Racial tensions and PC

[dtwarren]

I was somewhat taken aback this week. With all the dialogue about easing racial tension in the City I was amazed that at least on the national level the PC (political correctness) pendelum went to the extreme. Apparently the NCAA has imposed some penalty on certain schools/teams for using mascots based on native-american culture.

This strikes me as odd, I thought the objective of picking a mascot was to pick a symbol that reflects your team's strength, prowess, tenacity, skill, etc. Not to depict your team as a joke and a bunch of losers or to be derogatory in any other way. Goes to show that some people are never happy.

[jbinbny]

You cant please all the people all the time.

Someone will always take offense!

[therising]

This strikes me as odd, I thought the objective of picking a mascot was to pick a symbol that reflects your team's strength, prowess, tenacity, skill, etc

I'll buy that, but what do terms like Redskin, or Redmen have to do with any of the above??

[dtwarren]

I do not know for sure about the term redmen, but the term redskins I believe is derived from the practice of western American Indians painting their bodies with red clay before battle.

[dtwarren]

Here is an interesting article on the issue written by a native american:

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Article...e.asp?ID=19124

[therising]

DT Warren - Not that I was intentionally setting you up, but I certainly was hoping that someone would ask about the hisory of the term Redskin.

This is the story I always heard, and it certainly isn't pretty

[moonshine]

Personally, I think we would have much more interesting sports teams if their names were:

El Paso Wetbacks
Los Angeles Welfare Suckers
Miami Boat Clingers
New York Mutts
Georgia Cotton Pickers
Tennessee Tornado Trailers
Tonawanda Whitebread

Give it a rest. Nobody cares about your nationality or heritage anymore. Those who insist on making it an issue have proven they can't live in the present, or deal with the past.

Maybe I should start a lawsuit against the state of pennsyltucky for making my Amish brethren pay taxes on roads they built with their own hands, eh?

[citymouse]

Does this spell the end for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame?
My Nordic friends are suing the Minnesota Vikings.
Animal rights activists are going after the Lions and Tigers and Bears. (Oh My).
Collection agencies are forming a coalition to stop the "Bills" and have them change their name, it's rumored that the "Chargers" are the next target.
The daughters of the Confederacy are suing the "Yankees"and the Daughters of the American Revolution are angered over the name "Patriots".
When will it stop?

[moonshine]

When will it stop?

It won't when you have lawyers running the country.

[dtwarren]

Originally posted by therising
DT Warren - Not that I was intentionally setting you up, but I certainly was hoping that someone would ask about the hisory of the term Redskin.

This is the story I always heard, and it certainly isn't pretty

First you asked, so you did not need to hope much.

There is two equally rational explanations for the term and its use. Which do you believe? One mindset has it in a positive light, the other a negative.

I am irish, so if I found that Notre Dame's mascot and slogan "The Fighting Irish" to represent that we get drunk and fight as opposed to us fighting and overcoming adversity whose problem is it, mine or Notre Dame's? Should Notre Dame be forced to change their mascot and slogan over this? My answer is no.

[dtwarren]

Originally posted by moonshine
It won't when you have lawyers running the country.

And people with a victim mentality to be their clients.

[dtwarren]

Originally posted by citymouse
Does this spell the end for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame?
My Nordic friends are suing the Minnesota Vikings.
Animal rights activists are going after the Lions and Tigers and Bears. (Oh My).
Collection agencies are forming a coalition to stop the "Bills" and have them change their name, it's rumored that the "Chargers" are the next target.
The daughters of the Confederacy are suing the "Yankees"and the Daughters of the American Revolution are angered over the name "Patriots".
When will it stop?

I do not think the Erie Tribe would like their name associated with our county right now. Perhaps we should rename it to Pork County? No, then some pig civil rights lawyer will sue us for using that in a derogatory manner!

[steven]

Originally posted by moonshine
Give it a rest. Nobody cares about your nationality or heritage anymore. Those who insist on making it an issue have proven they can't live in the present, or deal with the past.

Becuase your heritage doesnt mean anything to you why would you begrude it to someone else? I have many friends that keep their heritage alive. Italians, greeks, Irish and hispanic 2nd and 3rd generation that go back to the country of their fathers and grandfathers every year.

I tell the kids in my nieghboorhood not to play that rap music where they curse every line because it offends others, not becuase it bothers me. Its just being civil. If the term "fighting Irish" doesnt bother you it doesnt give cart blanch to call an Indian a redskin, chief or any other term they may find offensive.

Its just common courtesy.

I noticed no one commented on the link to the origion of the term. Dont you find that offensive?

[dtwarren]

I do not see any one having a cow over this:

http://www.cafepress.com/fightinwhite

[Dino330]

Yeah... that redskin is an offensive term. I had heard that story before.

Jay Mohr wrote a great commentary on this very discussion at Sports Illustrated.com. www.si.com

I also think more Irish people would be pissed as hell if Notre Dame got rid of the Fighting Irish nickname.