With two teams in the World Series — The Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians — that use depictions of American Indians as their mascots many people have re-expressed concerns about such stereotypical views that these mascots often portray.

Many people often simplify this situation to a matter of political correctness. And it’s also a concern of many that political correctness oftentimes goes too far. After all, this is America’s pastime. The mascots aren’t meant to offend anyone. It’s all just part of the game, right?

Wrong.

Intentional or not, American Indian mascots do offend people. But it goes well beyond that.

On top of being offensive to many, the mascots are stereotypical and help substantiate false myths and images about a group of people. They insult a group of people in our society. They insult this group’s religion. They insult this group’s lifestyle.

Why then do we continue to allow these depictions of American Indians and other racial or ethnic groups to persist?

There aren’t many prominent mascots that play upon singular racial factors of whites, blacks, Hispanics or Asians. But somehow, American Indians are treated different.

In all honesty, most people don’t think much about the mascots, and that helps perpetuate the problem. If a minority group finds itself being insulted all too often nothing is done. But if the majority is insulted, action is taken.

Whether it’s a minority or a majority of the population that’s insulted by the use of these mascots, something needs to be done.

It’s not about political correctness. It’s about respecting the a group of people for who they are.