiden" has sexist overtones, and so the old legend of love between an Indian girl and a warrior should be expunged. It is true that "squaw" can be used in a derogatory way. But so can almost any word. Try saying "I love you" with a sneer and a encounter resistance regularly the Squaw Valley ski resort, condescending tone and see if the literal meaning remains intact. Of site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, for example, which has fended off course it doesn't. In this light we note that demands to change. So far the drive has had little "squaw" denotes a woman nothing more. "Squaw" with a impact in Utah, but news reports indicate there is some pressure to sneer, however, can be an insult. This is no argument for banning change the names of up to three the word. Try sneering the word dozen sites Utah County's "woman" or "Mazda" or "prophSquaw Peak being the most promet" and you'll see how an individinent. For the uninitiated, Squaw ual speaker can give offense with Peak is the tip of the prominent cliff rising on the north side of virtually any benign term. Rock Canyon. There is absolutely no controlThe first reason to resist the ling this phenomenon, no way to drive to abolish "squaw" is that it ensure that nobody ever speaks is based on a falsehood the nooffensively. And with that it's tion that the word originated as a easy to see the folly of attempts derogatory reference to an Indian to regulate terminology. The woman. In truth it is derived from meaning of words derives from an Algonquian root word original- context, not from the words themselves a point the U.S. Board on ly rendered as "sqwa" or "squa," meaning "woman," and it is used Geographic Names should note. In fact, to expunge a perfectly in many words in the original useful word is to surrender to biglanguages. For example, otry. The better way is to reclaim "English squaw" the word for civil discourse. means an Englishwoman; But this brings up the central means female friend; and "sunksquaw" means "queen" point for Utah Valley: Nobody sneers the name "Squaw Peak" or "lady." There are many other related words, all tied closely to why would they? So far as we the culture of the tribes. know, the name has never been used uncivilly. The peak was origEven some of today's Native .Americans point out that many of inally named to honor a woman, these Eastern tribes use "squaw" not to denigrate one. in so many ways that it could not Squaw Peak is said to take its possibly have had derogatory con- name from an incident following an 1850 battle between Mormon notation. The word was commonly used by settlers and apparently settlers and Ute Indians led by was widely adopted by other Big Elk. When the chief was slain, many in his band fled into Rock tribes, including the Navajo. The notion that it is insulting Canyon. Big Elk's wife died when she fell off a slippery cliff during seems to be the creation of modern activists. The worst falsehood the winter escape. If anyone were to give the is that it refers to female genitalia. name serious thought, it would be evidence suggests Overwhelming that this claim is based on an egre- a strong reminder of the tragic history of the collision of native gious misunderstanding of another word in an unrelated American and white cultures. That the fallen woman's name is unknown is Indian language, and that controanother poignant reminder of this activists stoked has been by versy sad and violent chapter in Ameritrying to garner support. can history. If nothing else, Utah should Some American Indians say resist the attack on "squaw" bethat attempts to ban cause it arises from a distortion. But skewed arguments and "squaw" are actually a threat to the survival of Indian languages spurious sound bites are par for and culture. When American Indithe course with political correctan place names are erased for the ness. In trying to end slurs, this Inmisguided ideology often ends up sake of a map, a bit more of its impact on our dian and in them. of more history Giving creating nation is erased with them. Utah would only embed another falseand the rest of the nation would hood in language and history. do well to resolve to preserve histhe does one ask, Where, might drive for political correctness stop? tory, not try to airbrush it away. It would be one thing if Recent history shows that it never "squaw" had genuinely offensive does. Even if every "squaw" label roots. But it doesn't. The recent in Utah were changed tomorrow, the priests and priestesses of politi- politically correct effort to ban the cal correctness would, like locusts, word appears to be nothing more du jour of a few only turn to devour the next word than the cause people who seem to enjoy feeling on their list. bad about themselves. Perhaps one day they'll take Hopi-Hispan- New policies needed to reform food aid strategies moving through the world is severe. Josette Sheeran, head of the World Food Program, has called it a "silent e are in the midst of a global tsunami" that threatens every developfood emergency that threatens to push additional millions ing country. She went on to say: "For the middle classes, it means cutting out into starvation. Global pressures and medical care. For those living on $2 imbalances have led to soaring food a day, it means cutting Out meat and prices for cereal staples that the poor the children out of school. For on to survive. taking rely those on $1 a day, it means cutting out For example, in Bangkok, the price meat and vegetables and eating only of rice rose from $460 per metric ton cereals. And for those on 50 cents a on March 3 to $780 five weeks later. In the past we have heard of regional day, it means total disaster." What does all this mean for us in food crises such as in Ethiopia, but this the United States? While immediate time, it is different. Food riots have erupted all around the world including food aid is necessary, this food crisis demands that we take another look in Egypt, Haiti, Indonesia, Mauritania, at the way in which the U.S. provides Mexico, Senegal, Uzbekistan and Ye- men. The causes of