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"Squaw"king over a peak
Jewish World Review ^ | 4/22/03 | Marianne M. Jennings

Posted on 04/22/2003 1:04:15 PM PDT by Caleb1411

Arizona has a budget crisis. One-sixth of its population is registered for its free health care program. Illegal immigrants inundate its emergency rooms and congregate in clumps along streets and sidewalks, untouchable by law enforcement officials immersed in cultural sensitivity training and harassed as defendants in profiling lawsuits.

But, Gov. Janet Napolitano is a woman of action. Responding to the fiscal and social crises, she did what any chief executive would. She convened an emergency meeting of the Arizona State Board of Geographic and Historic Names. The Gov asked that the offensive name of Squaw Peak, a Phoenix mountain, and its nearby Squaw Peak Parkway, be changed to Piestewa Peak and Piestewa Parkway, respectively. Double-takes at the signage and stuttering pronunciations among traffic helicopter jocks should do wonders for traffic flow.

Army Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, a Hopi and mother of two young children, was killed in the war in Iraq, thus becoming the first Native American woman to die in combat (although her mother's maiden name is Baca and she is from Mexico). The Gov wanted "squaw" out and female, particularly voting-block female, glory, laud and honor in. As the Board met to bestow honors on Piestewa, the family of Lance Cpl. Michael Williams, who also died in battle in Iraq, quietly laid their fallen son to rest. Arizona launched the nation's first affirmative action program for naming landmarks.

Like all affirmative action programs, the Board's name change ran roughshod over law and policies. Both the U.S. Board of Geographic Names and state boards require that changes in honor of a person be proposed AFTER the person has been deceased for 5 years. To stop heat-of-emotion naming, these boards have, for 100 years, adhered to the five-year wait. Even Barry Goldwater's ghost had to sit it out until we named just about everything after him. The new AA Piestewa standard is about thirty-two days.

When the chairman of the state board, Tim Norton, reappointed in January by Gov. Napolitano for another five-year term, pointed out the five-year rule to his demanding governor, she suggested that he resign. He didn't, but he also didn't go to the meeting. Richard Pinkerton, a member of the board for 19 years resigned prior to the meeting. A portion of his letter read, "[t]here have been implied threats from within the board's membership that I should sacrifice and prostitute my integrity in the interest of satisfying a particular political leaning."

With Pinkerton out, and the chairman not in attendance, there remained only the sycophants of state government, trembling in their French Shriners. One public member of the Board, and the representative from the Arizona Historical Society, my friend, Lloyd Clark, weathered the meeting and rose to defend the rule of law. A near-octogenarian, this life-long fan of Casa Blanca knows more about Arizona names, sites and history than the Gila monsters. He has a love of everything Arizona from Penny's Pies at the Rock Springs Café to the true origins of the name of Bumble Bee, Arizona.

Lloyd asked the same questions he would ask at any hearing. To the mayor of Phoenix, "Did the city council approve this?" Nope. To a member of the county board of supervisors, "Did the board endorse this?" Nope. To the head of the Arizona Department of Transportation, "Did your board approve this?" Nope, but they'll ratify it at the next meeting. The usual suspects were rounded up, but had nothing to offer. They came without endorsements.

The five-year waiting period and approval requirements from all affected government agencies and units are wise restraints. Emotion takes a break. Consensus builds. If you don't think waiting to name things is a good plan, talk to the folks at Seton Hall University. They've got one building named after Dennis Kozlowski, the indicted former CEO of Tyco, and another building named after Tyco board member, Frank Walsh, who entered a felony guilty plea. Name in haste; repent for five to ten years, depending on the federal sentencing guidelines.

Democrats have a lot of the Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton paparazzi blood in them. They cannot resist a media blitz designed to gain votes via help for the downtrodden. In the Democrat minds of Janet Napolitano and others, all minorities are downtrodden. All minorities need exceptions to the rules to attain results. The sheer condescension nauseates.

This hasty action derogates the memory of Pfc. Piestewa. As a soldier in a company, she would take offense at being singled out for glory. As a soldier in the U.S. Army, she would protest the disregard of rules. As a patriot she would note that she gave her life in a battle against imperialism in Iraq only to be "honored" by imperialists who wave the rules and impose their will on the people. What an unfitting tribute to an honorable soldier.

