We should keep the name Squaw Peak instead of Piestewa Peak

[Trans tech]

I don't think I will ever be able to call one of my childhood favorite landmarks Piestewa Peak. I have yet to meet a Arizonan that is happy about the whole way it came about. Its to bad that we are expected to give up so much tradition just to apeeze a few sqeeky wheels. Lets take America back.

[Trans tech]

In response to tempe23's reply: I'm with you on the Pat Tillman case and how about the guy from Mesa that after 9/11 He left his successful flooring company and family with small children to protect our great nation. I don't see any mountains named after them. Tillman gave up a pro ball career to also protect America.

All our solders sacrifice a great deal in different ways as well as the ultimate sacrifice. Let us not cater to just one. (of course Gov. Janet probably wouldn't understand)

[ghoster]

This thread could go political at any time, opinions on the naming or renaming are just the start. Besides it isn't permanent for ten years. It was a knee jerk reaction to the first woman killed in combat in this operation. Her sacrifice and the others that gave or had their lives taken from them deserve recognition all of them not just the ones with name recognition.

[zonagoph]

In response to Trans tech's reply:
yikes, I didn't think this forum on the re-naming to Piestewa Peak would devolve into name-calling and political posturing. Nobody ever said or implied that one soldier's sacrifice was more noble or worthy than another. Any true soldier would say the same thing (I know thats what Tillman and McCain would say).

I support Gov. Janet and her decision to dignify this wonderful peak with a name honoring a patriot would proudly served her country rather than a crass, possibly obscene word (arguments for and against non-withstanding). As I said before, what was it known as before 1903? Why can't we call it that? You say squaw, I say Piestewa, just keep on hiking the peak and enjoy the view and a brew (at the bottom, I don't want to pay for any more rescues).

hike on...

[zonagoph]

In response to ghoster's reply:
Amen, ghoster, well put

hike on...

[ChefTIO]

In response to ghoster's reply:
Amen, ghoster, well put

I agree.

[GTG_AZH]

In response to Trans tech's reply:
As I said before, what was it known as before 1903? Why can't we call it that?

It was named something even more unacceptable and unmentionable by today's standards. I won't repeat it here but look for it in "Squaw Peak A Hiker's Guide".
http://hikearizona.com/books.php?REV=1&ID=6
You may be able to find it in a Google search too.
GTG

[zonagoph]

In response to GTG's reply:
thanks for the idea, i couldn't find the name you were referrring to, so i googled origin of squaw peak

From our Mohawk elders we learned that the word "squaw" derived from the Mohawk word "otsikwaw" which means "female genitalia." Early European fur-traders shortened the word to "squaw," and its usage implied the crudest sexual connotations. The "common" use of the term spread across the United States with the settlement of European Americans. Although the word became accepted as part of the English language, through education we have come to understand the inappropriate and derogatory origin of the word. Any place name that includes the word "squaw" represents the sexual objectification of ALL WOMEN and of American Indian women, in particular.

hike on...

[Trans tech]

In response to zonagoph's reply: Your link that you put in is for one of the wacko political correctness groups. they're part of the (stuck in the 60's group from Colorado that have twisted the facts to fit their Americans are always wrong group)

[Hoffmaster]

I wasn't going to add my 2 cents; quite frankly it's not worth the time. But I have time so...
Who cares about a mountain's name? I'm sure most of us hike at the places we do, because of what the place is to us: scenic, peaceful, challenging, reminiscent of childhood, etc. I doubt that any of us have a favorite hiking place because we liked the name of it. A name is trivial. Piestawa Peak is and will be the same physical mountain as Squaw Peak and that is all that matters. The mountain is the same, the trails are the same, the views are the same, no matter how many times the name changes. The mountain doesn't care.
Trans Tech, I suggest you be careful on your forum topics. This isn't PoliticalArizona.com or Startastupidargumentwithotherhikers.com. A name change does not affect our access or ability to hike this mountain. This is HikeArizona.com. We should try to keep the point of our forum topics at least somewhat related to the topic of hiking. It is this kind of stuff that saw the HAZ Forum get shut down for a while in the first place. Let's be smart and keep the Forum up and hike Squaw Peak or whatever you want to call it.

[sidhayes]

I cannot see anything wrong at all about this hot topic. It has affected many people to different degrees. Why not talk about it? If Joe thinks that it is improper, I am sure he will say so and we will say not more about it!

[bryanmertz]

I agree with Matt Hoffman's take here. Is this really the place to push your point-of-view on a given topic (outside of is this a good hike or not?)

