Ignorance is never fun, but sometimes its understandable. A person with
a nationally syndicated column and a weekly TV spot has, however, a
different standard to live up to. He is responsible for forming other
peoples' opinions in a way that few others are. Though his ignorance
may be no more malicious than the (presumably former) ignorance of your
friends, he is in a position to encourage such ignorance among people
like us to an astonishing degree. People in the media have an innate
authority. We tend to presume they know what they're talking about.
This means it is incumbent on Rooney to make sure he does some RESEARCH
on what he promulgates, as his ignorance has further-reaching effects.
About the "redskins" vs. alcohol issue, it seems to me the appropriate
answer is that it ALL matters. How many natives now suffering alcoholism
would be in that position if life offered them a wider range of options
than it does now? How much do the stereotypes curtail those options?
How does rooney get the right to tell natives what they should be
concerned about ?
Like I said, this is spur of the moment. Criticism is expected and welcomed.
Chris