Sports Arena
So Sioux Me
Are collegiate nicknames really such a problem?
A North Dakota judge will hear arguments next month in a case of political correctness that has embroiled the state university for a number of years.
In 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced a complete ban on hosting post-season competition by 18 colleges that were using Indian mascots, logos or nicknames. The ban was to become effective in February 2006.
The NCAA made an assumption, jumped to a conclusion and adopted the politically correct viewpoint that using Indian heritage in such a manner was "hostile and abusive." The problem, it appears, is that no one bothered to check with the assumed aggrieved parties to determine if they were truly offended. Since the original announcement, the NCAA's political correctness offensive encountered the stiff defense of several universities and common sense.
The college sports governing body backed off its strident and absolute demand after learning that some Native American groups endorsed use of their tribal names by their adoptive schools. The NCAA relented and gave the go-ahead for Florida State, the University of Utah and Central Michigan University to continue using Seminole, Ute, and Chippewa, respectively, without the risk of facing the post-season ban.
Sensitivity toward the use of Native American symbols goes back a few decades. In the early 1970s, Stanford University and Dartmouth College jettisoned the nickname "Indians." Stanford chose as its replacement mascot the innocuous color, Cardinal. Dartmouth went so far as to select a dark shade of green formally known as PMS 349 and frequently referred to as Dartmouth Green as its official school color to complement its nickname of the Big Green.
As an aside, the legitimacy of the Ivy League school's color could be called into question. Would crayon-maker Crayola give a legal release to Dartmouth to poach Forest Green and claim the color as its own?
After more than 35 years, the Big Green nickname remains wildly unpopular and the college's student body has instead given unofficial approval to an animated beer keg as the school mascot. Now here is a healthy alternative to a school's politically incorrect use of a Native American mascot -- glorification of alcohol.
What is not yet known is how the NCAA will measure Native American approval or displeasure of a school's use of a generic nickname such as Indian, Redman or Brave in contrast to a more specific tribal name such as Seminole. Bradley University and the University of North Carolina-Pembroke both use the nickname "Brave" yet Bradley is on the NCAA banned list and UNC-Pembroke got a free pass. San Diego State was given NCAA okay for that school's use of Aztec for still unexplained reasons. Perhaps it is because Aztec represents not just an Indian tribe but is instead an entire civilization.
The NCAA signaled moral outrage at the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname. Yet the association has remained silent on the fact that the school is (as are both the states of North and South Dakota) named after the Dakota tribe.
The NCAA's battle with UND has been raging for more than four years. Criticizing the Fighting Sioux nickname as racist, offensive and derogatory have been groups such as the school's faculty Senate and the state Board of Higher Education. They are seemingly undeterred by one significant group that wants the university to retain the nickname and logo. That is the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe, the nearby tribe from whom the school nickname is derived. The most absurd aspect of this politically correct ruckus is that non-native Americans are lecturing Native Americans on what should offend them. A hearing on the matter is scheduled in a county courtroom in early December.
Then there is the case of South Dakota's Huron College. The school was purchased in 2001 by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and was renamed Si Tanka University, another American Indian name. The school closed its doors in early 2005 due to financial difficulties. Rumors have been rampant that the school may eventually be sold to a group anxious to reopen the college under its former name, Huron, which is another tribal name. Where to draw the line? Let's see: Native American school name -- good; Native American school nickname -- bad.
The imbroglio over Indian names is not limited to college sports. A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court appears to have finally closed the door on a 17-year-old lawsuit against the National Football League's Washington Redskins for that team's logo. It was a New Mexico man who originally claimed the Redskins mascot and logo "is damaging to Native American peoples." However, according to Playboy magazine, 90 percent of Native Americans who were polled responded they were not offended by the Redskins mascot. Is disapproval by a single individual sufficient to terminate the use of a Native American symbol or does majority rule? More importantly, one could argue it has been this year's lackluster play and dismal won-loss record by the Redskins that is more damaging to its fan base than any nickname the team could use.
Perhaps a more comprehensive poll could be taken of American Indian attitudes and views on the use of Indian names. The NCAA could commission the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute to complete the task although an apparent conflict of interest exists since the school is named after a Connecticut area tribe.
