The ironies of the racial incident at the Rush hockey game at the Rapid City Civic Center are numerous.

First of all, it was a case of “drunken white men” shouting racial slurs and spraying beer on a group of students from the American Horse School, located on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Second, the children were at the game because they were being recognized and rewarded for their good grades and good conduct. And, since there are Native Americans on the Rush team, the children take a special interest in the team. These Native hockey players are held up as examples of success by the students.

And so, ironically, those white fans racially demeaning the Indian students, still hold the Indian hockey players on the team in high esteem. Go figure.

Once again, ironically, in January 2015, instead of reverting to the racism of the 20th century, these fans and all South Dakotans should have been celebrating and commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Year of Reconciliation that was proclaimed in 1990 by Gov. George Mickelson.