I'm sure there could be hours of heated debate over this, but every time a "mascot" issue like this pops up I wonder why they don't just frame it differently:

I'm sure there could be hours of heated debate over this, but every time a "mascot" issue like this pops up I wonder why they don't just frame it differently: 1) Does the mascot accurately represent the current values of the community, or 2) can a different mascot represent those values better? Teams, schools, even companies will routinely rotate out their mascots/logos/brands/slogans for something new, and they don't generate too much controversy. But when the status quo is deemed politically incorrect, people start to look at that potential change as an affront to their personal values, and their resistance to change can cause stagnation. It's okay to be proud, and it's okay to remember. We don't have to erase or burn history, but we do have to recognize that the future belongs to the new generation, and they get to decide how they want to represent themselves to the world.