It is entirely possible that before long we will hear from other interested parties who will protest the use of school mascots and nicknames they find offensive. Will the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protest the use of Wildcats at the University of Kentucky? How do Satan worshippers feel about the Duke University Blue Devils? It may not be surprising if the National Education Association were to announce its opposition to Virginia Military Institute's misspelling of "cadets" as Keydets. Finally, could descendants of the sixth century B.C. Peloponnesians criticize Michigan State's use of Spartan?
Perhaps it is time for the PC police to take a long, deep breath and relax before contemplating any further action. Maybe all parties could sit down and calmly discuss the matter during a lunchtime meeting. I suggest a menu of German bologna and Swiss cheese on Jewish rye, with a helping of Amish sauerkraut, a slice of kosher pickle, a Greek salad with Italian dressing on the side, followed by a Danish pastry for dessert with a hot cup of Colombian coffee. After all, everyone should be reasonable about this and avoid using any racial, ethnic or national origin in a manner that any single person might decide is offensive and derogatory.
About the Author
Mark Hyman hosts "Behind the Headlines," a commentary program for Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (99) | Leave a comment
Leave a Comment
Related Articles
More Articles by Mark Hyman
More Articles From Sports Arena
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/23/so-sioux-me
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- The Continuing Crisis
- The United Nations' Rogue Agency
- Evolve or Die
- Digital Subscription (Save 78%)
- Buy a single issue (Save 50%)
- Send Spectator as a gift
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
news| 11.23.09 @ 6:08AM
0Kevin Slator| 11.23.09 @ 10:08AM
So the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe's vote in favor of the university's continued use of "Fighting Sioux" means nickname and mascot is not hostile and abusive and, in fact, honors all Sioux Indians? I guess then the use of the "N word" by black rap and hip-hop artists means that word is OK and acceptable for us whites also. Good to know.
Alan Brooks| 11.23.09 @ 11:08AM
Starkist tunas are working with all the fish in the Caribbean in filing a class action lawsuit against the Florida Marlins:
"Starkist don't want tunas with good taste,
they want attorneys with good resumes"
Margie| 11.24.09 @ 1:55PM
Alan sometimes you are hilarious.
Santino49| 11.23.09 @ 12:06PM
Does the NEA know that "Keydets" is a misspelling?
L. Ross| 11.23.09 @ 3:35PM
"Keydets" is mispelled?
Byron Smith| 11.23.09 @ 3:52PM
How about this classic case..The Saint John's Redmen were changed to the Red Storm about ten years ago. How sensitive. Except that the "Redmen" got their name because they wore RED uniforms like say the Syracuse Orangemen. As pathetic a case of Political correctness that I have ever heard ! Go Redmen !
Al Adab| 11.23.09 @ 4:33PM
Orangemen? You mean like Protestant Irish or is it Prince of Orange?
Jeff Rutishauser| 11.24.09 @ 12:57AM
Having gone to Dartmouth during the tumultuous period when the revered Indian symbol was unceremoniously dumped by the college, I can attest to the high emotions of that decision that rankles even today. What makes it more ironic is that the reason the proud Indian symbol was used in the first place was that Dartmouth College was initially chartered in 1769 to educate the Indians. The first 20 or so Dartmouth graduates were native Americans. On Dartmouth’s crest or shield is depicted two obviously feathered Indian figures walking up a path to Old Dartmouth Hall (see http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~nimit/logo.png), one with book in hand.
So it is OK to depict a couple of Indians with feathers on the official Dartmouth shield but it is not OK to have them as a team mascot, even though the college charter was originally to educate the Indians? Maybe that’s why they selected “Keggy” as the new unofficial (alcoholic) symbol. You need a few stiff ones to figure out this twist of political correctness.
carolynn| 5.22.10 @ 12:52AM
ok...so if you think its okay..then why didn't you name your mascots..pilgrims, conquerors, nomads, the nazis, or gentiles or something that identifies you...you killed us, murdered us, take away our lands and everything else and you think its an honor that you name us after mascots..what a bunch of crock that is..or better yet since play boy is into polling why don't you name yourselves playboy/bunnies or porn stars or something that is more your type of what you really are...
