Ads promoting Choctaw casino are offensive

Television commercials promoting the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' effort to put a casino in Jackson County are offensive.

As opponents of the Choctaw casino, we would hardly be expected to agree with the tribe's methods to sway voters in a non-binding referendum to be held on Nov. 6. But the televised ads we have seen this week are not just disagreeable, they are insulting to South Mississippians in general, and Jackson Countians in particular.

Opening with scenes of devastation supposedly caused by Hurricane Katrina, the ads go on to suggest that unless Jackson Countians vote in favor of a monopoly casino franchise for the Choctaws, such scenes of ruin will remain in the county.

What utter nonsense.

Jackson County is no miserable disaster area.

From Ocean Springs to Moss Point and from St. Martin to Gautier, the resilience of residents and businesses has been remarkable. As has been the commitment to masterfully plan even better communities.

As for the mood of Jackson County, it can be downright delightful -- as was seen at the recent mullet festival in Gautier, or as can be seen at the county fair now being held in Pascagoula or as will be seen at the upcoming Peter Anderson festival in Ocean Springs.

Such celebrations shatter the pitiful picture of Jackson County put forward by the Choctaws.

For the Choctaws to employ such painful images in pursuit of profit undermines the efforts by the tourism and hospitality industries to showcase the area's comeback. It exemplifies the tribal leadership's conspicuously bad judgment, and raises serious questions about their understanding of this region, its people and their attitudes.

In inexcusably poor taste is the Choctaws' commercial use of children as cheerleaders for their proposed casino. At one point the Choctaws show kids giving a boisterous "thumbs up" to gambling.

If this is the best bet that the Choctaws can make, then Jackson County voters should call their bluff.