Posted on 08/26/2005 7:38:24 AM PDT by P8ri0
What is behind this invention of offense to Native American team names primarily by non-Native Americans. You won't here an Irishman or a Greek complaining about the Fighting Irish or the Spartans. Conversely, it is considered an honor.
This use of feigned victimization in order to cause change in someone else’s behavior reminds me of the experiment with monkeys who have to push a lever to get a banana flavored pellet. The result being that the monkeys learned to use the lever increasingly more often to increase their gratification.
It seems that those who can't master their own lives find gratification in causing change in the lives of others, inconsiderate of the consequences, in order to appease their own self-pity. This is a sign of emotional immaturity that should not be encouraged.
Really?
I was raised around Comanches, Apaches, Kiowas, Caddos, Anadarkos, and host of other tribes around Fort Sill. Then my working years were spent around Cherokees, Osages, Lenapahs, and members of other tribes.
Nobody that I knew as a boy or man considered the Indian tribal names to be other than totally honorable, and in no way the equivalent of the names you've cited.
I have no intention of engaging in an argument on this, but I don't believe your illustration is at all fair.
Well, Yuma Arizona, which had the state prison, had a high school team named "the Criminals."
And still do...they are known as the "Crims"
Spare a thought for all those interns and entry-level new hires. They're bound to be offended by the University of Minnesota's nickname: the Golden Gophers. It would be much more politically correct to rename them the Minnesota Golden Administrative Assistants.
Or the nutritious artichokes.
It's interesting that native Americans didn't have names for their tribes until the Europeans gave them names. Didn't know that.
I think most tribes clled themselves something that might translate to "The People".
Now, I don't need to be pinged to this anymore. There are reasons why some tribes have complained. I don't necessarily support their complaints, but there they are.
You still need to be pinged because you are still wrong.
The aborted NCAA ruling was based in part on a single Oklahoma Seminole's assertation that the tribe was working on a resolution denoucing the use of the Seminole nickname.
He forgot to mention that the resolution was defeated 18-2, by leaders of the Oklahoma Seminoles.
The tribes are not complaining, and are largely supportive of the schools and teams.
Someone should have told them that FSU is in Florida.
In reference to post #16 above, does your wife.... naaaaah, nevermind. ;-)
Are you sure he wasn't just an alcoholic who misspelled, "Golden Beers"?
I think our rural Texas high school would trade the "Panthers" for Redneck in a heartbeat.
>>>Are you sure he wasn't just an alcoholic who misspelled, "Golden Beers"?>>>
You know, there were rumours....
My neighbor sent the following to a local talk show:
Let all of us have our say before the NCAA Can of Worms Committee.
And so . . .
· I am an animal lover and am offended by South Carolina's nickname of Gamecocks -- an obvious endorsement of the grotesque sport of cockfighting. For the NCAA to give its tacit approval to an activity in which proud and beautiful birds are bred for the purpose of mutilating and killing each other for human entertainment is appalling.
· I am an advocate of gun control and I want the NCAA to explain why it allows Gettysburg College to use the nickname "Bullets." With nearly 30,000 gun-related deaths in America every year, isn't this the most "hostile and abusive" nickname of all?
· I am a victim of Hurricane Charley and demand that the NCAA forbid Miami from ever again using its "Hurricanes" nickname. To extol the virtues of natural disasters that have caused devastation and death and cost our state billions of dollars is inexcusable.
· I am an African-American and I am outraged by Ole Miss' nickname of Rebels, which is a clear glorification of the South's fight to preserve state rights and slavery in the Civil War.
· I am a Christian woman and I am insulted by the plethora of satanic nicknames such as the Duke Blue Devils and Northwestern State Demons. For the NCAA to endorse the work of The Dark Prince himself -- the enemy of God and all of mankind -- is an assault on America as a Christian nation.
· I am a Muslim man and I am offended by Holy Cross's nickname -- the Crusaders. Thousands of my ancestors died during the Crusades, including thousands of captives slaughtered in cold blood by Richard the Lionhearted in 1191.
· I am a devout Hindu and am starting a petition to ban the nickname of the South Florida Bulls. The cow is a sacred animal in my religion and to caricature it as some sort of loony, ridiculous mascot is an insult to the 1.1 billion Hindus worldwide.
· I am a peaceable pacifist from Dublin and I am disgusted by Notre Dame's stereotypical portrayal of the "Fighting" Irish as a bunch of rowdy, drunken barroom brawlers.
· I am a snakebite victim and cannot believe the NCAA allows Florida A&M and Florida Southern to use two deadly snakes -- Rattlers and Moccasins -- as their nicknames. Poisonous snakes bite more than 8,000 Americans each year, and rattlers and moccasins are among the most dangerous.
· I am of Roman descent and I am offended by Southern Cal's mascot, The Trojan Horse, which, according to ancient history, the Greeks used to massacre thousands of my ancestors in the bygone city of Troy.
· I am a reformed alcoholic and would like to lodge a complaint against Vassar College calling itself the "Brewers." Binge drinking in college is an epidemic, with one study reporting that alcohol is a factor in 1,400 student deaths each year. For the NCAA to allow a nickname so closely associated to beer-making is criminal.
· I am not a spokesperson for any group; I'm just a frightened citizen of a violent world. Which is why I'm writing to complain about the nickname of the Ithaca College Bombers. In this day and age of suicide terrorists, isn't "Bombers" an affront to all of us and much more "hostile and abusive" than Florida State paying homage to an Indian tribe?
Hey, NCAA, give me the proud names of the Seminoles and Chippewas AND THE WARRIORS any day over the death and destruction of Bullets and Bombers.
I added: My third great grandfather and uncle (both farmers in Missouri) were hauled out of their beds one terrible night in 1863 because they wouldn't reveal the whereabouts of another son/brother and were shot to death right in front of the women of the household by the Jayhawkers during the Border Wars between Kansas and Missouri. Their farmhouse was then torched and the women of the family were forcibly marched to St. Louis and imprisoned. So, I object to the Kansas U Jayhawks dissing my family's grief.
Ogden Nash once advise, "When called by a panther, don't anther!"
What about "THE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD NANNIES" ?
or "THE LOSING LIBERALS"? or "THE WIMPY GOOMBAHS"?
or "THE ARTS & CROISSANTS CRICKETS"? or "THE MAKING A DIFFERENCE DUFFERS"? Any one of these team names would be sort of like naming your boy "Sue". Maybe a good thing for them, huh?
Had you bothered to do one iota of research you would find that the Florida tribe is very supportive of the Florida State Seminoles.
If I were you I would stay away from anthills :)
Really! "Fighting" is hardly conducive to peace!
I am of Roman descent and I am offended by Southern Cal's mascot, The Trojan Horse, which, according to ancient history, the Greeks used to massacre thousands of my ancestors in the bygone city of Troy
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