General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOK - so when are we going to get rid of mascots that riddicule Native Amercians???
This has been going on too long. Stanford did it, other schools did it.
And in many cases, all it needs is a single letter change:
For example: The Atlanta Braves becomes The Atlanta Brave (the adjective)
Cleveland Indians become Cleveland Indies
Chicago Blackhawks become the Chicago Black Hawks (the bird)
It really shouldn't be that hard
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Flaxbee
(13,661 posts)I completely agree with you.
But I also think that any company or team that uses an animal as their mascot MUST contribute toward preservation of that animal.
Save Your Logo (a French site, translated here):
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.saveyourlogo.org/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsave%2Byour%2Blogo%26hl%3Den%26tbo%3Dd%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D900&sa=X&ei=xx6gUO_kO-3G0AHnnoEI&ved=0CDoQ7gEwAA
Taverner
(55,476 posts)
Sekhmets Daughter
(7,515 posts)people wanted Florida State University to change their nickname from "The Seminoles" but the Seminole tribe stepped in to say they have absolutely no problem with it.
LP2K12
(885 posts)our Seminole history in Florida. It's not about taking advantage of them.
Sekhmets Daughter
(7,515 posts)
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)it as honoring.
Taverner
(55,476 posts)It's like the 'Juden Suess' for Native Americans!
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)outraged over this.
Go work in the Soup Kitchen.
Go help build a house for Habitat for Humanity.
Go visit a Veteran today of all days.
Taverner
(55,476 posts)But you have to admit that racist caricatures don't exactly make the targets feel welcome - and certainly sends out the message that they don't belong.
Minorities didn't choose to be minorities. A good deal of veterans did.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)you went off on one.
Marinedem
(373 posts)Find a real issue, if you're feeling like an activist today.
Taverner
(55,476 posts)You can go ahead and nit pick all you want, but words and images do, in fact, mean things
Response to Taverner (Reply #26)
Tuesday Afternoon This message was self-deleted by its author.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)
AlexSatan
(535 posts)
PufPuf23
(8,902 posts)were based upon Indian Warriors.
The logo and name is still the same.
On the other hand, "Black Sambo-style" Indian themes have pissed me off for at least the same period.
If Celtics are acceptable, so are Warriors and otherwise much ado about nothing ...
EXCEPT how presented (the Indian as a cartoon figure, the drunk Irishman).
Perhaps we should name sports teams after extinct cultures and animals only (Spartans, Condors(nearly and essentially so), DoDo's etc.)
There is much to be proud about in the Indian heritage. Its all in the presentation.
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)I love them as much for their name as for their awesome football-playing abilities. 
PufPuf23
(8,902 posts)Polldancer2012
(88 posts)Do the Dallas Cowboys ridicule ranch working cattle farm employees?
Do the Seattle Seahawks ridicule the aforementioned bird?
Do the Philadelphia Eagles ridicule their bird?
Maybe the Atlanta Braves have a NA as a mascot because they were badass fighters? I don't see ridicule.
Tree-Hugger
(3,374 posts)...the Philadelphia Eagles are a disgrace to the bird. Have you seen them play?
lastlib
(23,482 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Nor should they. The nickname was adopted after Lewis Sockalexis, a Native American who played for the team, was killed by being struck in the head by a pitch. The team was literally renamed in his honor.
Redskins is a different issue entirely
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts).
BlueMan Votes
(903 posts)They fully support the use of their name at Florida state.
lastlib
(23,482 posts)...let me clarify their story: They were named the "Chiefs" in honor of H. Roe Bartle, whose nickname was "Chief", when the team moved from Dallas to Kansas City. Bartle was mayor of KC when that move took place. In the early 1920's Bartle lived on the Wind River Reservation, studying the customs and traditions of the Arapaho tribe there. He became a "blood brother" to the Arapaho Chief's son, and was given the name of Lone Bear by that tribe. He came to Kansas City, and became Chief of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, an organization to promote native American ways among youth. So the team nickname is not to mock the Native Americans, but to recognize an individual who promoted and respected the Native American culture.
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)Why do so many American sports teams have names that have some Native American reference? "Ridicule" is not the answer; it's more I think the historical association of Native Americans with qualities of ferocity, nobility, aggression, etc. (cf Vikings and Celtics.) Calling the team the Cleveland Indians is not really the same thing as having a mascot like Chief Wahoo (which is in fact a racist caricature).
Taverner
(55,476 posts)
Maybe we should create a team called the "Juden Seusse"?
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)I specifically pointed out the Cleveland Indians *mascot* as a racist caricature; the team name itself? isn't.
Romulox
(25,960 posts)commissioned the racist caricature as the mascot of their team.
It wasn't all some horrible coincidence--the name and the caricature are meant to be reinforcing.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)TampaKeeper
(48 posts)that the Washington redskins and their mocking "tomahawk chop" are supposed to somehow honor the Native American.
sylvi
(813 posts)Taverner
(55,476 posts)Put a hipster on their cap 
GoCubsGo
(32,120 posts)...named them after Chief Blackhawk because he admired Chief Blackhawk, not because he wanted to ridicule him or other Native Americans. And, BTW, their "mascot" that walks around in a costume IS a black hawk.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools. The Commission deeply respects the rights of all Americans to freedom of expression under the First Amendment and in no way would attempt to prescribe how people can express themselves. However, the Commission believes that the use of Native American images and nicknames in school is insensitive and should be avoided. In addition, some Native American and civil rights advocates maintain that these mascots may violate anti-discrimination laws. These references, whether mascots and their performances, logos, or names, are disrespectful and offensive to American Indians and others who are offended by such stereotyping. They are particularly inappropriate and insensitive in light of the long history of forced assimilation that American Indian people have endured in this country.
Since the civil rights movement of the 1960s many overtly derogatory symbols and images offensive to African-Americans have been eliminated. However, many secondary schools, post-secondary institutions, and a number of professional sports teams continue to use Native American nicknames and imagery. Since the 1970s, American Indian leaders and organizations have vigorously voiced their opposition to these mascots and team names because they mock and trivialize Native American religion and culture.
It is particularly disturbing that Native American references are still to be found in educational institutions, whether elementary, secondary or post-secondary. Schools are places where diverse groups of people come together to learn not only the "Three Rs," but also how to interact respectfully with people from different cultures. The use of stereotypical images of Native Americans by educational institutions has the potential to create a racially hostile educational environment that may be intimidating to Indian students. American Indians have the lowest high school graduation rates in the nation and even lower college attendance and graduation rates. The perpetuation of harmful stereotypes may exacerbate these problems.
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)JP Morgan, Nelson Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, the three richest people in the world tried that shit during the first race between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley. The put out the lie that if Bryan, who was a potential trust buster won, businesses would shut down. They won and became richer as workers became poorer. They did it a second time but manipulated Teddy Roosevelt into the VP spot. McKinley was assassinated and Ted Roosevelt took over and busted the shit out of the massive trusts, launching america on a course of unparalleled wealth.
AlexSatan
(535 posts)Brave people and Independents.
And that is better, how?
As others have pointed out, the names are meant to honor. Why would you name yourself after something you want to mock?
You see names such as tigers, bears, eagles. Why not slugs, mushrooms, or douchebags? Because people want to be associated with the fierce and strong.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)BlueMan Votes
(903 posts)and how do you feel about the Florida State University Seminoles?
B2G
(9,766 posts)Because these teams are intent at invoking laughter at themselves.
This particular argument totally confuses me. They name themselves after warriors who fought with nobility...and that's a bad thing. Stupid PC crap.
Romulox
(25,960 posts)Fans of both teams should demand better.