Political correctness and fear of accusations of racism have not allowed us to remember that she was, first and foremost, a soldier with their values, their honor, and, most importantly, their rules. Forgive them, Lori Ann, their abrogation of duty lost sight of what you stood for. Five years from now, they would have seen all of this and honored you forthrightly. Emotion got in the way. That and an imperialist governor with obsequious servants at her footstool.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Government; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: loripiestewa; squawpeak
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1 posted on 04/22/2003 1:04:15 PM PDT by Caleb1411
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To: Caleb1411
Sorry, I'm a conservative. I'm also an Indian. "Squaw" is a word that means female genitalia and has been such a source of humiliation in the Indian people for years. Anyone who would oppose this name change is on the wrong side of the issue and it bothers me that republicans continually fall into these embarrassing traps by their knee-jerk reaction to oppose these kinds of name changes. I worked my ass off last election cycle trying to convince Indians to vote republican, and that the racist tag is an old stereotype invented by the democrats. Republicans and conservatives who oppose this sort of no-brainer issue make my task a hell of a lot more difficult.

2 posted on 04/22/2003 1:13:49 PM PDT by MNnice
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To: Caleb1411
I am not convinced that the name squaw is offensive beyond deliberate misrepresentations of its origin.

But I may be in the minority in that I do not see a compelling reason to name the peak after this woman. I am sorry for her family's loss, and grateful for her sacrifice. But her loss is no greater than that of any of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died for our country. Singling her out for such an honor is simply a cheap political ploy to capitalize on the death of a soldier.
3 posted on 04/22/2003 1:14:07 PM PDT by sharktrager
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To: MNnice
Actually, the story that squaw means a certain body part is untrue. The word in question is a Mohawk word, while squaw was not actually derived from the Mohawk nation.

The legitimate linguists trace the entemology to a word meaning young girl.

It is political interests who have spread the story that you are referring to, not linguists.
4 posted on 04/22/2003 1:15:58 PM PDT by sharktrager
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To: MNnice
Here is an interesting article from a Cherokee woman who takes issue with your definition.
5 posted on 04/22/2003 1:18:15 PM PDT by sharktrager
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To: Caleb1411
I love Marianne Jennings! She's hilarious and usually hits the nail right on the head. I miss reading her column in Mesa's paper. Glad to see her column is available online.
6 posted on 04/22/2003 1:18:25 PM PDT by Luna (Evil will not triumph...God is at the helm)
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To: MNnice
"Squaw" is a word that means female genitalia and has been such a source of humiliation in the Indian people for years.

No, it isn't. That's a revisionist lie from the "deconstructionalist" crowd. It is an Algonquin word which means "young woman."

7 posted on 04/22/2003 1:20:02 PM PDT by B Knotts
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To: sharktrager
The legitimate linguists trace the entemology to a word meaning young girl.

I am 65 years old, and until a couple of years ago, had never heard that "Squaw" meant a woman's genitalia. I'll bet this is another made up "fact" by liberals to get a minotiry group fired up.

8 posted on 04/22/2003 1:22:09 PM PDT by saminfl
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To: saminfl
It is. If you look at the research on the matter, the "genetalia" claim was based on someone noticing that the word for vagina in Mohawk has an ending that remotely sounds like squaw.

Unfortunately for those who prech this, the word is from Algonkwin (sp?), and meant young girl.

Some will say that, regardless of meaning, its usage has been derogatory. But the same could be said of the world "girl" when used to refer to any woman over 18, as well as "boy" for men over 18. Most nouns have at some point been used in a derogatory way by someone somewhere, whether it made sense or not.
9 posted on 04/22/2003 1:27:24 PM PDT by sharktrager
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To: MNnice
You all may be right about the linguist origins, but it doesn't matter. Sheesh. If the Indians I'me trying to convert think it means female genitalia, that's all that matters. I may win the technical argument with them but I would lose their vote regardless. Look, I'm as anti-PC as you can get, but I'm also pragmatic. If you think the republican party can win elections in the future with just white people, just take a look around you next time you go to the mall. We have to start getting people of other races to vote for us and you start by giving them little issues like this one. Opposing this name change when 4 million Indians are for it on an emotional level, isn't going to win you many converts on the other issues.
10 posted on 04/22/2003 1:29:20 PM PDT by MNnice
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To: MNnice
If the Indians I'me trying to convert think it means female genitalia, that's all that matters.

