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Opinion Thursday: Tradition Versus Community Health

Thursday, March 19, 2015

“Tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure it is in decay.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti

The Opinion Thursday prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" 
This week a high school in Western New York voted to no longer use the term "Redskins" as their mascot, because it is considered racially insensitive to Native Americans. There were strong arguments from both sides...some see the name as maintaining tradition and local pride, while others believe using an offensive name sends the wrong message to those who represent the school district. How responsible is a school in regards to establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship within its community?

It is the responsibility of the school to assist in maintaining a healthy relationship within its community. The problem in some cases is that tradition and maintaining a healthy community relationship are incompatible. When a situation like this occurs then the school has to "put its foot down" and chose the healthy community relationship over maintaining tradition.

Some traditions are beautiful and encourage togetherness and community pride from generation to generation. Other traditions do just the opposite by dividing the community into prejudicial factions that will eventually tear it apart. When a tradition is detrimental to the health and well being of an individual, family, or community then it is time to dispense with the old tradition and start a new one.