The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking time out of its busy schedule of cutting checks for rich farmers to investigate 4-H Clubs in West Virginia.
For 80 years at summer camp the youngsters have adopted tribal names, conducted rituals and worn ceremonial face paint in honor of the strength, courage and spirituality of American Indians.
The clubs are deeply involved with nature as their members learn how the resourceful coexistence of man with earth, a hallmark of Indian culture, can produce enough food to feed the world's growing population.
But, dear readers, you know where this is going.
Wess Harris, daddy of a 9-year-old girl who attended one of the camps, is weighed down by enough white guilt to snap the back of a buffalo.
"It's not about political correctness. It's about racism," he tells The Washington Times, railing that he and his wife were "blindsided" by the ceremonies and such.
His recourse was to complain to the retainers of "Great White Father," without seeing the irony.
So the federal Aggies will hold the cudgel of $4.5 million given to West Virginia University's 4-H program. WVU must "voluntarily" do what it is told to do or face the "Long Knives" in the civil rights office of the Justice Department, who could cut off the cash.
So far, the university has not budged, officially. Nonetheless, 4-H officials have done away with face-painting and have warned their agents and volunteers to use "common sense." Ah, well.
As for Mr. Harris, a "white guy dealing with a white people's problem," some respectful advice: Get off your high horse.
