Who Do The Indians Think They are?

[MM38084]

Why is it that in this day & age, when many of us feel that we have advanced past the days of blatant racism, do we still have sports mascots, such as the Cleveland Indian's "Chief Wahoo"? We finally wised up to the fact that "Little Black Sambo" was not acceptable, so we did away with it. Why are Native Americans not spared this same decency? Why do we think it is OK to have a stupidly grinning, farcically colored "chief" as a mascot for a team that should be renamed out of respect in the 1st place?!

As we all know, A Chief is one of the most respected members of a tribe. To show any Native in such a pathetically disrespectful manner is unacceptable. But a Chief?? It's time to open our eyes. How can a "civilized" nation be so callous to any race, let alone one we have dispossessed of land & lifestyle?


The Washington Redskins also come to mind. They have been my favorite team since I was a youngster. But "Redskins"? How is that OK? Was that ever more than a racist term used by whites that wanted Natives sent to reservations? Did natives ever think of themselves a Red? Not likely. The team name must be changed, just as sure as any other ignorant racist slang.

Why is it that the average person I ask does not see "Redskins" as racist? Maybe because we've gotten used to it after hearing it so much. But do you really think that Native Americans have gotten used to it? Most likely, you have never even given it a thought.

Unfortunately, Native Americans lack the resources of other minority groups to combat this ignorance. The reason they do is also completely misunderstood. But that is a topic that is even more difficult to tackle. Especially when people aren't even open minded enough to consider the mascot issue.
It's true that there are many other mascots & team names that need to be changed, which will be difficult for sports fans. The Braves, Chiefs etc. Though more subtle, these team names are still painful for many Natives. If Native Americans feel that the team names are racist, shouldn't that be enough?! What others think should be immaterial

Bob

[melody1181]

I tire of this Indian mascots as well, but also think in alot of way this world is getting to politically correct and fear that this will always be looked at like that. There is still alot of racisim and misnomers about Native American Culture. I hate all those old westerns and such that portray Native Americans in a bad light.

It will take alot to ever change things like this, unfortunatly.

[Tamaroa]

changed their name, I would be furious. first of all they would be giving in to politically correct BS. Second of all the figure they use is in no way demeaning. I have been a Redskins fan since 1968.

Would you suggest that the San Diego Padres change their name because it MIGHT offend catholics? Or how about changing the name of the Miami Dolphins so we don't offend some animal loving group?

Let's see, the Yankees should definitely be changed. As a Former Virginian I take offense to that horrible name. Why don't we do this! We will have Team 1 in the A division followed by team 2 and Teams 3 and 4. In the B division we can have Teams 5 through 8 and so on!!'

Come on folks, you are falling into the hands of the PC crowd! don't do it!! We have a lot more important things to worry about than whether or not we offend somebody by naming a team that may or may not be offensive. As for the Redskins, are you aware that the actually hired an Indian for a head coach several decades ago? He didn't seem to mind.

Lets go out and cure the real ills of this world not this stuff!

Bill

[Jerry D]

I am with you Bill . this controversy is one of the PC crowds pet ideas. Its like the Arctic Oil drilling . Depends which group you talk to of the Inuits whether it is a good idea or bad drilling for Oil. The tribe that lives there is for it and the Jobs it will bring the Tribe that won't get any benefit is the one with sour grapes and is against the Oil drilling.Go figure !

[BLUEHAWK]

What Bill said...

I'm fairly well acquainted with the young Indian lady (from Santa Fe) who started bringing all this up a few years ago over the "Fighting Illini" and their mascot, and then tried the same thing with the NFL Redskins.

After thinking about the ideas in MM's thread up there for several years, I've come to the conclusion that there may be some instances where disrespect is present or possible... but I strongly disagree that such a thing demands that teams get rid of their unique names or mascots entirely (which is exactly what is usually asked for, usually by picketing or in court). Taking it that far is a serious mistake... I ain't all that fond of the Yankees myself, they got nice uniforms though.

Heard about a tribe here in Oklahoma who recently named their team the "Warriors", so I guess not all Indian folks see it as all insult and no good!

Sports are supposed to be for fun contests and intense loyalty, nothing more.

