Move to rename Squaw Peak Park gets little reaction from the public

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=7540

The Associated Press

advertisement MESA - Phoenix officials are surprised by the lack of comment over a proposal to rename the Squaw Peak Park and Recreation Area in honor of a fallen soldier. Earlier this year, controversy surrounded the renaming of Squaw Peak in honor of Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, a native of Tuba City, by state officials.

Piestewa is believed to be the first American Indian woman killed while serving in the U.S. military and was the first woman killed in combat in Iraq.

Proponents of the peak's renaming also said that it removed what some believe to be a derogatory term.

But as Phoenix officials ask the public if the city should change the name of the Squaw Peak Park and Recreation Area to mirror the peak's name change, they're getting a response no one expected: silence.

Those involved said they anticipated fierce controversy.

But talk radio hasn't picked up on it, news coverage has been slim and a city-sponsored forum on the name attracted just five speakers.

"If we're going to make a decision that impacts a lot of people and lasts a long time, we want more than five people," said Diane Brooks, chairwoman of a Phoenix advisory committee on the park's name.

<snip>

Now if she was a slender mom and apple pie blond she could at least get a movie of the week.

[Another Bill C.]

1. Lori Piestewa

was Hopi as was my late wife. The Hopi get kind of lost in the shuffle because they're a relatively small group and choose to remain private in the practice of their beliefs — many of which may make them the most civilized group in the world.

Those who are not familiar with Hopi ways would do themselves a great favor by reading of these. Maybe renaming that mountain would encourage people to become familiar with Lori's "people of peace."

I no longer live in Arizona so I can't become as active in this project as I would like.

[TacticalPeek]

2. The Human Beings.

Their aboriginal plateaus are beautiful.

[arikara]

3. Why would they "anticipate fierce controversy"?

Its a derogatory word. I honestly thought that anything still named with that word was changed years ago.

[Overkil]

4. Why would they "anticipate fierce controversy"?

Because in arizona there are rules about changing the name of a public something (a park, a freeway, etc) to honor a specific person. The person has to be dead five years before you can attach their name to it. If they wanted the change it to "Vetrans' Park" there would be no delay. There is a non-partisan naming committee made up of public servants and private citizens that approves all name changes. They want to make sure nothing surfaces to contradict the reasons for the name change, etc. The other thing that caused a stir about the Piestewa Peak change is that when the Gov. heard that the committee was going to nix the name change she had one of her aides call the civilian committe member's boss and lean on him to try and convince his employee to change his mind. Didn't help that the citizen committe member was a 15 yr vet of the Phx PD. He ended up resigning from the committee at the Gov's request. It got kinda nasty in the local media. Many people felt like the Gov was trying to gain political points by getting rid of the "Squaw" name and Lori's death made it a convenient time to do so. They renamed our forth airport terminal after Barry Goldwater while he was still alive and that casued a big ruckus.

[Langis]

5. It was all over talk radio in Phoenix tonight

But I could really care less about renaming the park.

[imax2268]

6. I didn't know about it

until today...I think it's that people are so tired of it all...people are trying to get by day to day without having to worry about a park that they will probably never set foot in anyway...

just my take on it...

I think Piestewa Peak is good enough...if they are going to name it after a soldier...name after some of the other soldiers from this state that have died in Iraq...or something...

Just my take on things...

[DemBones DemBones]

7. Isn't Tuba City in Arizona? Wasn't Lori Pistiewa from Arizona?

I can't figure out what you mean . . .