Protest Disney America (Haymarket, Virginia)

WILKIE LEITH (wleith@gmuvax.gmu.edu)
Sun, 7 Aug 1994 02:50:00 EST

The hour is late but I'd like to post this message (I haven't posted
before and don't know if I'll get through) to get a response.
I live in Manassas, Va., 12 miles from the proposed Disney America
site in Haymarket Va. I teach at George Mason University in Fairfax and,
with a few colleagues, am working to establish a Native American Studeis
program. I give that information just to let you know I may be over
reacting here; I must also say that I am NOT in favor of Disney locating
its synthetic history factory in Northern Va.
But today I read a front page "news" article in out local paper
(THE JOURNAL MESSENGER), a clear PR vehicle for Disney. I was outraged.
The article, by John Pulley, presented concerns by Dennis Ekberg, chairman
of the Prince William County Historical Commission, regarding a "prehistoric
Native Indian quarry on Disney's property." My first problem with the
article relates to Ekberg's interest in the site, not as a reason to
protest Disney's plans, but as a reason for the historical commission
to propose "turning the ancient quarry into a permanent dig site open
to Disney's guests." I'm quoting that. Terrible enough; however,
it was the opening paragraph that floored me. Again, I may be over-
reacting, but the racism seems obvious:
Pulley writes: "The theme park concept probably never penetrated
the thick skulls or shadowy minds of the prehistoric men who once
dragged their knuckles across what is now present-day Haymarket.
Certainly, no caveman ever grunted Disney. According to some
local historians, the Walt Disney Co. regards the legacy of those
primal progenitors with equal indifference."
The writer goes on to mock even the idea that local historians should
find this Native Indian site important enough to even suggest that Disney
use it as an exhibit.
My intention here is to see if others find this issue outrageous. I
will fax the entire article to anyone wishing to read it. In the meantime,
is anyone interested in a full scale protest against both the paper and
Disney? Or am I just--overreacting?

Thanks for the time,
Wilkie
email: WLEITH@GMU.EDU

[ I am relaying this article to NATIVE-L to alert people who want to join
in the protest campaign suggested by Wilkie. I am also relaying a copy
to NATCHAT, where stereotypes of Native peoples have been discussed at
length, in case anyone would like to discuss this subject. If anyone
reading this article does want to join into such a discussion, please
subscribe to NATCHAT (if you're not already on that list, by sending
a "subscribe natchat Your Name" message to "listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu"),
and sending your article on the subject to "natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us"
If you have further information on the subject, though, you can do so
by responding to this message, which will send your reply to the posting
address for the NATIVE-L list. --Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ]