Arizona war memorial sparks row

Arizona war memorial sparks row

Central Phoenix - and in the backdrop, the disputed Squaw Peak

A proposed memorial to an American Indian soldier killed in Iraq is causing tempers to flare in Phoenix, Arizona.

Lori Piestewa, a Hopi Indian, was the first military servicewoman to die in the war and the local Democrat governor, Janet Napolitano, wants to rename a nearby mountain in her honour.

Indians have also welcomed the name change, because Squaw Peak, as the mountain is currently known, is considered offensive.

But the idea has run into fierce opposition from the local board governing official state names and conservative lawmakers, who feel she is using the issue to win political points.

'Clintonesque'

"I think it sets the tone for what her governorship is going to be like," said Republican state representative John Allen.

"It's going to be very Clintonesque-style in the sense where you take advantage [of the situation], no matter whose grief it is."

Ms Piestewa was one of nine members of the army's 507th Maintenance Company killed in an ambush near Nasiriya last month.

Piestewa, top right, and other American casualties of war in Iraq

Private Jessica Lynch, who survived the ambush and was later rescued from an Iraqi hospital, was also among the group.

Ms Piestewa's family supports the proposed name change, which would also see the motorway that runs alongside the mountain, Squaw Peak Freeway, renamed.

"We are very honoured and quite surprised," said Wayland Piestewa, Lori's brother.

And Ms Napolitano was cheered by mourners in Lori's hometown, Tuba City, when she first suggested the idea last weekend.

Five-year rule

But the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names says people must be dead five years before geographic features can be named after them.

Ms Napolitano argues, in return, that the waiting period should be waived because federal politics prohibit racist and sexist official names.

Some linguists argue that "squaw" is derived from an Indian term for female genitalia.

The state board will vote on the issue after receiving public comments - and if approved the proposal will be passed up to the national board for consideration.

In a sign of some of the heat the debate has acquired, the state board may also elect a chairman to replace Tim Norton, a police officer.

Ms Napolitano asked that he resign last week for rejecting her name change request, reports the Arizona Republic newspaper.