Appleby| 11.23.09 @ 6:46AM
We continually have the same problem at Christmas, here in Toronto (city of 141 different languages and dialects) -- a Judge makes the decision that the courthouse cannot have Christmas trees because Muslims will be offended, prompting outrage among both Christians and Muslims -- the latter protesting that they have Christmas trees in their homes and resent being used as scapegoats to promote division in the community by a person who has never even met a Muslim but is sure she knows what They think and feel...and the banning of ALL parties held in the winter in school, lest somebody, somewhere construe them as Christmas parties!
Perhaps the world needs more Peace on Earth and less strife and contention -- and perhaps one way to achieve said peace is to stop this Red Queen Justice: sentence first and verdict afterwards.
JimP| 11.23.09 @ 7:06AM
You forgot Southern fried chicken. I am still in therapy because Ole Miss is using the 'Rebels' as their mascot. Must I be reminded of The Late Unpleasantness every Saturday in the fall each year? Oh, the horror.
Cug Smith| 11.23.09 @ 11:57AM
The initial wave of Political Correctness did hit the Deep South in the '70s.
During my senior year at the University of Southern Mississippi (1971-72), it was determined that our team mascot was decidedly inappropriate. Up until that time, we were known as the "Southerners", or occassionally as the "Southern Generals, because our on-field mascot was a student in a Confederate General's uniform who was called "General Nat" (named for Nathan Bedford Forrest because the University was located in Forrest County, MS). Because General Forrest was one of the founders of the KKK, "General Nat" had to be given the boot (even though Forrest had dis-associated himself from the Klan when it turned violent). A vote of the student body was held to determine a new mascot. Two of the top vote totals were for "Aardvarks" (I suppose in deference to UC-Irvine's "Anteaters"), and "Piney Woods Pulp Haulers" (because of the ubiquitous log trucks on the highways around Hattiesburg). "Piney Woods Pulp Haulers" got my vote because I liked the idea of a miniature log truck cirrcling the field after each score (reminiscent of Oklahoma's "Sooner Schooner"). Unfortunately, the administration decided to go with "Golden Eagles", and USM became only one of many schools with this very common nick-name for their athletic teams.
I now live in Louisiana's Cajun Country, not far from another University with a "Confederate themed" mascot, Nicholls State University (known as the "Colonels"). Since Col. Francis T. Nicholls was also later a Governor of Louisiana, and apparently not a member of the KKK, this school has not yet been forced to change their mascot to "crawfish" or "poule-d'eau". At least, if they have to change mascots, there aren't too many other schools using "poule d'eau" or "crawfish" for a nick-name!
CUG Smith,
Pierre Part, LA
JimP| 11.23.09 @ 12:44PM
A 'great' true life tale. Thanks for sharing it.
Best regards.
Ole| 11.23.09 @ 7:33AM
As a Norwegian American I am highly offended by all the sports teams with the name Vikings. My Irish friends are similarly upset by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Seriously, don't these PC idiots know that to have a team named after you is not an insult, but a compliment to the group or individual's intelligence, toughness, tenacity, and spirit.
Melissa| 11.30.09 @ 4:19PM
It's not the same situation; Norwegian-Americans and Irish-Americans have not faced the level of cultural historical trauma that Native Americans have faced in the past 500+ years.
Indigenous mascots are a misappropriation of a cultural identity -- not an honor to be bestowed upon "noble savages" by the "civilized" WASPs.
melvin| 11.23.09 @ 7:56AM
In the immortal words of Mr. Bart Simpson, "Aie Caramba" are we at that time of year again?
Ole, I have one better than that. Taken from the News & Observer, Raleigh NC that Mrs. Clause and the wearing of Santa style head-wear is banned during this years Holiday Parade.
The rational that was given, that by Mrs. Clause wearing a red dress, associating bonnet, and those observing the parade with Santa style hats would be to confusing for the children to differentiate who is Santa and who is not.
Now please keep in mind that this comes from the pea brained elites in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area of North Carolina home to some of the most prestigious colleges in the world.
That's right Raleigh, Durham home of the most notable ass of the century former and now disgraced District Attorney Mike Nifong of the Duke Lacross rape fame.
Pingback| 11.23.09 @ 8:01AM
The American Spectator : So Sioux Me School links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 11.23.09 @ 8:29AM
Utah State University State University Admissions Soviet Kgb links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
donserge| 11.23.09 @ 8:45AM
Political correctness, not only in the sports world but throughout our society has already taken us too far down the path toward socialism and Marxism. Without a drastic cleansing of our legislative and juducial branch, the path may be irreversable.
