Anyway, some Native American tribes and intellectuals are upset, but they are oblivious. Racism is hardly what it once was. Besides, for example, Native Americans, who in their right mind would look at Chief Wahoo today and see in him a Native American? I would have to say, very few, and even those who do, recognize the jolly nature of Chief Wahoo’s character. How can something so happy be thought of as racist? It boggles my mind. More than anything, Chief Wahoo makes me feel comfortable in a way that no other cartoon drawing makes me feel. He represents more than just a drawing. He represents tradition. What tradition you may ask? Well, for one, Cleveland baseball tradition. Second, American sports tradition. Third, a longstanding tradition of American racism.

Oh wait, scratch that last one; it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Anyway, I'm one-eighth Chippewa, and Chief Wahoo does not offend me in the least. I guess I understand persecution better than does much of my Native American community. The seven-eighths of me is really oppressed. No one in this country hates Native Americans anymore. They just hate people like me. Native Americans, of course, do face systemic poverty, problems of drug abuse, inequity in education, lack of support from the U.S.government and general apathy of the American public, but none of that is racist.

Wait, wait, wait… that sounds wrong.