Facebook: Is Agawam HS’ team name offensive?
Editor’s note: The below comments were left on the Advocate’s Facebook page in response to a guest column, “These Brownies Have Got to Go” Nov. 19-25, 2015.
George Green: Where did these two writers get their information, Brownies always referred by the uniforms, Marching Mohawks I think honors the Native Americans.
Nick Weiss: I’m not positive, but I believe the name comes from a successful coach from the past, coach Kevin Brown. Maybe if all you damn opinionated hipsters can get your heads out of the gutter all this racist animosity would be eliminated. How about you stop analyzing and get some work done in a positive direction. All his critical analytical bullshit is for the birds, if only the people from the past could see what you losers focus your time on. If the Indian logo is taken away how are we suppose to remember and honor the past. Save your two cents and get a job that might help you get involved in something not as petty as criticizing something you’re ill informed of.
Karven Callahan-Basile: Obviously you write based on your opinion and not researched facts. While I did not grow up in Agawam, but raised my family here and learned the facts in my 22 years here. The reason Agawam was named the Brownies didn’t come from Indians or any skin color! It came from over 60 years ago from when our football team played games their uniform was brown. I learned this from a resident who played on the team, so please stop segregating people with your opinions and start investigating the facts before you speak.
Owen Labrie: Rapist or jerk?
Editor’s note: The below comments were emailed or left on the Advocate’s website in response to a Nov. 12-18, 2015 Between the Lines, “Owen Labrie: Rapist or Simply a Jerk?”
The problem with Ms. Palpini’s view of the world is that allows women to victimize men and accuse them of a heinous crime at any time. A “no” is not required to show non-consent, a “yes” is required, but can be changed to no at any time, and if the man does not instantlly comply, ahah! — he is a rapist, should go to jail and give up on having a life. This concept places a high value on women’s feelings, and little value on mens lives.
I have mixed feelings about this case. Both young people were very well coached concerning how to give their side of the story, but I doubt that either of them told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I think he deserves jail time, but I don’t think he should be on the registry for life. I agree with Jeff that he is a jerk, but when you read those emails, it’s clear to see his intentions.
It’s easy to understand why people — well, people with external reproductive organs — would think that Owen Labrie got a raw deal from the criminal justice system. A white boy with an elite education, Labrie should be entitled to look forward to a future full of privilege and opportunity. He shouldn’t have to, in Jeffrey Good’s words “wear the label of sex offender for the rest of his days” just because he, you know, committed a sex crime. But things could work out okay for the kid. A lot of potential employers and other folks he encounters along the way could turn out to be bros who conclude, like Good, that even though Labrie is a woman-hating predator, he’s not really one of those bad others, so his sex crime doesn’t really count.
