Todd Blodgett Opinion: MOHAWK TRIBE SHOULD BACK OFF

Mason City’s athletic teams should keep the name, “Mohawks’, despite objections from the tribe.  Most Leftists, after all, disregard the opponents of removing statues and monuments honoring Confederates. But the US defeated the Confederacy and the Indians, including Mohawks.  Gratitude, not truculence, should accompany being honored in such manner.  Since America’s founding, BILLIONS of dollars have been spent, by individuals and corporations, for names on buildings, sports teams, foundations, vessels, stadiums, churches and campuses.  Effectively, River City pays tribute to this tribe.  In Iowa, 10 athletic teams are named the Indians; seven are called the Warriors; Two are the Braves; two are the Reds; and two – including Mason City’s – are Mohawks.  Other Iowa teams include the Savages, Chiefs, Chickasaws and Wahawks.  While growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, I regularly viewed the original oil paintings and signed, numbered prints of celebrated Mohawk tribe members, on the walls of the old Euchre & Cycle club, which was located on the top floor of the Hanford hotel.  Longtime club members told me that the Mohawks were respected, due to their fearless nature and renowned bellicosity.  

Was that why Mason City named its teams for this tribe, circa 1925?  The ‘Legends of America’ website states, “Because of their warlike nature, the Mohawk were feared, due to their brutal attacks and the merciless way they treated their captives.  Along with the other tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy, they waged warfare on all of their neighboring tribes, until they were all conquered”, according to the respected historian Kathy Weiser, a noted expert on Native American tribes, culture and history.  During the American Revolution, most Mohawks sided with the British.  Most Mohawks then fought (as British allies) against the US in the War of 1812.  They were also cannibals; in the Algonquin tribe’s language – Narragansett – ‘Mohawk’, translated, means “flesh eater”.  Incidentally, ‘Mohawk’ didn’t ORIGINATE as a Native American term; the Spaniards coined it before it was adapted into English.  Then, it was later appropriated by Indian tribes.  Shouldn’t such facts render the tribe’s claims baseless, and shouldn’t relevant history matter to the supporters of this putrid, PC nonsense?   

Numerous unwise decisions were made by Indian tribes, which cost them land, time and lives.  By urging discontinuation of ‘Mohawk’, today’s Mohawks prove they’re no wiser than their vanquished, traitorous ancestors.  The late actor Jay Silverheels, who played ‘Tonto’ – The Lone Ranger’s beloved sidekick – was a Mohawk.  In that classic radio and TV series, Tonto always addressed The Lone Ranger as ‘Kemo Sabe’ – which, according to its producers, meant, “trusty scout”.  The EyeWitnessToHistory.com website features excerpts from ‘Living among the Mohawks’, which was written by Dutch minister Johannnes Megapolensis in 1648.  He wrote, “The [Mohawks] are very cruel to their enemies …  they first bite off the nails of the fingers of their captives, and cut off some joints, and sometimes, even whole fingers … finally, they roast their prisoners dead before a slow fire for some days, and then eat them up.”  So, if the British had defeated the Continental Army, would a savagely butchered General George Washington have been cooked – along with squash, hominy, raccoons and Thomas Jefferson?  

Of Mohawk brutality, Rev. Megapolensis added, “Their money consists of certain little bones … shells, and cockles, which are found on the sea-beach.  A hole is drilled through the middle of the little bones, and these they string upon thread.  They value these little bones as highly as Christians do gold, silver and pearls; but they do not like our money, and esteem it no better than iron.”  Clearly, the predilection toward their poverty began early.  Today’s Mohawks don’t esteem the time they’re squandering, by demanding Mason City schools cease with “Mohawks”.  To avert an angry, ‘Cowboys-and-Indians’ style uprising, the city’s School Board should summarily ignore these defeated, whiny, ungrateful losers.  

Todd Blodgett, the author of ‘REPUBLICAN CRACKHEAD’, served on the White House staff from 1985-87. He also worked for the Republican National Committee and the FBI.  Mr. Blodgett lives in Clear Lake, and is a well-known expert on the Far Right in the US and Europe.  His website is www.ToddBlodgett.US.