Robert Pinkerton| 11.23.09 @ 4:54PM
My sole cititcism of your post is that you omitted one consequence of "political 'correctness,'" namely sheer lack-of-taste (not even bad taste) blandness. This leads to boredom far worse than anything Black & Decker (electric drills) or Warner & Swayze (boring mills) could create. And the consequences of boredom?!?!
james| 11.23.09 @ 9:04AM
The Sioux are proud to be Sioux and the teams that name themselves after the Sioux do so because that tribe represents what they want their team to be. In other words, no team calls itself The Liberals or The Rats.
And last time I looked, white Minnesotans were not complaining and flaring their aggrieved nostrils over the Vikings. Rather, they bought jerseys and season tickets. And the Washington Senators back in the day? I don't believe Everett Dirksen organized a sit-in.
Idiots.
Pingback| 11.23.09 @ 9:24AM
The Infamous Oswald Photo « What’s Popular? links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Mike Lion| 11.23.09 @ 10:12AM
The nickname "Fighting Irish" for Notre Dame was originally intended as a insult. Apparently, a Chicago newspaper in the early 1900s complained that the team "fought like a bunch of Irish." So Notre Dame adopted the name, which is the way to defuse the insult.
What about the "Ragin' Cajuns" of SW Louisiana? And the Boston Celtics or the Gaels of Iona? Or the Montreal Canadiens or the Vancouver Canucks? Or the "Flying Dutchmen" of Hofstra? Does anyone remember the Atlanta Crackers of the AA Southern League?
There is a interesting history behind the University of Massachusetts nickname. Originally it was the "Redmen," but this was dropped as an insulting to Native Americans. UMass came up with a better nickname, the "Minutemen." The same group protested that this was glorifying white men. It's all about political correctness.
Mike Lion
P.S. When Stanford dropped its original name "Indians'" there was a student poll for a replacement. The winning entry was the "Robber Barons," but the authorities disallowed it.
JimP| 11.23.09 @ 11:37AM
Mike: I'm surprised that the PC Police allowed U. Mass to become the 'Minutemen', because everyone knows the 'Minutemen' were all about the 2nd Amendment, which is totally non-PC. Will U. Mass have another change in mascot coming? If so, I suggest 'The Eunuchs'
Roger| 11.23.09 @ 1:24PM
re: UMass. there have been attempts to change the "Minutemen", but none have flown.
re:Stanford. IIRC another possibility was the "Steaming Manholes" because of the central heating system. It was funny to see banner during Big Game Week of Oski Bear with an Ax in his hand chasing a scrawny Standfor Indian.
Pingback| 11.23.09 @ 10:16AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : So Sioux Me [spectator.org] on Topsy links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Michael Gewin| 11.23.09 @ 11:20AM
Haven't checked lately but I guess the Pekin, Illinois High School "Chinks" is verbotten these days.
Mark Michaelsen| 11.23.09 @ 11:20AM
I lived in Michigan for 15 years. For years, teams at Eastern Michigan University were the Huron. The Huron were in favor of keeping the name, but the NCAA was not, so they became another yet another Golden Eagles. Apparently, the Emu was not considered.
Central Michigan University has officially shortened their nickname from Chippewa to Chip, as in cow chip. Chocolate chips are not PC.
Anthony| 11.23.09 @ 11:58AM
This is the sickness of irrational liberalism unchecked, another aspect of which is reflected in Mr. Orlet's article in TAS today.
It is not a suprise that the NCAA cares not a wit if those to whom the "offense" is presumably aimed are not offended. It is the sensibilities of radical leftist elites that counts, no one else.
The assault on all manner of our behaviors, smoking, meat eating, SUVs etc, etc, will continue unabated by the annointed arbiters of human behavior, until another human behavior finally kicks in, a good ass kicking ,when we finally say enough is enough!!
Lu D| 11.23.09 @ 12:02PM
Does the name Marquette Warriors ring a bell? A Warrior could be any ethnic group but because the mascot was an Indian it had to be changed to the Golden Eagles. People are still mad about the change. Could have just changed the macot.
