Now what?
Posted on 03/10/2002 7:27:34 AM PST by real saxophonist
Team picks white man mascot to make point
Story By Julio Ochoa
An intramural basketball team at the University of Northern Colorado called "The Fighting Whities" is turning the tables on the Eaton mascot issue.
Led by Solomon Little Owl, director of Native American Student Services at UNC, the team chose a white man as its mascot to raise awareness and understanding of stereotypes that some cultures endure.
"The message is, let's do something that will let people see the other side of what it's like to be a mascot," Little Owl said. "I am really offended by this mascot issue, and I hope the people that support the Eaton mascot will get offended by this."
The players, made up of a mixture of American Indian, Hispanic and caucasian students, wear white jerseys with the picture of a white man in a suit on the front and the slogan "Every thang's gonna be all white!" printed beneath.
"It's not meant to be vicious, it is meant to be humorous," said Ray White, a Mohawk American Indian on the team. "It puts people in our shoes, and then we can say, 'Now you know how it is, and now you can make a judgement.' "
Judging right or wrong is hard when you don't understand how it feels to be stereotyped, White said.
"We are looking for understanding," he said. "We want change, but you can't force change."
American Indians could go through the general assembly or town meetings to try to change mascots, but the same message might not get through, White said.
"We all live in the same community and want the same things, so it is good to be standing in each other's shoes for a while," he said.
Charles Cuny, an Ogalala Lakota and member of the team, said he went to an American Indian Catholic high school with a mascot called the Red Cloud Crusaders, after a famous chief of the Lakota Indians.
The problem with Eaton's mascot is a matter of respect, he said.
"There are certain words that are accepted and certain words that are unacceptable," Cuny said. "Really a mascot is something that you look up to, and on one hand that is nice, but maybe we could go about it another way."
Having a white mascot is a way to make people more aware of American Indian issues, he said.
"We live in a politically correct society, and sometimes indians get overlooked," he said. "There are so few indians who have clout that there are a lot of things that go unsettled."
What an offensive thing to say. They are not hogs. they are differently snouted Americans.
I don't know - sounds good to me, though.
Maybe someone could do an FR commemorative firearm?
Homer Simpson voice: "Ummmmmm, pistol whip."
Oh, sorry. You threw me into a stupor. What were talking about? Oh, yeah, guns! I'm all for 'em! "Ummmmmm, pistol whip."
No British need apply!
Now what?
They aren't. They're green, aren't they ;-)
Aahh, we already got Presidents' Day.
The Fightin' Whitey has a concealed carry permit. It's good to see a fighting, take no prisoners salesman as a mascot, just like me.
Vermont? It might just work. Add Gun Shop, Snow Shoe Repair and Maple Syrup Distributor to your list and you're in like Flynn.
In 100 years, White People will be the main attraction in Petting Zoos. I envision tourist stops like The Desert of Maine, and the Trolley Museum (don't miss that one).This could give America's suddenly new majorities a chance to link up with American tradition. It could be a valuable learning experience, teaching newcomers about the old ways of road paving, hygiene, public sanitation, etc. You know, stuff they would never get to see in the old country.
In fact, my home town would make a really good location for this kind of tourist attraction. Nothing much been happening since the bobbin factory closed down and the paper mill moved to Chile. Every year there's fewer people (white included), and the jobs would be welcome.
So don't knock it. This Fightin' Whities could be the start of something really big! I can see it now:
!Visite el Museo de los Blancos!
!Mira mira Mamacita, que pintorescos!
In a word, yes. But we are not supposed to notice, much less actually talk about that now, are we?
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