This weekend, as University of Houston students head for the field to celebrate the racism, sexism, genocide, rape and pillaging of the Old West, let us bow our heads and praise the Lord that the West has changed.
Wait - bowing our heads may offend non-Christians, so let's take a moment of silence. Of course, a moment of silence might make some feel like they're obligated to pray, so let's just not talk about it. But ignoring the problem will only make it grow. So maybe we should kick around the idea that Frontier Fiesta may be terrible because, by reinventing scenes from the Old West, people feel discriminated against and left out.
Most have come to the realization that Frontier Fiesta is organized and enjoyed largely by sororities and fraternities. Now that the sweeping generalization that everyone in the West was racist has been made, let's make one more: Many fraternity and sorority members aren't history majors. One good thing that may have come out of all the hoopla is a greater understanding of some of the downfalls of the period.
But does that greater understanding mean students won't attend the party? Absolutely not. Students aren't celebrating the Old West; it's just a fun theme.
If it offends anyone, those people shouldn't attend.