Santino49| 11.23.09 @ 12:15PM
So, why are there Trojans (SEX !) Vandals (VIOLENCE !) and Spartans (PURITANISM !) but no Romans, Athenians or Fighting Macedonians ?
Just curious
educatorfor good| 11.23.09 @ 12:24PM
Mr. Hyman: Your connection of Indigenous people to animals like wildcats is a perfect example of how white people fail to understated their own white privilege, and the arrogant "white is right" philosophy. You need to open you mind and not be so myopic about others. Read white like me or some articles by Robert Jensen and maybe you can get some idea about what the real question is. You have my sympathy
Eric Damon| 11.23.09 @ 1:04PM
Dude, WTF are you talking about!?! How did the author connect Indeigenous people to animals? He simply pointed out that the same type of "outrage" could be used by PETA as are used by the white folks who are constantly offended for whatever monority group they feel like bossing around that day. No one is saying that Native Americans and wildcats are the same, you simpering PC dolt!
Maybe instead of reading some book called White Like Me (?) and brushing up on the old reading comprehension skills!
bullwinkles| 11.23.09 @ 1:12PM
My sympathy is for those making pompous assumptions such as yours.
Natasha| 11.24.09 @ 2:07PM
Where's Boris when we need him?
Eric Damon| 11.23.09 @ 1:06PM
As for UNC-Pembroke, they probably got a pass on being the Braves because nearly everyone in the surrounding community are Lumbee Indians. They were quite happy to be known as the Braves, since that is how they like to view themselves.
Tim Williams| 11.23.09 @ 1:08PM
As a veteran living in the American west, I consider myself both a patriot and a cowboy. How dare the NFL franchises in New England and Dallas demean my people!
Rich Rostrom| 11.23.09 @ 2:03PM
Michael Gewin: The Pekin Chinks became the Pekin Dragons quite a few years ago. There were SOME "politically incorrect" usages that really were insulting and needed fixing; that was one.
misterdregs| 11.23.09 @ 2:09PM
I had never heard of the Pekin Chinks. This from Wikipedia:
"Pekin Community High School teams were officially known as the Pekin Chinks until 1981 when the school administration changed the mascot to the Pekin Dragons. The team mascot was a student dressed as a Chinaman wearing a coolie hat, who struck a gong when the team scored."
Oh my.
misterdregs| 11.23.09 @ 2:12PM
The fellow who donated the $100,000,000 for the arena at UND did it with the provision that the team would be called the Fighting Sioux indefinitely. The arena is reportedly plastered with logos and would cost a huge amount of money to remove.
Al Adab| 11.23.09 @ 2:24PM
Far up on the Navajo country, in the four corners area, is the small town of Red Mesa. The high school teams there are known as the Red Mesa Redskins.
If the Navajo themselves have no problem with that, as they chose it the name themselves, do we really need to make a major problem of it? Better to spend our time and energy important issues if Liberty.
JW Yazzie| 6.27.10 @ 12:07AM
The Red Mesa Redskins you're referring is also in the same division as the St. Johns Redskins. St. Johns is not on the reservation and is probably 90% white so I think they should at least change their mascots to Whitemen. LOL.
Dai Alanye| 11.23.09 @ 2:38PM
Let's not forget the Cleveland Browns. We know what they're *really* trying to say.
Not to mention the Cleveland Indians and those anti-Puritan Cavaliers.
Robert Pinkerton| 11.23.09 @ 5:11PM
As a Clevelander born and bred, my oblique reply to your post is to cite my father (now no longer with us), who called thene Browns, the "Cleveland Bums, by analogy to Prospect Avenue winos. Our baseball team (Currently the subject of another teapot tempest in the same vein as the article supra) he called the "Cleveland Idiots" for their propensity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Cleveland got a basketball team very shortly before he died: That team he called the "Cleveland Cadavers." OTOH, only rarely do I care a rap about organized professional sports.
Ammo Guy| 11.23.09 @ 3:38PM
My kid goes to school at the College of William and Mary whose nickname is “The Tribe” which they were allowed to keep since it could refer to other than groups of Native Americans, provided they removed the feather from the team logo...which they have done officially – though it can still be found around campus and in nearby shops. Now the college is in the midst of a contest to find a new mascot for “The Tribe” and your guess is as good as mine what they’ll come up with...but I’m sure it will be “PC.”
