Native American Mascots

[gridiron]

I'm sure you're all aware of this issue.. If not, well, what rock have you been hiding under for the past 40 years? Seriously, though.. This matter has created quite a controversy concerning the use of Native American-themed mascots in high school, collegiate, and professional athletics programs..

What I want to know is how you all feel about it - are you for it or against? By that I mean, do you agree with liberal women activitsts, who pretty much picked up this issue most recently in the 1990's, and say we ought to force the change of such mascots because they're seen as 'degrading and dehumanizing'? Or do you side with the un-PC group that says 'let tradition stand'?

Face it folks, a lot of these respectable schools' mascots draw on the heritage of the towns in which they were founded.. Their alumni are sometimes responsible for monetary donations made to the schools' athletic programs.. They see themselves as 'chiefs' or 'warriors'.. To them it'll never change.. Several have threatened to withdraw donations to the schools should they change mascots.. And then, what do you know, the board unanimously votes to keep the mascot..

Is money a driving factor behind this issue? Well, yes, as a matter of fact it is.. What's going to happen if these schools are forced to change these mascots? I'll tell you what.. School districts, universities, and professional sports teams will take a deep hit to the pocketbook.. Do you know what it costs to buy new jerseys for a football team?

So not only will this movement destroy tradition, it will also cost millions to replace equipment with the new, PC logo emblazoned on the uniforms.. And that's not even mentioning the fan bases of said programs.. What will their reactions be? Will anyone even care? More importantly, is it worth it to see it all change, just because someone, at one time, felt 'uncomfortable'? Since when has the minority swayed the vote anyway? I look forward to hearing your comments and remarks..

 

[Moridin187]

People take these things wayyy too seriously... I'm irish, and I don't get offended by the stereotype that all irishmen are belligerent (Notre Dame)... Why should it bother someone that a team is named the Raiders or Warriors and has a native american symbol? That shows that the "race" obviously were proud, respectable people... Eh, I guess this is all just my opinion, but a friend of mine once said this:

"We'll never achieve world peace until all the diplomats from all the countries in the world can sit around a table at the U.N. and make jokes about eachother, then laugh at eachother, and more importantly, themselves."

 

[StondTmplPilot]

I am against changing the mascots...

As you stated so well, many of the schools mascots have some sort of connection with the local history, and in my opinion, it would be wrong to disrespect that history by demanding the mascot be changed. It is not as if these teams are naming themselves "Savages" or "Scalpmongers". They are terms of Pride and Honor in most cases. I see nothing offensive at all with names such as "Chiefs, Chippewas, Warriors, Aztecs, and Black Hawks".

 

[gridiron]

As am I, Pilot.. I'm a strong believer in the 'let the tradition' stand party.. The high school that I attend was once known for their Redmen.. Back in the late 70's and all through the 80's, the football teams were major powerhouses.. Then, in the early 90's, someone in the community (we don't even have Native Americans in this town!) approached the school board and said that it wasn't right to have such a degrading mascot.. So what did the school board do? They buckled and fell to the pressure of just one person.. So now, the Monticello football team ashamedly call themselves the Magic and are represented by a cute, little white bunny rabbit jumping out of a hat.. Is it any wonder why our football teams have sucked so much in the past and why we can't win? We have nothing to fight for! A mascot, after all, is an animal, person, or object which a group adopts as a symbolic figure, especially for bringing good luck.. So yeah.. We might be the Magic.. But magic can't do jack shit when it comes to fighting for a respectable mascot.. Bring back the Chief.. It's time for a Redmen revival..

 

[gridiron]

Please, everyone.. I posted this thread for a purpose.. I want to know what all of you think about this issue..

 

[pdx39]

The Washington Redskins

Should thier name be changed to the Washington Treaty Breakers?

 

[miles]

This is how I see it

If I were an American Indian, I'd be highly pissed seeing caricatures on sports uniforms.

Why not start some new teams and call them the Baltimore Negroes?

How about the Philadelphia Jews, or the Indianapolis Italians?

 

[gridiron]

Very good, miles.. We've identified the racism issue here.. But.. Say we didn't use cartoons and caricatures on uniforms.. And instead, the mascots were all acceptable, down to their traditional regalia.. What then would your answer be? Are the American Indian peoples offended by our use of these mascots, or the way in which we portray them? I suppose that's the question we should've been asking ourselves for a long time..

 

[miles]

Racism has to be the most misused word in the English language.

I don't know how the American Indians feel. Ask pp_man, he'll know.

 

[WriterDom]

Nobody gives a fuck what the native Americans think.

 

[gridiron]

Oh really?

Nobody gives a fuck what the native Americans think.

