So after leading generations of families through a successful parent-child program, the YMCA is renaming Indian Guides to Adventure Guides, and basically eliminating anything Indian-related. Maybe I don't know enough to know that I am degrading a nation of people who were here before anyone else. IS it offensive to Native Americans? I'm trying to put myself in their shoes. Would I be offended if a group of haoles started a club and immersed themselves in the "Oriental" culture, if lunch at Yoshinoya Beef Bowl was considered an enriching, cultural experience? Well, since moving to the mainland, I've discovered that Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Okinawan, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Thai are all the same thing. Am I offended? Nah, because haoles are stupid. I WAS a little annoyed that our neighbors thought we were related to the former owners of our new house (they were Korean and we're Chinese / Japanese). From a teacher and a human resources specialist at that. Again, haoles are stupid. But we Indian Guides have had real Native Americans come and teach us dancing, terminology, how to respect nature. We hold campfire and chapel (another no-no, God and church aren't for everyone), and stress family, sharing, charity, good citizenship, respect and harmony. What's not good about that? And why don't want Native Americans want to be associated with that?
Okay, I do have a suede vest with beads and fringe. Maybe that's not proper, respectful Indian garb. Then there's that gawdy red, white and blue feather headdress, and the headband with pink and blue feathers. But I never wear them!
Well, no matter what they call the program, I'm glad I had a chance to be a Rainbow Maiden with my best friend Fluffy, and I'll be forever thankful to the YMCA, no matter what all the other Towers parents say about "those Y kids." And I love my YMCA friends, even though most of them are haoles (and not ALL of them are stupid).
Posted by happyrainbow
at 3:13 PM PDT
