Sowell: Race hustling could start a war

The Rapid City Journal ^ | October 23, 2013 | Thomas Sowell

[2ndDivisionVet]

Bob Costas is one of the premier sportscasters and a very smart guy, so it was somewhat surprising to see him join the chorus of those decrying the fact that the owner of the Washington Redskins is resisting the pressures to change the name of his football team.

The argument is that Native Americans are offended by the name, though there is no compelling evidence that most Native Americans are worked up about it. Nor is there any evidence that anyone intended the name to be insulting, either by this team or any number of other sports teams that have called themselves some variation of the name "Indians."

After all, neither individuals nor teams give themselves names that they consider insulting, whether they are calling themselves Indians, Vikings or The Fighting Irish.

Nevertheless, Dartmouth, Stanford and other colleges that once called their teams Indians succumbed to the politically correct pressures and changed their names. But that is no reason why the Washington Redskins should succumb to those pressures.

Among the reasons why they should not is the fact that being offended is one of the tactics of a race hustling industry that is doing more harm to Indians and other minorities than any name is likely to do. Some people are in the business of being offended, just as Campbell is in the business of making soup.

Shelby Steele's best-selling book "White Guilt" provides sharp insights into the many counterproductive consequences of white guilt that can be exploited by race hustlers, to the detriment of blacks and whites alike. The sports team gambit is just one of many.

So long as the race industry--the Al Sharptons, Jesse Jacksons, and their counterparts in various minorities--can get political or financial mileage out of being offended, they are going to be offended....

[allendale]

Politically correct public posturing is a prerequisite for a career in the MSM.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[ThunderSleeps]

Teams pick names to invoke images of speed, strength, toughness etc. I don’t see why anyone would object to a team name that invoked that imagery for their people.

[Gene Eric]

Sowell FYI.

[Flag_This]

Where was Bob Costas’ moral indignation 1, 2, 4 or 8 years ago?

[greeneyes]

I would tell the complainers that they are obviously the racist ones, and they are Anti-Indian, because they don’t want the Indians to be honored.

No one names their team something that they consider an insult. The team name is meant to be admired - some trait about the Indians is admired. It’s an honor.

Just look at the complainers and ask them, “Why do you hate Indians”?

[VerySadAmerican]

I wonder why the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been forced to change their name? When I was in the Navy in the 70s if you said something like “Boy, it’s hot today” to a black guy (just the way country folks talk), the response would be “Who you callin’ boy?”

[QBFimi]

In all my years as a firearms training counselor, I hsve had only one black instructor candidate come through my classes. In all my years at the range, I have seen maybe 3 or 4 blacks there practicing.

Just in terms of the skills necessary to survive combat, this doesn’t bode well for them. Guess that’s why the pressure to disarm civilians is so great?

Note: Google up “No Guns for Negroes”

[tcrlaf]

As Sowell should well know, a race war has been the goal of the Radical Socialist Black Liberation Theologists since the 60’s. It was for this expressed purpose that the NWRO, which later became ACORN/SEIU was formed.

[onyx]

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[ConorMacNessa]

Back in the Dark Ages, i.e., the Thirties, there were two big-time teams in Boston, the Boston Braves - Baseball's National League, and the Boston Redskins, the NFL. Neither team remains in Boston - the Redskins having migrated to Washington, and the Braves having migrated, first to Milwaukee, then to Atlanta.

I'm not sure whether or not the term "Redskins" is an epithet. The French refer to the indigenous Americans as "Les Paux Rouges."

It is my understanding that numerous indigenous Americans do not object to the term "Redskins." I'm not sure why that term resonates so negatively with the Oneida Tribe, who are a major moving force behind the present campaign to rename the "Washington Football Team."

A similar campaign was waged some years ago against the name "Fighting Irish" under which the Notre Dame University has travelled for over a century. The Washington Post, that beacon of Leftist dogma and other media outlets began referring to them as the "Irish" rather than the "Fighting Irish."

This is total Bovine Excrement! I am an American of Irish descent, I have studied History for over a half-century, including the details of my family's history, and I can tell you with apodictic certainty that we are, in fact, the "Fighting Irish."

In the centuries after the Fall of the Roman Empire, the gems of Graeco-Roman Civilization were preserved and handed down to us by dint of the efforts of anonymous Irish monks in cold scriptoria in Ireland, Scotland, and elsewhere throughout Northern Europe.

In later centuries, the ancient art and lore of Ireland, our music, our Catholic Faith, and our deathless hope for Freedom were preserved by Shanachies, hedgerow priests, crossroad dancers, bards, and fighting men and women who resisted every importunity, usurpation and outrage of the strangers.

The bulk of my great-great-great grandparents were refugees from An Gorta Mor. They endured horrific hardships in the late 1840's. As one reporter from Britain observed, the people were gaunt and haggard, but the roaming dogs were sleek. From that horror, they came to America, often in the steerage of "coffin ships." They were treated with just as much hatred and vilification as any ethnic group that has arrived on our shores. In response, they put their collective shoulder to the wheel in menial jobs, much below their talents and education. They built this Nation as much as any ethnic people we now count as Americans.

It may seem to some that I have digressed from the topic of this thread. I think not. ML, I pinged you on this post because I value your opinion and would like to hear your take on this question.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Eagles Up! Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[hosepipe]

OK I’ll go with REDNECKS....................

[grayeagle]

Sounds to me that the PC Libs are trying to erase any mention of Indians from the American narrative.

[Antihero101607]

+1

Trucks, scatterguns, and ‘shine.

[WilliamRobert]

What is a Bob Costas? Why should we care what this creature thinks?

[Foundahardheadedwoman]

Why not call them the Washington Whiners? How about the San Francisco Average since the Giants is an obvious slur against the vertically challenged? The New England Patriots, way to right wing, how about the New England Middle of the Roaders?

I got way to much time on my hands, but at least I know it.

Lot of folks in my state are Irish, I enjoy their accent.

[left that other site]

I am in total agreement!

As an Irish Bostonian with a fair amount of MiQ-Mac Blood, whose Grandpa was a Braves Fan, I can attest that everything you say is TRUE!

Thus Saith the MiQ-Mac Paddy (Right-Wing,Pistol-Packin’, Devil-Stompin’, Harley Ridin’, Bass-Playin’)Whack-o from Bawston!

[Smokin' Joe]

Conor, it is no accident that many Irish names are to be found in the rolls of teamsters, longshoremen, firefighters, police, powder handlers, and miners, and others.

These were the dangerous jobs few slaveowners would risk their investment in, but they'd readily hire them out to others who'd work for wages.

When the "Irish need not apply" for cushier jobs, many took to the dangerous and dirty work that few wanted to do in order to feed their families.

Despite the prejudice of those who were established already, the Irish prevailed, succeeded, and did well.

It didn't come easy, but it belies the whining of groups who claim they have been held down.

Yep, I'm part Irish, too.

[Repeal The 17th]

My ancestors came over around the time of Bliain an Áir (Year of Slaughter).
Most were penniless, some were from debtors prison, but all were willing
to trade several years of working apprenticeships on rice plantations
for a ticket on a ship and an opportunity to live one day as free men.