This little piece of Wisconsin legislation would state otherwise..

http://pages.prodigy.net/munson/legislation.htm

Feel free to read it.. Also, be sure to explore the rest of the site.. You'll find that the state of the Wisconsin has been forced to juggle a lot of issues since 1989 when all of this began..

 

[Marxist]

Not all of the logos and names are offensive. The Cleveland Indians logo is awful and the Washington Redskins is dated. But the Atlanta Braves (minus the FSU "tomahawk chop") is OK in my book. In the past, the Braves used caricatures and had Chief Knockahoma, if I remember right, but the name "Braves" seems OK with me. It's as if they used the name "Warrior" and depicted a Zulu warrior firing one down range. No problem here. But then I'm only a smidgen American Indian. I don't speak for any tribe.

 

[miles]

Let's do this

Rename the Braves the Atlanta Negroes and put good ole' Buckwheat's picture on the home jerseys. Before every home game give the first 10,000 fans a fried chicken leg. Instead of the Tomahawk Chop, let the white fans point the chicken at the opposing players while they all chanting "O-TAY!"

 

[Marxist]

Miles, that would be a riot. I like Atlanta Slaves better though. We could rattle our chains and scare the beejeezus out of the opposing pitcher.

Who says you don't have any worthwhile ideas? Not me for sure!

 

[Purple Haze]

Nobody gives a fuck what the native Americans think.

You are absolutely right sir. nobody gives a fuck what the native Americans think. Not even the native Americans, except for a select few. Ain't it great?

Kansas City Chiefs, works for me.

Cal State Warriors Kick ass.

North Dakota Fighting Sioux Let's rock.

Cleveland Indians May as well be the Topeka Chinamen. It doesn't make any fucking sense, does it? The Chicago Italians. The San Diego Mexicans. The Indianapolis Negroes. The Minnesota Norwegians. The New York Regular People.

How about the Toledo Undertakers?

 

[Gilly Bean]

I live in a college town. It is also on an indian reservation, The saginaw-chippewa indian tribe. The Central Michigan mascot is the Chippewa's. The indian's themselves have never made a fuss over it, but alot of college kids into what's PC or not do.

If the indians in this town don't object, why should the white kids who think it's wrong?

 

[Guest]

Nobody gives a fuck what the native Americans think.

I pray either this is facetious banter or some sort of joke. If not, well, that's quite hurtful.


As an Indian, I'm not offended by Indian mascots.

Enough said.

 

[AskACumSlut]

I pray either this is facetious banter or some sort of joke. If not, well, that's quite hurtful.


As an Indian, I'm not offended by Indian mascots.

Enough said.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish make me mad. Have you seen their logo? It's a fuckin' leprechaun!

 

[registered "^^"]

Not one mascot that I know of was chosen so they could belittle it. Usually quite the opposite for the team members and the fans.......hell some worship their mascots.

 

[Guest]

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish make me mad. Have you seen their logo? It's a fuckin' leprechaun!

]

Sorry, askacumslut, but I was referring to the above quote by WriterDom.

In other words, I don't know why you're quoting me.

 

[AskACumSlut]

I think it's quite clear WD was being facetious. My post was an attempt at humor, mocking your over-serious demeanor.


I'm Irish and Catholic. Notre Dame is the pre-eminent Catholic university that just happens to have a drunken, fighting Irishman as their mascot.

No harm. No foul.

 

[LukkyKnight]

I resemble that remark, damnit, AACS

He is NOT drunken, he is alcohol enhanced.





An Irishman is never drunk so long as he can hold onto a single blade of grass and not fall off the face of mother earth.

 

[LAVA GODDESSS]

My high school was repeatedly asked to change from their 'warrior' title,

our newspaper was the tomahawk, and our year book was something like the savage...

It isn't demeaning, we had pride in our teams, and hence in the connotations that came with the indians.

Whatever, too much thinking.

 

[Guest]

I think it's quite clear WD was being facetious. My post was an attempt at humor, mocking your over-serious demeanor.


I'm Irish and Catholic. Notre Dame is the pre-eminent Catholic university that just happens to have a drunken, fighting Irishman as their mascot.

No harm. No foul.

If it was quite clear, then, I would have no need to question him. I don't know him. I can't read facial features, non-verbal cues, nor hear voice inflections. Therefore, I can not judge accurately.
Over-serious demeanor; now, that's quite funny. You don't know me. We've not interacted. If I am bothered by a comment, I plan on saying so. No more, no less.Mock away. No bother at all.

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

Well i'm a native american/canadian Not pure but I am one.

I'm not for or against the mascots. I do think it should be downplayed a bit though, like the redskins tomahawk chop.


and WriterDom I really do hope that was a joke.. if it was put a winking face on th ened to show sarcasum.

cause i'm in a bad mood today, and seeing that didn't help matters any.