ARIZONA IDIOCY

I read about this proposal the other day, but figured common sense would prevail. I figured wrong: Arizona to rename peak after Indian servicewoman. I understand renaming “Squaw Peak” if a large contingent of American Indians find the term “squaw” offensive. But, surely, there is someone more deserving of this honor than an Army maintenance private who was tragically killed because her unit made a wrong turn? As I noted recently, not everyone who dies in combat is a hero. Are there no other Arizona Indians who have done something more noteworthy than simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

FILED UNDER: Race and Politics,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. John Lemon says:

    I actually happened to be staring at that peak while sipping wine at a resort in Phoenix. In AZ, they are not supposed to give an honorary name until the person has been deceased for 5 years. They waived that in this case. Interesting, I was with someone who also thought this renaming was a bad, bad idea (and it is not someone I would have expected it from).