Al Adab| 11.23.09 @ 3:54PM
Maybe a Neanderthal, there were tribes of them, unless Geico has the monopoly on that one. Other tribes could include The Lord of the Flies group, The Xhosa, or even the Quaryish. Lots of choices.
Pingback| 11.23.09 @ 4:24PM
The Buffalo Post » Blog Archive » American Spectator: “So Sioux me.” links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 11.23.09 @ 5:44PM
How about the NYU Ghetto Dwellers?
denise| 11.24.09 @ 5:39PM
how about if we changed the name to the Pilgrim crackers or say euro trash or Jewbait? Is that as racial as say redskins? or am I whining again mark Hyman?
Jim Hlavac| 11.23.09 @ 7:25PM
Here's a list of more politically correct names for the offended, for I can see Congress now having hearings to rid all sports of politically incorrect names and declaring that henceforth it will be the:
San Francisco Marxists
The New York Stimulus
The Los Angeles Better than you
The New Orleans It's Bush's Fault
The Chicago Olympics
The Miami Castros
The Baltimore Affirmative Action
The Washington Obamas
The Pittsburgh 57 Varieties
The Detroit Autos
The Houston Climate Changers
The St. Louis Wind Turbines
The Cincinnati Fraud Preventers
The Cleveland Environmentalists
The Nashville Nationalizers
The Anaheim Socialists
The Dallas Confucious
The Denver Zen
the list is unimaginably diverse as to new team names to show enlightenment. And think of all the new jobs created as the new colors are chosen, and new uniforms made, new marketing and promotion efforts created -- it'll be an endless cornucopia of helpful pork projects.
Once again, clearly, Congress has fallen off the job of protecting the downtrodden while sticking it to the other 95% of us.
posse comitatus| 11.30.09 @ 6:28PM
Better name for a New York or Chicago or San Fransisco team would be the "Liberals" with the team mascot being a brown rat. Before each game the spokesman/mascot would offer to surrender to the other team before starting play so as to avoid any unfair competition.
Tony in Central PA| 11.23.09 @ 8:56PM
You know, I'm just so glad the NCAA is expending so much of its time and resources on this mascot thing because it has so much potential to harm the student athlete.
CODefender| 11.23.09 @ 10:57PM
Here's a silly one for ya: Webster University, Saint Louis Missouri. Mascot? The Gorlock. What the hell is a Gorlock. Al Gore with a long white wig and wizard's robe with large wizard sleeves? Actually it's some sort of stupid animated gremlin-nymph. I don't know how the hell they got the Gorlock, but they were probably "Indians", "Redskins", "Redmen", "Brave" or some other tribe at one time...
Duke927| 11.24.09 @ 12:07AM
Again this PC barrage reminded me of the name of the intramural basketball team of the University of Northern Colorado. Figuring turnabout is fair play I guess to show how offensive these Indian names for teams can be they named the team the Fighting Whites which has since been amended to the Fighting Whities. I think the plan back fired though because they sold enough t-shirts to fund a scholarship.
PacRim Jim| 11.24.09 @ 3:41AM
I'm an American mongrel--part Cherokee, mostly European, part immature Baby Boomer--and I say call anybody what you will. If you're gratuitously malevolent, you will look the fool. If you offend someone, it will give them something memorable to talk about. In any event, it's a free country--or at least it used to be.
Nosmo King| 11.24.09 @ 9:26AM
Excellent!
zflynn| 11.24.09 @ 1:41PM
Boy these PCers are really the pot calling the kettle black. That's because underneath it all they're yellow! Unfortunately, I don't know if these schools have a chinaman's chance of keeping their mascots. I guess the PCers think it's awfully white of them to keep fighting!
Paddy O' Furniture| 11.24.09 @ 1:54PM
Being of Irish descent I am highly offended by that institution in South Bend usage of the term "Fighting Irish". First of all said institution is named after a church in gay Pareeee, second of all there ain't much fight in them lately* which reflects badly on all of us Irishmen who like nothing more than a good fight.
*Well all of 'em except little Jimmy Clausen, looks like he mixed it up pretty good the other day. you go Jimmy you done us proud!
denise| 11.24.09 @ 2:20PM
It has nothing to do with politically correctness, it has to do with taking our tribal names and using them without our permission. How would the Coke company like if you started using its trademark then asking them whats wrong with that? Its quite disrespectful to take our names and use them any damn way you please.
