Holland, Michigan’s school district has set up a committee to consider changing its mascot from the Dutchmen. Though founded by the Dutch, the argument goes that minorities are now the majority in the school district.
Here were my thoughts:
Having a mascot like the Dutchmen is not racist or even culturally insensitive in any way. It is a way to point residents to the history of the place they live.
What is so offensive about this is the erasing of valuable history to make ourselves feel better about how diverse and sensitive we are. Probably a bit of white guilt going on, here, too. What is so frustrating is that most will be for this, because the alternative would feel like being mean to non-Dutch people, which is... silly.
The reason for doing this would also require removing the name Holland. And Zeeland. And Drenthe...
History creates inequalities and majorities. Some seek to remove them all. But we do not all have a right to as much income, or "cultural privilege" as everyone else. That's a socialist pipe dream. Some will always be more equal than others. Right now, those setting up this committee have unequal access to the levers of power. It's an Orwellian forced whitewashing of history in the name of equality.
Equal opportunity is a must for all. But whose opportunities are being curtailed by Holland being the Dutch?
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