An unsigned reader submission, “It’s time to re-evaluate Red and Blue,” published in last week’s Herald, was widely read and, by all accounts, got people talking. Angering many, the opinion piece called for the community to “reflect” and “engage in an open and frank discussion about whether continuing such an event in today’s day and age is still appropriate.”
Many readers jumped to the conclusion that the author was calling for an end to the 96-year-old event. But the contributor wrote, “Let me be clear: I am not necessarily calling for an end to Red and Blue …” The author set forth not only a way to “honorably conclude the tradition” (at its centennial in 2016), but also a way to continue Red and Blue, by improving it: “The competition should be changed to be more inclusive and reflective of the values we want our children to carry with them into the future.”
Red and Blue is a three-day indoor meet and revue sanctioned by South Side High School. It is open to all high school girls, and approximately two-thirds of the school’s girls participate over a six-week period of preparation and competition each winter.
The column cited perceived negatives about Red and Blue, alleging that it is a school-sanctioned popularity contest, is sexist, perpetuates social and racial divides, disrupts long-time friendships, has too much parental and outside adult involvement and distracts participants from their education.
As the Herald went to press this week, the piece had received more than 4,000 hits on its website, and many links to the piece were emailed and tweeted. It was the topic of discussion over coffee and at card games in town, and it was even mentioned at the village board briefing on March 29. Numerous comments that were called in or emailed to the editor spared neither the Herald nor the anonymous contributor, with most of the outrage focused on the fact that the Herald had violated its own policy in publishing an anonymous expression of opinion.
