The governor of Arizona wants to rename Squaw Peak after Pfc Lori Anne Piestewa, one of the US soldiers killed in the ambush at Nasiriyah. Private Piestewa was a member of the Hopi tribe, who greeted the governor's announcement with cheers. nfortunately, some boneheaded Republican is standing in the way:
"I think it sets the tone for what her governorship is going to be like," GOP state Rep. John Allen said. "It's going to be a very Clintonesque style in the sense where you take advantage (of the situation), no matter whose grief it is."
Mr. Allen, lay off the grandstanding and back this plan.
Idiot!
There is another prblem, though.
Even before legislators weighed in, the chairman of the Arizona Geographic and Historic Names Board threatened to block Napolitano's plan. He cited a requirement that people must be dead five years before their names can be used on geographic features.Napolitano asked the board to waive the waiting period, arguing federal policies prohibit the use of derogatory racial terms on landmarks. Although some linguists disagree, critics say "squaw" is derived from an Indian word for female genitalia.
But Richard Pinkerton, a board member for 19 years, said he has never seen the panel grant a waiver. And it is unclear whether the board's national counterpart, which makes the final call on name changes, ever approves waivers.
It's time to set a precedent folks. This needs to happen. I'll get the names and e-mail addresses of the folks involved and post them in an update. Let's let Allen, Pinkerton, and any other obstructionists that this is a good idea, and should happen now, not in 5 years.
UPDATE: Here are the e-mail addresses I promised. Y'all know what to do. remember, be polite, no rants, just express your support for Gov Napolitano and Pfc Piestewa.
Gov Janet Napolitano Snail Mail and Telephone
The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Telephone 602-542-4331
Fax 602-542-1381
Rep John Allen jallen@azleg.state.az.us
Snail Mail
Rep. John M. Allen
House of Representatives
1700 W. Washington Room 127
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Tim J. Norton
Chair, Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names
Arizona State Capitol
1700 W. Washington, Suite 200
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: 602-542-4035
Statewide: 1-800-255-5841
Fax: 602-542-4972
Email: aznames@dlapr.lib.az.us
Squaw Peak. What about Grand Tetons, Alice Butte Weaver's Needle. Our founding explorers had gutter brains. Most if not all children grew up with the common scholastic instruction that female indians were called squaws and male indians were called braves. The true meaning of the word has been so washed that only a handful of tribes actually recognize that word as its supposed genitalia origins. The federally mandated five year waiting period is put into place so that the rename would be properly researched to be assured that the name is appropriately earned. Pfc. Piestewa was in the maintenance group that took a wrong turn during a dust storm and got ambushed. The wrong turn was human error. Was it hers? Was she driving did she not read the GPS yes GPS properly. All Military vehicles are equiped with enough electronic equipment to require at least a one killowatt generator to run them not just the minor alternator that your auto uses. They have satelite locators in them each soldier has a personal GPS unit the vehicles all have radios. Wrong turn is a pile of rubbish. They knew exactly where they were. That activity in itself should warrant a five year investigation. Naming Squaw Peak after an indian squaw is nothing more than strong arm governing. We here in Arizona have been plagued with a run on lousy Governors :Mecham, Symington, Hull, now Napalinano. They have succesfully run this state into a major budget deficit. The last thing they need to do is change a name and spend more money on signage.
Posted by: Nathan on April 23, 2003 9:34 PM5 years to determine why they took a wrong turn in a sand storm?
I don't think so. Talk about wasting money!
As for the rest of your diatribe, thanks for reading.
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