Time to retire ‘Midget’ mascot

We’re pretty sure there were puns, and jokes, and Randy Newman references when the Little People of America took aim at Freeburg High School and its “Midget” sports nickname. We sinned, too.

But the fact that we all did, and then the realization of what it meant to be on the receiving end of that ridicule, has us thinking it is time for Freeburg to pick a new mascot.

Yes, there is a history to the name. It honors basketball underdogs from the 1930s. But does anyone really want to make the “history, not hate” argument?

Yes, we can get ridiculous about going all PC on mascot names: Crusaders are insensitive to Muslims, Lancers and Panthers and Flyers evoke violence, Maroons...?

But in what context can you think of the term “midget” being a positive? It has evolved into a derogatory term, just like redskin and a host of other sports team references.

Teens deal with enough garbage from their peers. No student should walk the halls of Freeburg High thinking they are the butt of an institutionalized joke.

This story was originally published July 12, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Time to retire ‘Midget’ mascot."