Boomer Sooner! This is a phrase you are bound to hear at The University of Oklahoma and around the entire state. We are known as the "sooner state," after all. Recently, there has been some controversy regarding the phrase "Boomer Sooner." This controversy began with the group Indigenize OU. They argue that "Boomer Sooner" is "offensive" and perpetuates the history of whites stealing away the land from Native Americans. They argue that the term has "real and violent consequences." This simply isn’t true.
"Boomers" were people who favored the opening of unassigned lands in the Oklahoma territory. The people who settled the land too soon were known as the "Sooners." This is part of the rich history and tradition of Oklahoma. To say that these terms have "violent consequences" is comical. I have never heard of someone acting in a violent manner for simply uttering the phrase "Boomer Sooner" (well, maybe if they did it on the campus of UT).
We cannot simply try to erase our history and traditions just because a small group disagrees with it. We must recognize the wrongs of our past while also embracing all of the incredible parts of our great history and past.
Indigenize OU is the same group that claimed that Sheriff Joe Lester "openly and actively celebrates the forced displacement and genocide of an entire community," simply for celebrating the '89er Parade. I can personally tell you that Sheriff Lester does not support such a thing. He is one of the most kind and generous men I have ever met, and the fact that this group would publicly say such a thing is disingenuous and counterproductive. Instead of accusing a man of supporting genocide for simply going to a parade celebrating the state's history or trying to change OU’s special traditions, they should focus on real issues that the student body can get around. Instead they are alienating themselves and stirring controversy.
To conclude, the fact that a simple phrase such as "Boomer Sooner" — which is part of the great tradition of this university — would cause controversy, is a sign of a greater issue that is happening on college campuses. The issue is that political correctness is running rampant. A lot of college students are now "offended" and "hurt" by anything and everything. Simply chalking the words "Vote Trump" on the sidewalk is considered dangerous and violent rhetoric. Simply asking someone where he or she is from is considered a "microaggression." This has to stop. In the real world, nobody is going to care if your feelings are hurt by something someone said or if their views "offend" you. It’s time to stop finding something to always complain about and start being more positive. Boomer Sooner!
Kyle Meyer is a political science freshman and a former member of OU's Undergraduate Student Congress.