Actually, if they don't care about the truth and want to be offended over a lie, I've got to say that matters quite a bit. If the Indians you are trying to convert are that disinterested in facts, they are already a lost cause. Emotional responses are the Left's strong suit. The Right competes on facts.

11 posted on 04/22/2003 1:56:19 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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To: MNnice
This is a cheap politcal ploy, nothing more, nothing less. I deeply regret her and others taking a wrong turn and getting and killed, but to go to these PC lengths is also regretable.

If you and other Indians wanted to change the name of Squaw peak after a true Arizona Indian hero, why did you not fight to have it renamed after Ira Hayes, he was a true hero from Iwo Jima, and more than one in PC name only.
12 posted on 04/22/2003 2:06:03 PM PDT by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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To: MNnice
I've also heard that "fanny" is a slang for female genitalia in England, but Americans all run around with fanny packs strapped to their waists. Words come and go, and mean different things to different people.

What can you do?

-PJ

13 posted on 04/22/2003 2:09:33 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (It's not safe yet to vote Democrat.)
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To: MNnice
""Squaw" is a word that means female genitalia and has been such a source of humiliation in the Indian people for years"

I have never seen an authoritative source to confirm this statement. In addition, I have been told by Indians (Apache) that it is NOT true. Please tell me what indian language this term is from.

14 posted on 04/22/2003 2:10:15 PM PDT by lawdude
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To: Caleb1411
This hasty action derogates the memory of Pfc. Piestewa. As a soldier in a company, she would take offense at being singled out for glory. As a soldier in the U.S. Army, she would protest the disregard of rules. As a patriot she would note that she gave her life in a battle against imperialism in Iraq only to be "honored" by imperialists who wave the rules and impose their will on the people. What an unfitting tribute to an honorable soldier.

I believe that the author meant to use the word waive...

15 posted on 04/22/2003 2:10:44 PM PDT by Andiceman
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To: Andiceman
Nevemind, I mis-read it!

That's what I get for being persnickity...

D'oh!
16 posted on 04/22/2003 2:11:31 PM PDT by Andiceman
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To: Andiceman
Ok, I quit. waive, wave, whatever
17 posted on 04/22/2003 2:12:17 PM PDT by Andiceman
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To: MNnice
Personally, I could care less about the term or the current name of that mountain. Change it, keep it, it doesn't matter to me.

What does matter to me is the memory of this soldier. If this peak is the only one that can be named for her, fine, do it. If another is available, fine, do it. But it was unseemly to put this up for political considerations and its unseemly to oppose it for political considerations. Waive the 5 year rule, find another peak or use that one, just do it.
18 posted on 04/22/2003 2:16:17 PM PDT by Arkinsaw
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To: Caleb1411
What next in the PC warped brains agenda?

Time to change the name of the "Grand Tetons" Mountains in Wyoming? After all, in French the name means what so many males admire, large breasts. Now that is the PC French translation, the trappers used the name in the same context as us Bubbas do today.
19 posted on 04/22/2003 2:21:00 PM PDT by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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To: Question_Assumptions; MNnice
Amen! The Democrat Party is being replaced by the Republicans as a majority party for two reasons (IMHO):

1) The 'Rats have lost control of their extremists, while Pubbies have visably marginalized theirs. Recall the "don't let the door hit ya'" attitude when Buchanan stalked off, compared to the 'Rats kneejerk shielding of even the most extreme socialists.

2) Generally speaking the Republicans build their coalition around their ideology while the Democrats do exactly the opposite, and because their coalition is riven with mutual conflicts of interest, the 'Rats cannot therefore govern with a coherent and effect orchestration of policy, nor, because of reason number one, would the public trust them to do so.

I appreciate your efforts, MNnice, but they are quixotic if they only make us like the 'Rats. In the end we will get more votes from respect for honesty and consistency than from pandering.

20 posted on 04/22/2003 2:21:23 PM PDT by Stultis
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