Editorial: Indian nicknames / They're still offensive and needless

Star Tribune. ^ | June 9, 2003

[presidio9]

The Star Tribune newsroom will now call sports teams by their chosen names, including Indian nicknames, as editor Anders Gyllenhaal explained in a column published Sunday. That's best, for newsrooms should reflect reality as accurately as possible. But it's also reality that Indians do not like the use of "Braves" and "Redskins" and other nicknames that have been appropriated by sports groups. The teams themselves should drop them.

[presidio9]

I for one am outraged that the normally painfully PC Star Tribune goofed and used an offensive white man's term for Native Americans in the headline.

[Frank_Discussion]

And, THAT is a barefaced proof that the lefties are trying so very hard to appear thoughtful that they are not actually THINKING.

[headsonpikes]

Well, there goes my favorite team name, the 'Wagon-Burners'.

[narby]

Someone we know, for example, recently sought the cooperation of Ojibwe friends in setting down some of the tribe's stories, including their creation story and stories related to some of their games, so that the wider community might learn to appreciate them. Nothing doing, she was told. These are ours, and we don't want anyone making something of them that is not related to their true, Indian purpose.

Is that so difficult to understand and honor? These people, most of them impoverished and struggling despite the advent of casino gambling, want to hold onto their sense of who they are. It is precious to them and filled with spiritual value. They don't want it associated with non-Indian things like baseball and football. There are plenty of other clever names that sports teams can be called. Hear the Indian plea: Drop the nicknames.

They want to prevent their cultural heritage from being written down, which means they're helping in their own cultural suicide. We can get rid of the names, and not write down their stories. But in 500 years, nothing whatever will remain of their existence. If they leave the name, and write down the history, at least there will be something.

Pretty stupid.

[Chewbacca]

Yeah, they should change the name of the Braves to the Scalping Frenchies.

It was the French that taught that practice to the Injuns.

[Mr. Lucky]

Do ya suppose that the editors are equally offended by team names such as the New York Yankees or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or the Minnesota Vikings or the Syracuse Orangemen or the Indiana Hoosiers, ad infinitum? Isn't their politically correct sense of shame in itself a symbol of their own racism?

[Ramius]

[sigh] To name teams after peoples that were known for bravery or skill or strength is not a slight, it is a tribute. Indian tribes are not diminished in any way by the use of "Braves", just as the use of "Vikings" does not diminish scandinavians.

I don't think this stuff gets any traction with people any more. The only people that care are the out-of-touch editorial boards.

[onedoug]

Two to one on the Hackensack Aborigines!

[dogbyte12]

I am baffled that the star tribune, ... home of the " Minnesota Vikings" thinks that it is ok for my Norwegian heritage to be besmirched by drunk fat guys wearing helmets with horns and fake blonde pig tails, but it is offensive to use a native american name.

Oh, it's ok to appropriate a Norwegian cultural name though. We are white. Or maybe we Norwegian-Americans accept that we are just "americans" and have a sense of humor about the whole thing.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

But it's also reality that Indians do not like the use of "Braves" and "Redskins"

All Indians? Some Indians? Most Indians? 10 little 9 little 8 little Indians? Typical liberal tactic of making a statement which, on its face, is true but might prove the exact opposite point if considered in context. To wit: If a million Indians are proud and happy that sports teams use Indian names yet two Indians object, the statement above would be true on its face, yet blatantly false when considered in statistical context.

[DainBramage]

Drunken Reservationists

[dogbyte12]

Well, southerners can be offended by the "Yankees", tall people can be offended by "the Giants", commies by "the Reds", Astronauts by the "Astros", and we can all throw a pity party for the lot of them.

[nobdysfool]

They want to prevent their cultural heritage from being written down, which means they're helping in their own cultural suicide. We can get rid of the names, and not write down their stories. But in 500 years, nothing whatever will remain of their existence. If they leave the name, and write down the history, at least there will be something. Pretty stupid.

If that's the way they want it, who's to say it's stupid? Why is it stupid? Because they don't do what YOU think they should do? Who made you the authority? It's their cultural heritage, not yours, so leave it alone. You want freedom to choose for yourself, don't you? Well, let them have the same courtesy.

[whereasandsoforth]

I guess I'll never live to see the day of the Walla Walla Wigwams. Darn.

[presidio9]

The height of foolishness is when people complain about names that have nothing to do with Indians, but which like they might (ie the Cincinatti Reds, and the St. John's Redmen).

[presidio9]

Oh, it's ok to appropriate a Norwegian cultural name though. We are white.

Ding Ding Ding!!! Winner.

But also because liberals love a victim. The unlike the Indians, the Vikings tended to win their battles.

The Seminole Tribe endorses Flordia State's use of their name (and even sends a brave to throw down the spear at every home game) because they never surrendered to the white man.

[annyokie]

I guess horses can be offended by the Phillies, and pirates by the Pirates and the Bucs.

[presidio9]

And homosexuals by the Packers?


(sorry, couldn't help myself)

[godlovesrepublicans]

I propose that everyone named Bill in Buffalo protest that their names are being for a mediocre football team.

[jjm2111]

Indians have no problem with the names. It's the indian activists that do.