It's fine that we all have different opinions! You have made yours obvious Trans Tech - are you posturing so that I change my opinion? I've met several great people through this site and we have had plenty of conversations about our alliances and beliefs - but they were all outside of the site.

I think we (myself included) take this community (the HAZ community) for granted sometimes. The people here share one great common characteristic - that is we enjoy all that Arizona has to offer in the way of hiking and backpacking; regardless of political, religious or ethnic background.

Bryan

[hiker mom]

New to the forum, but just thought I'd weigh in on the general subject of 'place names.' The U.S. of A. is very fortunate to have such a diverse population of different ethnic groups, which have all contributed to our language and, in the process, have given us scores of interesting place names. We may find some of them unusual, puzzling or downright humerous. Some, evidently, are wont to find them offensive, but you know the old saw "sticks and stones . . ." They do, however, make our country colorful. If we get all wrapped up in P.C. we'll denude our country of its rich heritage represented in its language and its historical names. I always thought the name of that grand range of mountains in Wyoming hugely entertaining and romantic - you know, The Grant Tetons. Folklore says they were so named by a lonely French trapper, who spying their lovely forms was reminded of the upper aspect of his ladylove! (Can we say 'hooters' here?) It would be a shame to have some overly sensitve female insist on renaming them.

[te_wa]

here's the hot topic, back on the front burner again. My argument still stands... if you are going to re-name a peak after an Indian woman, dont forget the name Squaw appears on many maps denoting place names for canyons, mesas, peaks, creeks, and others. Do they (gov's lackeys) think none of us have maps?
Here's another hot topic: you do not have constitutional protection to not be insulted. If you dont like the name Grand Tetons, or Squaw Peak then move somewhere else where your ideas may not be tolerated at all. Like China. To me, PC is rediculous grandstanding. Ive seen the words "african american and white in the same sentence. Now does that make sense? I refuse such illiterate banter. I refuse to refer to an oriental as "asian". Iraq, Syria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Turkey and many, many other countries are in ASIA.
Squaw Peak it is, and always will be. Period.

[JimmyLyding]

I could care less what the official maps say. I grew up in the shadow of Squaw Peak, and I don't have much of a choice in terms of what to call it. I do get a kick out of absendmindedly telling out-of-towners to "take the Squaw Peak north to Shea Boulevard..."

[chumley]

here's the hot topic, back on the front burner again. My argument still stands...

I couldn't agree more.

I read recently of an elected official in Massachusetts who was offended that the historical painting in the government office showed men in colonial times presiding over the townspeople ... and no women were pictured. This official actually commissioned a new painting to replace it that included women in power.

It's the craziest thing I'd heard. Sorry, but as wrong as it may have been, women were not in government at the time the painting depicted. The painting shows the way things actually were.

I'm offended by anybody who must cleanse the world of things they are offended by. But somehow me being offended by pc doesn't matter to anybody.

[Jeffshadows]

I don't really want to touch this one, but, having been over there - here's the devil's advocate speaking: A lot of us felt like most people in the US either didn't care or possibly didn't want to know that there was a war going on and people were dying. It was a morale boost to see public offerings of remembrance like the renaming. I can think of at least four or five other soldiers from AZ who thought it was dumb before they deployed, and now have a new perspective having been there, themselves. I can think of more appropriate things to bear a fallen soldier's name (Like a veteran's hall, or a public building) but the powers-that-be chose a peak. At lest we can be proud that the first woman from Arizona felled in this conflict died, by all accounts, firing her weapon and fighting despite being injured; which is more than anyone can say for another female wartime casualty celebrity who shall remain nameless...

[Al_HikesAZ]

I wasn't going to say anything since I really haven't cared. I've made fun of the name in the past by mispronouncing it as a wordplay on the Hopi meaning that nobody ever understood. But as I see the Veteran's commemorations and ceremonies, I have been changing my mind and I will pronounce it correctly henceforth. To see the old CodeTalkers and the young veterans adds meaning & power to the place and the name. I like seeing the ceremonies here instead of just at cemeteries. My Father is buried at Arlington and honoring Veterans is important to me. Jeff MacE's response confirms what I have been thinking. I don't care if it becomes "Two Name Peak", as long as the ceremonies continue. After all, as I see it, very few people know Chomolongma by it's real name anymore and it doesn't seem to matter.

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;

[SuicidalArmy72]

Born and raised in Phoenix and this will always be Squaw Peak!

[joebartels]

Guess if it's spelled out in good old plain English it's cool to go?
http://hikearizona.com/images/screensho ... hot-55.png
not to mention this in the KOFA (cough) range

[Jeffshadows]

Baugh!!! I never noticed that before, that's just plain awesome!