This really sucks & I hope it never happens, I can't live with the "Washington Warriors"
If you're a fan of the Indians, Braves, Redskins, Seminoles or Illini, get ready to root for somebody else. The nicknames can't last. And probably shouldn't.
People who resent the use of mascots in any way tied to the American Indian culture - and by no means are they all Indians - are changing the mood of the country.
Even though some Native Americans don't seem to mind. Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan., is proud to call its athletic teams the "Fighting Indians."
But activists are steadfastly against the use of Indian nicknames. Activists never give up, and they almost never lose a fight.
Just the same, a Peter Harris Research Group's finding in a poll for Sports Illustrated a few years ago asked Indian people on and off reservations what they thought about the matter. The result showed 81 percent favored the use of "Indians," "Braves," "Warriors," etc., for high school and college teams, and 83 percent thought pro teams should continue using such nicknames, too.
But the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has condemned the practice and members of the Seminole tribe of Oklahoma want Florida State to quit calling its athletic teams "Seminoles." That's even though the Seminole tribe of Florida is staunchly in favor of the nickname.
A diversity issues subcommittee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association will deliver a report on its sensitivity about the matter in August. The NCAA has never met a politically correct movement it didn't like.
The head of the NCAA panel told USA TODAY's Steve Wieberg that an outright ban on the use of Indian names is not expected.
Maybe not immediately. But at some point, the NCAA will decide to forbid schools with Indian mascots to compete in championship events. The federal government is becoming touchy about the issue.
A lot of athletes, former athletes and fans of college teams will have to swallow hard and get ready to root for the "Golden Nonspecifics," the "Sensitive Tide" or the "Fighting Compromises" when Warriors, Utes, Braves or Chippewas are banned. It won't be easy for fans of college or professional teams to give up Indian mascots. But it has to happen.
Much has been written about the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins leading the league, so to speak, in offending those who lead the fight to rid our land of such nicknames. Cleveland has used its "Chief Wahoo" logo for decades. Same for "Redskins" in the nation's capital.
But if they offend, change them. It isn't worth the fight.
" But you should've seen Joe (Gibbs) when they said he couldn't coach anymore...his chest puffed out and said..i dont care what it takes, were not leaving here without another ring." Coach Joe Bugel
What annoys me is how I have this one Cowboy fan at my school only calls us the "natives" because 'Redskins' is "just so unbelievably offensive" to Native Americans.
"I said when he retired that Joe Gibbs was the best coach I'd ever faced." - Bill Parcells
In California (Land of the Gay Tree-Hugging Hippie) my grade school has changed from the Washington "Warriors" to the "Wildcats". Just plain crap I say.
In all fairness "Redskins" can be construed as a derogatory term. I don’t think Warriors, Indians, or Braves fall under this category of offensive names. I am of Mexican decent and I can say that I would not want a sports team named the LA Beaners. Just as I'm sure many other ethnic groups would not want a stereotype name associated with a sports team (insert your favorite term here). I do hope a resolution can be found, but based on our experience out here on the "Left" Coast, it is just a matter of time before someone with enough money and lawyering friends gets this changed. My fellow Hogs, if you think that the East Coast is immune to this epidemic liberalism think again. Heck may be Danny should save the money and change the name to the Washington "Pit Bosses".
What is crazy is that Indians call themselves Indians. Here in Denver they have an Indian Art Show. A few years ago I purchased a painting of an Indian Chief riding a horse. When I ran into some friends, I tried to explain what I purchased by saying that I had purchased a Native American Chief riding a horse. I realized how stupid I sounded surrounded by "Native Americans" who were all referring to themselves as Indians. That is a great example of taking PC too far. The other day I heard a commentator talking about an athlete of African decent who was a citizen of England. He referred to the man as an African American. The guy was from England....how does that make sense? One of the strengths of this country is our diversity. We are such a diverse people that if spend all of our time worrying about insulting each other we will lose our ability to communicate.
The terms "Redskins, Braves, Indians, Seminoles, Illini" are just nicknames and thats it the activists and everybody else that think its derogatory or whatever need to relax. you take these names away from the teams, you will take away their heritage.
don't worry, this has been a subject of battle for over 20 years and nothing has happened...my high school team mascot is the Warriors and they didn't find it offensive so they will not change it....just thouht i'd throw that in the argument
spudstr04 wrote:don't worry, this has been a subject of battle for over 20 years and nothing has happened...my high school team mascot is the Warriors and they didn't find it offensive so they will not change it....just thouht i'd throw that in the argument
Just to play devils advocate "They" always seem to find something offensive to sue over, and "They" have very powerful friends.
spudstr04 wrote:don't worry, this has been a subject of battle for over 20 years and nothing has happened...my high school team mascot is the Warriors and they didn't find it offensive so they will not change it....just thouht i'd throw that in the argument
Just to play devils advocate "They" always seem to find something offensive to sue over, and "They" have very powerful friends.
This has already been beaten to death for years and has anything budged? Never going to happen. IT"S A FRIGGIN FOOTBALL TEAM!!! Some people need to get a life in this country.
Last edited by HailSkins94 on Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
redskingush wrote:The terms "Redskins, Braves, Indians, Seminoles, Illini" are just nicknames and thats it the activists and everybody else that think its derogatory or whatever need to relax. you take these names away from the teams, you will take away their heritage.
