Resolution
On ‘Indian’
Withdrawn
Hearing ‘More Knowledgeable
People,’ He Changed His Mind
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – Village Trustee Richard Sternberg is withdrawing his resolution that would seek the removal of the word “Indian” or “Indians” from historical markers in the village, he announced a few minutes ago.
“After discussions with people much more knowledgeable than I about tribal histories and affairs, I realized that my wording was poor and that I didn’t even state well what my true intention was,” he said in a statement.
He asked his Village Board colleagues to delay implementing the resolution that passed unanimously a week ago today “until I can withdraw and replace it.”
Sternberg made the resolution after a fellow trustee, MacGuire Benton, said a constituent had alerted him to the “insensitive” word “Indians” on the historical marker at Council Rock Park. The resolution ask the state Education Department to review the marker, assuming it would then be revised appropriately.
Trustee Cindy Falk suggested the marker at the Indian Mound, at the corner of Estli Avenue and Main Street, also be included in the review.
Don’t forget Cindy, Cooperstown used to have a Indian museum. Once it stopped making money, let’s close the doors. If it was still making money and paying their share of taxes to the village, not one person on the town board would be saying this stuff.. you closing Farmers museum, fenimore museum, ?
Isn’t it logical that once the village board removes ‘ Indian’ from signs than it stands to reason that it must be removed from books. They could start with James Fenimore Cooper’s claasics. They must be offensive. Better yet, the early Cooperstown history books. I seem to remember Shaw’s , “The Story of Cooperstown ” that writes about that very mound. It even shows a photograph, can’t have that.
Can we safely assume that the “constituent” who was emotionally upset by seeing the word “indian” was not indeed an Indian? Rather the constituent was no doubt just another paleface liberal who like many eastern liberals
have no idea that once out in the wild and woolly southwest the word Indian is as common in word and signage as hello, goodbye and nice to see you. And why does a politician or other public figure feel it necessary to jump through a hoop just because “just one” constituent has a complaint.