We are the new management at Hometown Paint and Hardware and we appreciate the comments.

Just for the record, we’ve directed all smoking to the parking lot.

But we’re making many more changes.

Our objective is to be your hometown hardware - a place to go to get great service, prices and, always a smile!

We’re adding services like screen repair and blade sharpening and are expanding our product lines. We’re also
providing delivery service and taking special orders for items you don’t see on the floor.

Come by to say “Hi” AND let us know how we’re doing.

We’re here to make this your one-stop shop for home repair, maintenance and upkeep and we want to know how we
can best serve you.

Thanks.

Stephen

Reflexive Rascism: The Native American Argument Against the Redman Name

Regarding last Wednesday’s School Committee hearing in Natick, the townspeople in opposition of the Redmen name commented that if the name “Redmen” offends Native Americans, it should be changed to something else.

However, a few key observations could be made about the Native Americans in attendance, who expressed emotional opposition to the Redmen name:
1. They were not from Natick. Most appeared to be activists who invest time attending town meetings;
2. A common thread ran through all their speeches: pain and resentment for the oppression by the white man, that occurred centuries ago, most notably during King Philip’s War.
3. They were not representative of the local Native American population, who are on record as having “no problem” with the Redmen name.

Their message was plain: Natick’s predominantly white population is not worthy to honor their Native American ancestors by naming the town’s student athletes for them. They said it does not matter what our intentions are, and called our attempts at respecting Natick’s heritage offensive.

The term, Redmen, a name for the Native American race, is considered historical and not derogatory. To settle any doubts about the name’s non-racist nature, consider this: The opposition already stated that if the Natick High School athletes were made up of mostly Native Americans, the name, Redmen, would not be problematic.

Regardless that today’s citizens are innocent of the blood of the oppressed, the sin of the white man is kept alive and well. It does not matter that the majority of Natick’s citizens do not carry a lineage that connects them to the oppression. We still predominantly share the same white race. So, I ask myself: “Who are the racist ones really?”

The citizen’s of Natick are sensitive to the painful history caused by the brutality toward Native Americans in earlier times. But, we’re not responsible. The town has consistently honored, respected, and treasured the memory of its Native American past. However, these attempts will never be good enough for those people who truly believe that we somehow carry the blood of their ancestors on our hands. So, I ask these Native Americans, who repeatedly focus on the oppression: “How do you think your ancestors would like to be remembered?” Perhaps, theirs is the perspective that needs revisiting.

We are a people governed by laws that prohibit brutality, and the hateful actions associated with racism. Those same laws protect the son from being unfairly punished for the sins of his grandfather. That is why it is an atrocity to call our children racist when their values are completely contrary to ugly racist ideology.

There will always be people offended whenever a decision with any substance is made. That does not make that decision a violation of civil rights. If Natick caves in to the opposition’s arguments, it would extinguish the passion behind the Redmen tradition, that respects and reveres a great people for their courage, fortitude, and dignity - a people that our student athletes aspire to emulate. It would be telling our children that they are not good enough to be the “Redmen” because of their race. Now, that would be a tragedy.

Many communities started flouridating (?) their water way back in the 50’s. The town that I grew up in started in the 60’s and my dentist claims that is why I’ve had very few cavities. Whether that’s true or not has yet to be definitively proven…

I didn’t realize that Natick just started adding flouride a little over 10 years ago.

As for waste (as small as it may seem), my favorite quote from the Metrowest Daily News after the override passed was this one;

“Also, some of the money from the override will be used to hire two part-time employees at the Senior Center to assist people find what help they qualify for, Gloff said.”

Let’s spend $$ money on services to help people pay for those same services. It just struck me as a strange expense to add to what was supposedly a very strained budget.