Redskin is a far cry from indians, braves, or seminoles. redskin is derrogatory the others are not. i like the previous post about 'potomacs' as a much better name. the redskins should change the name, it is from a time when racism was prevalent in our country and terms like this were accepted.
i am by no means part of the pc police but 'redskin' come on, it's like calling a team the 'coloreds' or 'negros'
redskingush wrote:The terms "Redskins, Braves, Indians, Seminoles, Illini" are just nicknames and thats it the activists and everybody else that think its derogatory or whatever need to relax. you take these names away from the teams, you will take away their heritage.
Redskin is a far cry from indians, braves, or seminoles. redskin is derrogatory the others are not. i like the previous post about 'potomacs' as a much better name. the redskins should change the name, it is from a time when racism was prevalent in our country and terms like this were accepted.
i am by no means part of the pc police but 'redskin' come on, it's like calling a team the 'coloreds' or 'negros'
I'm sorry, but that is BS. Please provide an example of the term "redskin" being used in a derrogatory manner within the last, say, 50 years.
redskingush wrote:The terms "Redskins, Braves, Indians, Seminoles, Illini" are just nicknames and thats it the activists and everybody else that think its derogatory or whatever need to relax. you take these names away from the teams, you will take away their heritage.
Redskin is a far cry from indians, braves, or seminoles. redskin is derrogatory the others are not. i like the previous post about 'potomacs' as a much better name. the redskins should change the name, it is from a time when racism was prevalent in our country and terms like this were accepted.
i am by no means part of the pc police but 'redskin' come on, it's like calling a team the 'coloreds' or 'negros'
I'm sorry, but that is BS. Please provide an example of the term "redskin" being used in a derrogatory manner within the last, say, 50 years.
RED INDIAN - "An offensive name for Native Americans, but a historical term applied by the British to North American Indians, apparently because of 'their copper-colored skin' and to distinguish them semantically from the Indians of India. From 'Red Indian' came the derogatory word redskin." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).
Just the same, a Peter Harris Research Group's finding in a poll for Sports Illustrated a few years ago asked Indian people on and off reservations what they thought about the matter. The result showed 81 percent favored the use of "Indians," "Braves," "Warriors," etc., for high school and college teams, and 83 percent thought pro teams should continue using such nicknames, too.
So what part of the 17% actually finds it offensive? That stat right there should end this debate once and for all.
Andre Carter wrote:Damn man, you know your football.
Just the same, a Peter Harris Research Group's finding in a poll for Sports Illustrated a few years ago asked Indian people on and off reservations what they thought about the matter. The result showed 81 percent favored the use of "Indians," "Braves," "Warriors," etc., for high school and college teams, and 83 percent thought pro teams should continue using such nicknames, too.
So what part of the 17% actually finds it offensive? That stat right there should end this debate once and for all.
like i said, there is a big difference b/w brave - an honorary term - and redskin, a derogatory term.
redskingush wrote:The terms "Redskins, Braves, Indians, Seminoles, Illini" are just nicknames and thats it the activists and everybody else that think its derogatory or whatever need to relax. you take these names away from the teams, you will take away their heritage.
Redskin is a far cry from indians, braves, or seminoles. redskin is derrogatory the others are not. i like the previous post about 'potomacs' as a much better name. the redskins should change the name, it is from a time when racism was prevalent in our country and terms like this were accepted.
i am by no means part of the pc police but 'redskin' come on, it's like calling a team the 'coloreds' or 'negros'
I'm sorry, but that is BS. Please provide an example of the term "redskin" being used in a derrogatory manner within the last, say, 50 years.
RED INDIAN - "An offensive name for Native Americans, but a historical term applied by the British to North American Indians, apparently because of 'their copper-colored skin' and to distinguish them semantically from the Indians of India. From 'Red Indian' came the derogatory word redskin." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).
Still BS. All that says is this interpretation of the origin of the word (and even on that, the best it can say is "apparently") and it says nothing about it's place among the daily lexicon. Please, provide me with an example of it being use as a derrogatory term within the last 50 years, not just being referenced as having vaguely derrogatory origins.
Redskin is a far cry from indians, braves, or seminoles. redskin is derrogatory the others are not. i like the previous post about 'potomacs' as a much better name. the redskins should change the name, it is from a time when racism was prevalent in our country and terms like this were accepted.
In all the years that I have been alive the term Redskins have never been refered to anybody but the Washington Redskins..I have never heard anybody call anyone a Redskin... I am sick of these people that try and ruin it for everybody else. I can't believe that you people are so stinkin sensitive.. For the love of Pete, I mean I have been called derrogatory names.. So what... It life get over.. And Redskin is not a derrogatory name... Life's too short to worry about team names... I know some people that are Native American that love the Redskins that don't think that the term is derrogatory If you don't like it DON'T WATCH FOOTBALL PERIOD.... AND GUESS WHAT THE REDSKINS NAME WILL NEVER CHANGE GET USED TO IT...
Not sure if this is an urban muyth, but I had heard that Redskins actually was a reference to the Bost Tea Party. That is Red Skin was actually a reference to the disguise worn by patriots when they the dumped the tea rather than Indians???????
