Dr. Erich Longie over the years has been sometimes my boss, always my friend and today he is my hero. After many years of battling against it, the Fighting Sioux nickname has finally been retired.
Now, I am not Sioux, I haven't lived in North Dakota for over a decade and I don't even really follow football (yet, I call myself an American, yes, pathetic, I know). So, why do I care so much about the Sioux nickname. To be completely honest, I don't care about the Sioux nickname all that much, although I do agree that a race is not at all an appropriate mascot for a team. It is disrespectful and offensive to me, personally, if I think about it, which I rarely do.
Erich is my hero because he showed such perseverance standing up for something he believed passionately. In an article in one issue of the Miniwakan News, Erich made the comment that, because he was against racism and determined to show the moral courage to speak out against it, "I was against the logo before I even knew the logo existed."
It's been a long battle. If you read Erich's blog, Dakota Hoksina, you know that he has written a lot about his struggles against the logo issue, his revulsion for what he perceived as the "divide and conquer" tactics taken by those trying to win tribal support for the logo, his views on the connection between the logo and racism and much more.
Erich's views on the logo issue have cost him friendships with some logo supporters who could not forgive him for publicly disagreeing with them. Some of his relatives have disagreed with him and t has caused some hard feelings. Complete strangers have criticized Erich in print and in person. Some of these comments have been particularly racist and vicious. Through it all, Erich has persevered.
We were talking a couple of days ago about perseverance. On the logo issue and other topics, Erich said, sure constant criticism, even if unfair, sometimes impacts his self-esteem. Certainly when the losses, whether it is the loss in an election or the loss of a referendum of the logo issue, certainly, those hurt at the time. However, he says, that makes those time when "good wins out" all the happier.
Erich should be pretty happy now.
Even in those times when he wasn't winning, Erich was more hero. In fact, I think more so in those times. It is easy to persevere when you have momentum on your side and things are going your way. It is not so easy when the odds are against you, when you are being publicly attacked. Heroic leadership is hard. That is why we call them heros.
Now, I am not Sioux, I haven't lived in North Dakota for over a decade and I don't even really follow football (yet, I call myself an American, yes, pathetic, I know). So, why do I care so much about the Sioux nickname. To be completely honest, I don't care about the Sioux nickname all that much, although I do agree that a race is not at all an appropriate mascot for a team. It is disrespectful and offensive to me, personally, if I think about it, which I rarely do.
Erich is my hero because he showed such perseverance standing up for something he believed passionately. In an article in one issue of the Miniwakan News, Erich made the comment that, because he was against racism and determined to show the moral courage to speak out against it, "I was against the logo before I even knew the logo existed."
It's been a long battle. If you read Erich's blog, Dakota Hoksina, you know that he has written a lot about his struggles against the logo issue, his revulsion for what he perceived as the "divide and conquer" tactics taken by those trying to win tribal support for the logo, his views on the connection between the logo and racism and much more.
Erich's views on the logo issue have cost him friendships with some logo supporters who could not forgive him for publicly disagreeing with them. Some of his relatives have disagreed with him and t has caused some hard feelings. Complete strangers have criticized Erich in print and in person. Some of these comments have been particularly racist and vicious. Through it all, Erich has persevered.
We were talking a couple of days ago about perseverance. On the logo issue and other topics, Erich said, sure constant criticism, even if unfair, sometimes impacts his self-esteem. Certainly when the losses, whether it is the loss in an election or the loss of a referendum of the logo issue, certainly, those hurt at the time. However, he says, that makes those time when "good wins out" all the happier.
Erich should be pretty happy now.
Even in those times when he wasn't winning, Erich was more hero. In fact, I think more so in those times. It is easy to persevere when you have momentum on your side and things are going your way. It is not so easy when the odds are against you, when you are being publicly attacked. Heroic leadership is hard. That is why we call them heros.
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