Steve Thomas |
From the tone of the letters on the event, you'd think it was Auschwitz Fiesta or Hiroshima Fiesta. What is the big deal?
I have heard stories of past indiscretions such as painting faces black and having slave auctions. Now that's stupid, not to mention mean. But for the past two years, since I have been on campus, it has been pretty tame.
As far as I can tell, Fiesta has morphed into a beer-swilling, ass-grabbing, barbecue-eating good time.
I went last year and I seem to remember having a pretty decent time.
From the letters printed in The Daily Cougar, though, it seems people are not complaining about the event itself. They are complaining about the name of the event.
I want to make one thing clear. Frontier Fiesta is not a celebration of genocide or the subjugation of native peoples and the stealing of their lands. It is simply a theme for an extended party.
This is just like the various toga parties held all over this country throughout the years, which are not a celebration of the Roman Empire's conquering of most of the populated world. They're excuses to put on a sheet and act stupid with a bunch of friends. Isn't that what being an American is all about?
Frontier Fiesta is not a time machine back to the frontier days. One look into the video game parlor should clue you in to that. It's not an excuse to go massacre a bunch of Indians. Nor is it a chance to go run a bunch of Mexicans off their lands. It's a chance to throw on the boots, hat - and for the women, a pair of Rocky Mountains - and get stupid.
Actually, I am more worried about the people who are taking offense. It seems as though these people need to lighten up. It's a party. Forget about the thousands of years of victimization you have suffered - you can continue the letter writing and anti-everything-Anglo campaign next Monday - and have a good time. After all, it only comes along once a year.
Why is it that every event that doesn't celebrate diversity, defined as any event that doesn't cater to the particular ethnic group you happen to belong to, is a celebration of violence and genocide?
Aren't there a number of events that cater to specific ethnic groups? I actually thought that the UH community was pretty good on this score. Stupid me.
Some people claim that Frontier Fiesta should be revamped to be more politically correct because it is sponsored by the university.
But think about it for a minute. If students were to decide which groups or events could receive student or university fees, there would be far fewer groups and events. Sadly, the brunt of the losses would be suffered by the university's minority groups.
I have learned in my 26 years that sometimes you just have to suck it up for the greater good of the community. Frontier Fiesta is good for the UH community. It is a high-profile event which provides some good publicity. It also offers a chance for the students - all students - to get involved. And it's fun.
So quit whining about the past, take the bull by the horns and get your butt to Frontier Fiesta.
Thomas is a senior journalism major who is going to be first in line to ride the mechanical bull.