FRISCO: Mascot Name Changed (From Coon to Racoon)

FOX4 Texas ^

[chance33_98]

FRISCO: MASCOT NAME CHANGED

(FRISCO, March 5) -- The mascot at Frisco High School got an official name change. Last night the school board unanimously voted to modify the original mascot name from "Coon" to "Racoon." Frisco High School has been home of the Fighting Coons since 1924. But, many people found it racially insensitive.

[chance33_98]

Awwwwwwwwww

[SolitaryMan]

But, many people found it racially insensitive.

I see what they mean...

[chance33_98]

actually I do too, but I had not thought of it in that context until they mentioned it

[mombonn]

Our little town here in MI just had the ever-so PC School Board decide that the school mascot can no longer be the Redskins.

Four of the ever-so PC School Board are now facing a recall petition.

[Dialup Llama]

Now that were are on the topic, what exactly is the racist origin of that slang term?

[CindyDawg]

At the Mexican border check my husband was asked where he was from. He told the guy "east Texas". He was asked about his race. He proudly told him he was a coon xxx. These agents have no sense of humor. When he gets back in town I will have to let him know that now he is a Racoon xxx. (Nah, it just doesn't work).(lol)

[CounterCounterCulture]

BTW, if you ever want to make a resident of San Francisco mad, call it FRISCO! Works like a charm.

[altura]

Now the school fight song won't scan. It goes:

Ick, icky, icus
nobody like us,
We are the Coons from Frisco High School;
Always a winnin', always a grinnin'
Always a feelin' mighty fine.

[Shermy]

This is a team name change I agree with. I don't like the removal of Indian names like Cherokees or Braves, etc. I think they are complementary and meant to complement for fighting spirit. Like Trojans or Vikings or Saracens etc. Redskins doesn't bother me much but since it relates specifically to color, it's problematic.

I think I'll petition the local school to change it's bland name to the Fightin' Mongol Hordes. Or the Samurai. Or the Gurkhas. How about the Zulus? They were great warriors.

[NEPA]

I'll never forget the look of horror on my sister-in-law's face when she was visitng the new inlaws here in rural PA (she hails from Westchester , NY)and we went to a nearby farm to buy fresh veggies and the farmer was complaining about the coons stealing and making general mayhem around the place so he finally trapped them and killed them. She seriously thought the old guy was talking about blacks.

[Miss Marple]

Does this mean that now I must call Cassie, my extremely spoiled Treeing Walker Coon Hound, a Racoon Hound?

Racoon hound doesn't have the same cachet that coon hound does.

[FreedomCalls]

But, many people found it racially insensitive.

And what about the Louisianians who proudly call themselves "CoonAss"?

I first ran across the term in Shreveport where a restaurant claimed to serve "the finest in Cajun and CoonAss cooking"!

[CindyDawg]

They place it right up there with red neck

[CindyDawg]

We can still say "hound"?

[FreedomCalls]

"They place it right up there with red neck"

Another term that is bandied about quite freely without regard for the feelings of the person(s) being referred to.

[3catsanadog]

I expect PETA to force my alma mater's team's Tigers to change the name any day now.

[CindyDawg]

It's ok to be a red neck (ask Alan Jackson)

[chaosagent]

So the guy driving around in the pickup with a bumpersticker that says "I'm a Redneck" is hurting his own feelings?