Blackhawks logo

The Chicago Blackhawks logo should be changed.

In the arc of history, we are soon to face the reckoning of the near extinction of Native American culture in the U.S. that effectively started before the Revolutionary War. There are numerous symbols of Native Americans in our culture; however, they for the most part do not evoke personal feelings. Rather they symbolize a historical situation in which only relics are left of once thriving groups of people.

It is the habit of the conquering side to dehumanize the conquered. And what is more a symbol of dehumanization than when the face of a person is emblazoned on a rug that people walk on without giving a second thought. Or perhaps this face is imprinted on a towel that is used to wipe an unclean surface. Better yet, drain the life from this face and make it an object which can be the logo of a sports team.

We should always strive to understand the humanity in people. This should begin by removing anything which reduces a race of people to an image. It should also include the removal of a most blatant image.

This decision to change the logo is not reached out of moral angst. It is simply a conclusion based on what is right in regard to the legacy of American Indians and to the belief that they have a right to be seen as individual humans.

Abolition of the death penalty

The death penalty should be abolished in Illinois and probably in the rest of the country. It has been shown that a number of men on death row were actually innocent.

In my opinion, it is not worth the effort to maintain the death penalty. A lot of time, effort and money is needed to make sure the state does not execute an innocent person and it is not apparent that Illinois is willing to make this expenditure.

The revelations that many people were on death row who should not be makes it clear that any system run by humans cannot be without doubt. Further, the twists of politics makes it likely that some bias or shortcut will be taken in some cases.

This is not an opinion based on a moral argument. Rather, it is based on the fact that ensuring the criminal justice system is free of the capability for executing an innocent person is not worth the trouble.

It is time to stop the death penalty in Illinois.