LETTERS
Lastly, I would like to apologize to the campus at large. My hastily written article and the attention it garnered has cast a negative light on this publication, the campus, and the city, none of which deserve to be associated with this controversy. CSULB and Long Beach have long been bastions of multiculturalism and a celebration of diversity, and I hope to ultimately contribute positively to this tradition. [Editor’s note: What follows is a number of responses that we recieved in response to the article in question. Preference was given to CSULB students and CSULB alumni.]
To Noah Kelly and the Editors of the Union Weekly, As a CSULB alumna, I was shocked and ashamed to read your article titled “Pow Wow Wow Yippee Yo Yippy Yay”. What is the point of writing an article about something if you make absolutely no effort to find out what it is all about? Even your ignorant, closed-minded observations were offbase. Did you even bother finding out the difference between fry-bread and an indian taco? What other food did you see at the pow-pow that was called “indian” besides indian tacos? My guess is the answer is nothing. Guess what, many cultures adopt foods from other cultures and make it their own. Did you know that what we call an Italian Soda, doesn’t really even exist in Italy? Or maybe a Chicago pizza is kind of like an Indian taco, something that came from another culture and was adapted to the local culture. I have attended many pow-wows, and I happened to go to this one. What you describe as “fry-bread” (the shitty mexican pizza, in your words) is actually an indian taco. Fry bread is used instead of a tortilla to make an indian taco, but if you just ask for fry bread, you just get fry bread and then people can top it with something sweet, usually powdered sugar or honey. Did you even bother trying either of the traditional foods? Maybe you expected native american food to be something made from acorn meal that has been cured in a hole in the ground. Well, I have news for you, native american culture
is a living breathing culture that has traditions, but isn’t stuck in the past. All cultures adapt and change over time, and that includes food. Pow-wow’s are a festive event, kind of like what you would call a festival, and just as at an american festival, you have the vendors and the unhealthy food. Many Americans love to eat funnel cake and kettle corn at festivals, but that doesn’t make this food “staples”. And, yes, homeless people have hats and cups, but Native Americans have blankets. People do not unceremoniously throw donations on the ground. They, very ceremoniously, put their donations on a blanket. (If you bothered to learn anything about native american culture you would know that ceremony is a very important aspect). If you were really trying to observe what was going on, you would have noticed this. I also find it ironic that you found it ironic that vendors “circled their wagons” (a comment whose intention was clearly racist) around the dancers since Native Americans were dancing and doing ceremonies in circles long before any Europeans invaded. A circle in Native american culture is comparable to a cross in Christianity. (By the way, the dancers are not “performers” as you call them,dancing in native american culture is a prayer and is sacred, it is not a performance, even if we enjoy watching it). Next time you go to a cultural event, why not make an effort to understand what is going on before spewing your bigotry? And if something doesn’t make sense to you, or seems pointless or “cheap” why not ask someone about it instead of making assumptions. What seems unceremonious or cheap to you could be just the opposite in another culture, kind of like how a thumbs up in the middle east is more like our middle finger. Or better yet, don’t write anything at all. Sincerely, Linda Rife CSULB class of 2002
Dear Editor I am a proud CSULB graduate, MSW class of 2007. I’m very saddened by the ignorant and thoughtless article - complete with a
hateful title - written by Noah Kelly regarding his experience at last week’s pow wow held at CSULB. His apparent racism and ignorance are painful to read, and I am amazed that this was allowed to be published. I myself have attended this very pow wow several times; and while I am not American Indian, I understood that there were cultural activities happening that weren’t for me to judge, but to learn about. For example, I know now from trying them and talking to American Indians what an Indian taco is; and how it is unique. His tone about the pow wow was so condescending, so hatefully ignorant, that I wondered why he attended at all. Besides that, the rudeness was exacerbated by swearing and an especially thoughtless summary of traditional financial respects given to dancers. His racist assumption of how much was given, comparing it to the begging of the homeless, and overall attack of contemporary American Indian culture made me sad and angry at him, and embarrassed that this was coming from CSULB’s student paper. His hatefulness is now being spread around the American Indian community; how am I to stand up for the school that gave me such a great education, and has been hosting a spring pow wow for years? I strongly ask that you quickly but thoughtfully print an apology and response. I also ask that the author learn something about American Indian culture, diversity in general and a basic understanding of journalism; as well as how to show, in both words and attitude, respect for those that are different from you, regardless of your opinions. Sincerely, Beth Powers
To Whom It May Concern: Pow Wow Wow Yippy Yo Yippy Yay??? Are you serious?? What kind of joke is this? How does something this racist and ignorant get printed in the CSULB paper? I am Native American and a CSULB graduate and I am ashamed right now. I’m proud of my culture and heritage and for someone to write about what they do not understand in such
a demeaning way, AND for it to actually get printed, is beyond me. Could you help me understand what was going through your mind when this piece was OK”d? A CSULB Grad and a Proud Muscogee Creek Citizen, Roxanne Carvajal
I am a graduate of CSULB and I am ashamed to read such an article in the school newspaper. Joan Lucero [Editor’s note: A final statement from Editor-in-Chief, Kevin O’Brien.] On Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 2pm, Noah Kelly and I met with two CSULB student representatives of the American Indian Student Council (AISC), James Suazo and Sandi Wemigwase, as well as the faculty advisor of ASIC, Professor Craig Stone. In said meeting, I feel that everyone successfully communicated their perspectives on the article and the events that proceeded over the course of the last week. Specifically, how the article in question was interpreted and what the expectations of ASIC were. Sunday’s meeting was focused and cordial. However, the dialogue through email, over the phone and on social networking platforms, from those not associated with ASIC was turbulent. The product of this turbulent discourse, in my experience, was knowledge. Each email I read, and each phone call I answered provided me with a greater understanding of the individual whom I corresponded with. It is this knowledge that I value and therefore the dialogue that produced it. It is never our intention to incite or to provoke the ire of anyone. In truth the Union Weekly seeks to be all-inclusive, allowing any member of the student body, faculty or staff to express his or her opinions. With that opportunity comes a degree of responsibility on the part of the participant, to engage in any discourse that may result from their contribution. My sincerest hope, as Editor-in-Chief is that through the discourse at hand a greater understanding for all involved will be gained. UNION WEEKLY
21 MARCH 2011