In California, the raging U.S. cultural battle over Civil War icons has spread to the names of horses. <\/p>\n
At the University of Southern California, a student group has declared the equine mascot of the schools Trojans football team to be a symbol of white supremacy. <\/p>\n
Why? Because the horse bears a name similar to that of a steed that belonged to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. <\/p>\n
The USC football horse is called Traveler (one L), while Lees horse was known as Traveller (two Ls). <\/p>\n
The student groups leader voiced her disapproval of the home team horses name earlier this week, at an on-campus rally to protest last weeks violence in Charlottesville, Va. <\/p>\n
Defensive back Adoree Jackson's touchdown last season is part of the long and storied football tradition at the University of Southern California. (USA Today Sports) <\/p>\n
White supremacy hits close to home, Saphia Jackson, co-director of the USC Black Student Assembly,told fellowstudents, in pointing out the similarity in the horses names, student newspaper the Daily Trojan reported. <\/p>\n
The Black Student Assembly didnt respond to a Fox News inquiry on whether the group wanted Traveler renamed or removed. <\/p>\n
The renewed debate on public symbols of the Confederacy has sparked a discussion at USC on whether the horse mascots name is a coincidence, or possibly a nod to its namers sympathy to the Southern cause. <\/p>\n
Naming the USC mascot Traveler started nearly 56 years ago, after a rideron horseback galloped acrossthe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum field during a Trojans home game. It was supposed to be a one-time stunt, but quickly became a school tradition, the Los Angeles Times reported. <\/p>\n
The original rider of Traveler, Richard Saukko, died in 1992 -- withoutofficially confirming whether the name Traveler was intended as a homage toLees horse. <\/p>\n
His widow, Patricia Saukko, however, denied the accusations, calling the kerfuffleabout the name a hysteria and a political issue. <\/p>\n
The problem is this: Maybe three weeks ago it was fine, she told the L.A. Times. So now the flavor of the day is ... we all have to be in hysteria....Its more of a political issue. The horse isnt political and neither am I. <\/p>\n
Over at USC theyre nonpolitical about their horse, she added. What if their name would be Lee? Would they want to change it? It doesn't make any difference. ...Hes a wonderful horse and a great mascot. <\/p>\n
The widow also notedthat the spelling of the name is different -- andwhen her husband bought the horse in 1958, the name had already been picked. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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USC mascot squabble: Trojan horse for political correctness? - Fox News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In California, the raging U.S. Continue reading