On May 1st, BuzzFeed released the article "25 Completely Bonkers High School Mascots That Actually Exist." Pretty high on the list was the controversial Richland High School Bombers.
This is not new. The R-Cloud has always been controversial ever since Columbia High (now Richland High) students voted to change their mascot from the Beavers to the Bombers in the fall of 1945.
Because Tri-Cities, Washington is always behind, just last week Bomber Alumni and current students started to share the article with captions like, "Go Bombers!" and "Proud of the Cloud." The mocking of the article led the Class of 2015 Bomber Alumn Giulia Szanyi to speak out against the mascot.
"I have been seeing this picture from a BuzzFeed article going around on social media this week and initially I was excited that so many people were finally socially conscious enough to post something critiquing an incredibly offensive but traditionally beloved aspect of Richland High School. However, what I have come to realize is that most people are slamming this post for calling out RHS on this issue and in regards to the support of Richland High's mushroom cloud symbol or any of the incredibly offensive slogans used at sporting events and as hashtags. I am genuinely baffled."
She goes on to say that the school system is broken, "for anyone to believe that making light of unimaginable atrocities committed during the world's greatest conflict can be acceptable at any time in any form" is horrible and wrong. Szanyi continues to point out how the horrors of the bomb should be learned from and studied, not celebrated and glorified into a chant.
With maturity, she stated her conclusion, "I sincerely hope that with time the people of Richland will come to the same conclusion and change these aspects of RHS."
And people lost their damn minds.
The original post has close to 200 shares and 300 comments. While a lot of the comments are appreciation posts, most are not only stupid responses, they are down right irresponsible and horrific.
Personally, I am indifferent on the topic and see that both sides have legitimate points and reasoning. What I have a firm opinion on is to not be racist on other peoples' Facebook posts. Or don't be a racist in general, but, ya know, baby steps.
So many of the comments were simply racist and absolutely not OK. Unfortunately, due to the fact that there were so many comments, it is hard to read all of the ones that deserve responses. So I did the hard work for you. Stay woke, people.
I could add some of the positive feedback, but I think we need to address the horrific things people said. I am absolutely disgusted by these comments and you should be, too.