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As the state of Maine referendum election was approaching on Nov. 14, I realized that inappropriate statements within some of the media outlets – television, print news and radio – are a fact.
The CasinoNO! campaign had aired commercials stating the “Indian Casino” would be the most unregulated casino of its kind in the country. There would also be no local or state law enforcement in the proposed casino. Both assertions (and many subsequent ones) were lies used as scare tactics to influence the vote.
Just before the vote, WTOS 105 had aired a morning radio skit about a white guy and an American Indian named “Squanto.” In part, the white guy said “we stole your land – get over it.” He then began to refer to the native as “Squinto,” “Tonto” – along with many other derogatory names. The American Indian would only respond by repeatedly saying “my name is Squanto!” Who was that trying to appeal to, and what was that trying to accomplish?
WCH6 TV’s weekend morning news in Portland referred to the casino proposal as “The Indian Casino.” Prior to that, it was just called “the casino.” I called the station manager and asked him “Why the change?” and how he would define “Indian Casino?” I would have preferred an honest answer but was unable to get any clear response.
On Nov. 9, WCH6 TV weekend news anchor Vivian Leigh told the weatherman that he was “pretty good with those Indian names.” He did not respond. In Maine, “those Indian names” are Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet and Micmac. They are not hard to learn.
Putting aside political correctness, this is a matter of using – or not using – the same language when characterizing all human beings. The media ideally should use a sensible amount of tact because negative words and phrases can affect large numbers of people. It can hurt feelings and the damage goes well beyond emotional.
The author Gloria Yamato wrote an article entitled “Something about the subject makes it hard to name,” and she explained the four forms of racism she sees: 1) aware/blatant racism 2) aware/covert racism 3) unaware unintentional racism and 4) unaware/self-righteous racism. She later adds “racism is the systematic, institutionalized mistreatment of one group of people by another based on racial heritage.”
I believe most human beings – including myself – have used negative language when referring to another race or group of people. We are exposed to it so much that it can be learned, and therefore can be spoken and/or felt. In life, however, we have a choice of whether or not to embrace such language and thought processes as a part of our individual and collective human value systems. Change is usually more than possible. Most everyone knows what it is like to experience some form of bigotry and it does not feel good.
In Maine, as in other places, there has been some positive changes in recent decades concerning how people in general feel about people of other races. Most young people do not buy into racism as easily as some people of our older and past generations did. Ironically, the media – through movies, music, and television – have contributed to some of that change, yet still some of the media do not treat everyone the same. Maine’s four indigenous tribes are historically related and have contributed a great deal to this country. All people, these tribes included, wish to be treated with respect as everyone else should be.
David Attean is a sophomore English major and a member of the Penobscot Nation.