this food crisis are foreign food aid. One glaring policy we must examine is that U.S. food aid also new: In addition to the droughts is "tied," which requires recipients to and flooding, political and economic policies that cater to the wealthy at the spend all or some of the aid on purchasing American goods and services. expense of the poor are also to blame. The conversion of cereals into biofuels, In addition, the U.S. insists on shipping commodities rather than providing the shift from local food production into cash crops like coffee and flowers, funds which can purchase local food in trade policies that tolerate food "dump- the recipient countries. This type of direct commodity transfer of food aid is ing" and low investment in small-scal- e agriculture have culminated in the cur- on average 50 percent more expensive than purchasing food locally and 33 rent crisis. The impact of this wave of food percent more expensive than purchasing food regionally. price increase and food instability Jini L. Roby D00NESBURY . .. I.., .11 SOWtOeNY II THATIOUHm T5 NOW" W T V rrssM- I 0H?7tt tUHATMCUIP J pie pop- - - urn cttmx.1 iou (T5 mm Of wur ULATIOH XIr I Out of touch his family's life. He is with the 145th Field Artillery. He is presently in The 27 May editorial opinion demon- Texas waiting to return home to Spanish Fork, Utah. A few (82) were able strates how the leftist anti-gu- n people are out of touch and have a hard time to return home on Memorial Day. Two more groups are able to return home dealing with hard facts. Most of us here in Utah are believers in the theory tomorrow, May 29th, but the other two groups have been delayed because of mathematics, but not all. of the president flying in to raise monResidents and 12,075 14,290 Calling ey for the Republican party. (26,365) "nearly 40,000 our guys What is more important permits" is like calling 150,000 a "Million Man March". The real issue is, putting their lives on the line to make our country safe or more political when will the left start demanding or of for freedom the projects? There are 160 men press permits and women who have been away from the right to be secure from unlawful their families, putting up with dangersearch? i David Adamson, ous situations, missing their families American Fork and sacrificing for over one year and now have to wait to get home. I, along with many others, think Wake up, America something could be done to get our On this Memorial Day 2008, 1 am military home when they have been willing to serve for our freedom and grateful to all of the soldiers and citizens who have valiantly defended our country for over one year. I Maurine Canto, country from terrorism at home and abroad since September 11, 2001. 1 am Spanish Fork ashamed of the pacifists, protesters and politicos who have undermined Keeping your balance the efforts of our leaders to preserve It is amazing that individuals who national defense and international get turned down for new credit are security. They deliberately damage the cause of freedom, and then they putting the blame on their bank or accuse our president of being a failure. credit union. Well, it is about time that "Wake up, America!" said Mayor Dan- people take responsibility for their own actions. Six months before you iel at our Pleasant Grove flag ceremoeven think about getting a loan, check ny this morning. I second that motion. I Cynthia L. Hallen, your credit and FICO scores. This will Pleasant Grove give you time to fix any problems, because it can take that long to do so. Have balances on your credit cards to President delays troops' a low amount or paid off in full. homecoming By a low balance, I mean one to five counhis has son been percent of what your line of credit is. serving My loan for try in Iraq. He had to miss his little boy Do not just pay on a vehicle Go at least two a to in months six events other year. and born being many 1.4 percent. As a member of RESULTS, a group of citizen volunteers dedicated to eradicating global hunger and poverty, I urge readers to participate in assisting with the food shortage through their church or civic groups. Further, I urge the members of Congress to think in terms of creating new policies to reform the food aid program to better serve those who look to us in times of food emergencies such as the one we are experiencing. ) Jini L. Roby is an associate professor of social work at Brigham Young University. years, and even better, pay on it for at least four years. Do not be late on any account for any reason. Never tell your creditors that you are too busy to take care of the problem. If you have time to golf, watch movies, etc., then you have time to tend to your responsibilities. I Bob Tackleberry, Orem money-m- How to comment aking OUR. mnk. fwast WW bow ) it 111 non-foo- ts ' lf5 thoughts. You can: Go to www.heraldextra.com and find the "submit a letter" link under the Opinions tab, or under "Reader Services." letters to Fax to Mail 344-298- to dhlettersheral-dextra.co- 5 P.O. Box 717, Provo, UT, 84603 I So letters can be verified, writers must include their full name, address and daytime phone number. (Street addresses and phone numbers will not be published.) I We prefer shorter letters, 100 to 200 words. Letters may be edited for length. I Because of the volume of responses, we cannot acknowledge unpublished letters. I Letters become the property of the Daily Herald. i KMX m THE BACK nn,l,,ni We invite readers to share their Bruce Tinsley MALLARD FILLMORE Garry Trudeau n 50-7- LETTERS "Iglis-monisku- g Further, the requirement that 75 percent of food aid be carried on Ameri0 can ships means percent additional delivery costs. These practices result in long delays of food delivery and 65 percent of food aid being spent d on expenses. In other words, for every dollar we spend on food aid, 65 cents is spent on shipping and other processing costs. In contrast, the European Union has shifted policies so that approximately 97 percent of its food aid is locally or regionally procured, compared to the U.S. rate of . l i . . .. .. I A ,S I hJt W7 MWA.... |