[MORTARDUDE]

I have mixed emotions about this. The Native Americans have been shit on big time for along, long time. Most of us only know the homoginized-Caucasian-version. They brought some of it on themselves, but not a large percentage. If it hadn't been for all the gambling casinos, they would still be at the bottom. If anybody should be asking for reparations or an imcome tax break, it should be them. All that having been said, I think the Indian tribes in the area where the sports franchise which is using their image, should have the final say. Let the mostly-full blooded Native Americans vote, and if a majority say change it, do so. If not, then you know how they feel and go on to more meaningful stuff. I think the Cleveland Indian mascot is disgraceful. Can you imagine a black mascot in such over-the-top-imagery, or Hispanic ? I am 1/64 Native American and my wife is 1/16.
A very large percentage of the population is at least 10%, so we all have a say in this. All this is IMHO...

Larry

[reeb]

No Solution;

If Washing Redskins were based in Dallas, they would be the Dall Wetbacks, vice the Dallas Cowboys.

Stupid all the way...

Why is so much stink being raised about the races nowdays???

College kids aint got nothing better to do than when we were young??

This racist shi- is going to far for the American born people......

We "supposedly" are a Peace Loving Country, right?

Baseballs Washington (shi- I forgot the name of them), but now they are the Texas Rangers, of which our Pres use to be part owner.

I can imagine in my small brain right now that the Tx Rangers (police) , if the baseball team loses ( which they do quite often) would offend them.

WATCH OUT LONE RANGER !!!!!!!

Common Sense is all it takes now days to survive and get along with others and right now it dont make sense to most of you, but we are cybers friends and dont slam each other.

Everyone wants to get rich the easy way "Law Suits :, but it would be better to spend the 87 Billion here in the States then rebuild a country we blew the hell out of

enoough.........

[SuperScout]

Perhaps the ongoing dispute and debate about political correctness is rooted in the double standard that has been embedded in our courts and our culture. For example, we proudly acclaim the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, yet a similar organization, the National Association for the Advancement of White Folks would be the precursor to protests. If a new university were to apply to the NCAA for membership, naming their mascot as The Fighting White Guys, how quickly do you suppose the NCAA would vote to ban them from athletic competition? Or how many poor Hispanic people would be given the multiple get-out-of-jail passes that some rich professional athletes have been given for multiple drug-related offenses? What do you think the verdict would have been if a high-school dropout had been accused of slashing his former wife's throat, and enough DNA and other evidence was found to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt?

I have so solutions, but simply a cautionary warning that what we have sown, we're currently reaping, and the harvest ain't that purty to look at! Afterall, politcal correctness is just a fancy two-word phrase for bigotry.

[DMZ-LT]

I feel your pain MM. Go Braves !!

[revwardoc]

If we're going to go completely PC, we have to rename The Grand Tetons mountain range since its French for "Big Tits". And what about the word "sqaw"? Its a bastardization of a French word for, well, lets say it rhymes with "punt". The Vancouver Canucks should change their name, too. Canuck is right up there with "redskin" and "wetback". UMass changed their nickname from "The Redmen" to the more PC "Minutemen" but that was almost changed when the minority students at that ultra-left-wing institution decided it symbolized "just another white man with a gun". Remember the old Baltimore Bullets of the NBA? They moved to Washington then changed their name to "The Wizards" because of all the street violence and drive-bys in DC. PC in DC. I played football in the service and my Indian (I guess I should say, Native-American) teammates used to apply war paint on their faces before a game as a salute to their heritage. The Cleveland Indians are so named in tribute to back when there was a National League team in that town called "The Cleveland Spiders" whose best player was an Indian (I don't remember his name). There used to be a National League team in Worcester, MA called "The Greys". If they still existed would they have to change their name so they wouldn't insult AARP members? The Italian national soccer team is called "Il Azure" (The Blues) because they wear all blue unis. Should they change because it may be construed as an insult to people with Post Depression Syndrome? Some Texas state rep (a black woman) complained because there aren't, in her opinion, enough "black" names used for hurricanes!

PCism is crap. I seriously doubt those name were meant as insults to anyone or anything and if people get upset about it, they've got WAY too much time on their hands.

Reeb, you're thinking of the Washington Senators. There were 2 Senators teams, one became the Minnesota Twins and the other became The Texas Rangers.