Monday, October 29, 2007

Ronnie Tall Bear

Hello, I am Ronnie Tall Bear. I am from a very small ranch north of Mercer County. I graduated from Bentrock High School and really enjoyed doing sports in high school. I was the forward on the basketball team, set school records in track:sprinting the 100 dash and 200 meter dash. I also played softball with the coed team. I loved sports and was really good at about every sport.
I have a girlfriend and her name is Marie. I have with her for a couple years now and we graduated together at Bentrock High School. After High School, I joined the Army and I got into that but I did not get into college.
I think the fighting sioux name shouldn't be changed. I dont see what is wrong with having that name. I mean it is just a sport team name it shouldn't matter too much.

7 comments:

melissaPETERSON said...

Yes, it is just a name but think about what the name means. Why did they have to use that name they could of used another name just as well. Right?

Ellie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachel said...

Hey I'm the fifth jury member. What's your view on the mascot? Do you think UND should be able to keep it or should have to make a new one. Thanks!
- Amy Red Oak

Shelly4thHour said...

Ronnie
I am glad to see that a native american agree with me that its just a sports team

Edin Hayden

Jason said...

Dear Ronnie Tall Bear,
I am sad that you don't feel like the name should be changed. After living in Bentrock i would have thought you to be totally against the name "Fighting Sioux". After what happened to Marie i think you owe it to her and her family to try and preserve what is scared to Indians. I hope you would change your mind to help change the mascot. If not for your people, how about for Marie.
Daisy McAuley

NAlverson said...

Hi, thanks for giving me your input on the issue, and I agree with you, I don't think that the creators of the mascot were trying to make fun of my people. I don't find it offensive at all, and I personally don't care whether they keep it or not, I will vote against changing it because it will just cause fewer problems for the school and our relationship with the school will be better that way. Once again, thanks for your input.

-Chief Grand Cherokee

Rachel said...

Dear Ronnie

Thanks for getting back to me on you view of the issue. However, when you say that you are in support of the mascot, I have to disagree with you. My tribe is the Standing Rock Siuox and we have historically lived in North Dakota, somewhat near the University. Our stance on the mascot is that we don’t support it. Since I was born and raised on our reservation, this is my view too. We believe that this mascot is degrading and misinforming towards the Native American race and that there are many other mascots available to use.
- Amy Red Oak

PS: I was suprised that you supported the mascot, aren't you of Native American culture? You weren't allowed to go to college because of your race...don't you feel that UND's mascot is mocking you?