Yeah, Right, Whatever

I am becoming more and more convinced that some people go out of their way to get offended. Case in point:

Colorado Gov. Bill Owens apologized for saying "the natives are getting restless" during a conference on tribal gambling.

Owens made the remark at the Western Governors' Association Summit after a participant's microphone wouldn't work and he urged it be fixed quickly. Some attendees told the Rocky Mountain News the audience fell silent, then groaned and chuckled.

Most of the people there laughed. But, of course, someone had to get all in a huff over it.

Richard Milanovich of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, Calif., said he "couldn't imagine" any person of stature making that kind of remark.

Owens "went out of his way to call this conference, and then more or less made fun of the people who were there," Milanovich said.

No, Mr. Milanovich. He didn't make fun of the people who were there. He used a popular and time honored idiomatic expression not meant to offend anyone (which didn't even originally refer to Native Americans). Granted, as a public figure, he should have known better than to say something like that in this politically correct world we live in. But he didn't make fun of anyone.

Mr. Milanovich, you have a proud heritage, a heritage of strength and power and honor and dignity. To complain about something so minor, so petty, demeans that proud heritage.