Lower Paxton and Susquehanna Townships Succeed Where Iron Pigs Fail

Kudos to the leaders of the two townships for not bowing to the Political Correctness machine like the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs did in regards to the name of their mascot. A petition was filed by the United States Board on Geographical Names on behalf of a few groups who were OUTRAGED that a river named Asylum Run would contain the highly inflammatory name "asylum,"...yawn. Outcome: swatted down like the nuisance it was. First and foremost, The United States Board on Geographical Names? How much money is that wasting in tax payer funds? Secondly, major props to George Wolfe of Lower Paxton and Frank Lynch for laying the smackdown on this ridiculous challenge. I don't know what party they are from and I don't care, they deserve massive kudos on this. Here's an "offended" person's plea for bowing to the small majority of "outraged" people:

"Asylums were just horrible places. They were torture chambers for people who have mental disabilities," Anthony said. "It's a very, very offensive word. For us, it's the same thing as an African-American person being called the N-word."

Well, that's interesting. An asylum was a place, so I really doubt it would be the same thing as calling a black person the N-word. Everyone is offended by everything now-a-days, and the nonsense needs to end. There was no racial or discriminatory overtones when that creek was named Asylum Run, so it's garbage to suggest that there was.

Here's some common sense from Wolfe and Lynch:

Lower Paxton and Susquehanna had the final say because the townships would bear the responsibility of changing signs and maps and paying for other expenses that would be incurred.

George Wolfe, Lower Paxton's manager, said the supervisors "didn't really think [the request] merited further consideration."

Susquehanna Twp. Commissioner Frank Lynch said changing names rooted in history for politically correct reasons often have unintended consequences.

Besides, Lynch said he doesn't believe the name conjures the terrible connotations as stated by the Disability Rights Network.

"I've done volunteer PR work for a mental disability organization that promotes independence for those who live with mental disadvantages," he said. "I know all the corners of this dispute."

Got that? Tax money from local and statewide citizens would have mounted to a few hundred thousands, at least, in order to change the name of the creek, and would have caused a media circus that would have resulted in lost man hours by people elected to do a job for the benefit of the majority of the citizens. Think about any name long enough and you will find that it insults someone, somewhere. The political correctness madness needs to stop before it goes any further down the slope towards the complete void of logic and common sense it has for so long been headed. Wolfe and Lynch should be commended for taking a stand on this.

-Caomhin