Indian names & mascots

#1

VolunteerHillbilly

Spike Drinks, Not Trees
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#1
I started thinking about this topic again while watching the Redskins this weekend. Presumably, if even a significant minority of people in this country were offended by Indian names on sports teams then the teams that are closest to those potential consumers (the professional sports leauges) would lead the way on this issue but you hear nothing but the fringe element demanding that the Redskins, Chiefs, Braves, Indians, etc. change their name and mascot. What this leads me to beleive that that there are not enough people out there in America who care about this issue to even comprise a measurable market share. Now let's turn to the world of college athletics. What is it that makes the NCAA think this is a good idea? It can't be political pressure because there is no evidence to suggest that a majority of people support this. I just don't get it. I also wonder where this will end. I can guarantee you that there are already people who think that somehow animal mascots demean other species and facilitate animal cruelty. And don't think that there is not some group of people who think that using the imagery of their ancestors who fought and died in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War is inherently dishonorable.
 
#2
#2
As I have posted before, the Cherokee Nation in WNC is tickled to death about the Atlanta Braves. They say it's good for business and wouldn't have it any other way. There is a high school on the reservation and their football team is made up predominately of Native American players. What do you think their nickname is? You guessed it...the Braves. And they can play some football, too. They play in the same conference Heath Schuler's high school plays in. Geograpically, the campuses are only about 6 miles apart.
If anyone has the right to be offended, it would be by the "Redskins" considering what Hollywood did with the term. As far as Fla State, Syracuse, Central Michigan, etc. whats the big deal? I'd think the Indian Nations would be pleased to be used as representaives. Nobody picks a "wimpy" nickname.
BTW, we have a high school in the Asheville area whose nickname is the "Warrriors". Nobody bitched about that but the women's teams took the nickname 'Squaws" years ago instead of "Lady Warriors" and the media finally took it over. Everything went crazy around here for a while. The female atheletes were proud to be called "The Squaws" but the media beat the hell out of them over it. It's still up in the air.
Finally, my high school Alma Mater's nickname is the "Warhorses". We've had a few A--hole peacenicks who want us to change our names to something stupid like the "Peacehorses". Tell that to guys like Brad Johnson (you've heard of him) and Brad Dougherty, UNC and Cleveland Cav's basketball star. We are the United States of the Offended. That's a term coined by Robert D. Rayford of John Boy and Billy fame. The women athelets couldn't find a suitable nickname with "Horse" in it so they call themselves the "Warlassies" (complete with school color Scottish kilts.) We love it.
 
#3
#3
I say bring back the Atlanta Crackers....of course all those Yankees down here wouldn't go to the games anymore but who needs them?
 
#4
#4
(CSpindizzy @ Jan 26 said:
I say bring back the Atlanta Crackers....of course all those Yankees down here wouldn't go to the games anymore but who needs them?
There was also an Atlanta Black Crackers team that played pretty well.
 
#5
#5
(VolunteerHillbilly @ Jan 9 said:
you hear nothing but the fringe element demanding that the Redskins, Chiefs, Braves, Indians, etc. change their name and mascot. What this leads me to beleive that that there are not enough people out there in America who care about this issue to even comprise a measurable market share.

You're right on that one; there aren't very many and they have no real power. You can thank a certain set of "Revolutionary Pioneers" for that. They were basically pushed into the Pacific Ocean, and the few that were left were hidden in these nice little things called "Reservations."

The fact that a voice is small should never negate its truth.
 
#6
#6
(kiddiedoc @ Jan 27 said:
The fact that a voice is small should never negate its truth.

Will to power, baby.

This thread was never meant to begin a debate on Anglo-Native American history. I started it becasue I wanted to know of anyone else out there thinks the P.C. police are going overboard with the whole mascot thing. If you have to have the last word then take it because I am done posting in this thread.
 
#7
#7
i for one have always taken the notion of the native american mascot names to be paying something of homage to the history of their people, and the signifgance of their part in our country's history. I don't think anyone is naive enough to think that it's all rosy on the role our government played in regards to the American Indian and its culture's future in this country.

But to think that having an American Indian mascot name is demeaning in someway, to me it is the exact opposite. I think it is an honor, and to think, that Washington, D.C., the home of our government, who no doubt wronged thei entire Indian Nation way back when, is now known as the Washington Redskins. ( I do agree, that if there were any beef, it would have to be with that name, "Redskins". I doubt very seriously, it would be allowable to have a mascot or team name be blackskins, yellowskins, whiteskins etc...)

JMO.
 
#8
#8
Hell if it weren't for the mascots many kids these days probably wouldn't even know what an Indian was except for Asian Indians.
 
#9
#9
(CSpindizzy @ Jan 27 said:
Hell if it weren't for the mascots many kids these days probably wouldn't even know what an Indian was except for Asian Indians.

:lolabove:

Nominee: P.C. Post of the Year
 
#10
#10
(CSpindizzy @ Jan 27 said:
Hell if it weren't for the mascots many kids these days probably wouldn't even know what an Indian was except for Asian Indians.
I'm confused. What is an Asian Indian? Anyway, my opinion is if all the pc police want an answer to the question about whether or not college mascot nicknames offend native Americans ask them to vote on each one individually. I would be happy with the results.
 
#12
#12
(kiddiedoc @ Jan 28 said:
:lolabove:

Nominee: P.C. Post of the Year

I asked a few kids if they knew what an Indian was. They told me they help fix their parent's computers over the phone and they run the local Dairy Queen.
 
#13
#13
:shakehead: And we wonder why Southerners are labelled as uneducated racists?
 
#14
#14
Perhaps I should have used Native American rather than Indian since that is the "preferred" term.
 

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