Lutheran Rev + UND alumn| 11.24.09 @ 6:02PM
IGNORANCE.
That's all your article was, Mr. Hyman.
There is a body part that sounds a lot like your last name, but funny that hasn't ever been suggested as a team logo.
White "Americans" have stolen, lied to and killed so many Native Americans that we have absolutely NO right to use their cultural images for our trivial sports teams. If you think there is nothing wrong with slogans like "Sioux Suck," then I have no idea where I would suggest you begin your education, or re-education, as it may be.
I will pray for you.
Denise| 11.24.09 @ 6:48PM
He is just one hopeless ignorant arrogrant man.
Sam| 11.24.09 @ 6:33PM
It has to do with taking our tribal names and using them without our permission. -Denise
Denise, I can accept that argument, provided the actual tribe makes the statement and not some high minded, politically correct white person.
Denise| 11.24.09 @ 6:45PM
You are talking to a high minded politically incorrect Standing Rock Sioux Sam, so now can you accept my statement? Or would you like to see my tribal enrollment papers?
Richard Baker| 11.25.09 @ 7:45AM
Denise:
Much ado about nothing. So what if you find it offensive, who cares. These names reflect respect for the warrior culture of various Indian tribes and their fighting spirit. Another brain dead liberal, as if the world doesn't have enough, already.
Denise| 12.1.09 @ 3:41AM
You are one piece of ignorant do do. But then I imagine youve been told that many times.
Richard Baker| 11.25.09 @ 3:53PM
Denise:
You are also, of course, offended by the Army use of Indian names for all their helicopters. Iroquois (the official name for the Huey), Kiowa (OH-58), Chinook (CH-47), Choctaw (CH-34), Creek (TH-57), and many others. Feel free to whine to the Department of the Army. GEN Casey, the present Chief of Staff, might find your complaint worthy of his concern for "diversity."
Denise| 12.1.09 @ 3:43AM
We will all pray for your depraved soul and mind. Heres hoping you try to educate yourself to a little cultural sensitivity Mr. Barker.
Sam| 12.8.09 @ 9:37AM
Denise is right, Natives Americans as mascots are inappropriate. The Sioux don't need anyone to bestow honor on them, that is a patronizing point of view that the white culture has used as cover for their actions.
I live in the area and the majority of people here are white and they look stupid running around with the word sioux across their chests on their t-shirts. A fact over looked by the majority of suppporters of the nickname is the way the fighting sioux nickname is used by opponents, its disgusting, as the Texas Tech game proved once again.
Why waste so much time and money on this issue, well it is all about money, don't be naive people, the REA has millions caught up in this issue. The lawyer representing the Spirit Lake group is associated with Englestaad and many of those who are in the group don't even live on the rez. So don't think for a second that this is about keeping the Sioux heritage alive.
Its time to move on the Standing Rock tribe has recognized that this is not an important issue and won't be forced by a stupid college to vote on this. It would be like Britain saying that the US has to vote on something, no sovereign nation can be forced by another group to vote on something. To do so would mean the nation would be letting go of a piece of their sovereignity and jeopardize it for years to come.
UND will be just fine after this matter is settled and the nickname is dropped, there are more important matters to pay attention to than this.
Pingback| 11.26.09 @ 12:45PM
¤ Golden State Warriors in ‘09-’10 Season ¤ links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
electronic| 11.30.09 @ 4:22AM
nothing is impossible to a willing heart!
Nomo Stew| 12.2.09 @ 7:18PM
I know this is hopeless, but here goes. When you adopt the name of a locally culturally dominant group, even in caricature, it's a nice example of pride moderated by humility. Patriots, Vikings, etc. No harm meant or done, because it's basically the group in power putting a name on themselves. When a name becomes a placename, it takes on a new, neutral meaning. Dakota, Huron. Nobody really thinks of the tribe in that context anymore, and a place just is what it is. No praise or insult meant.
When the culturally dominant group uses slang names and caricatures of people who don't get any say in it, it's abuse. Niggers, bitches, Sioux, all meant as insults hurled against others, originally. Okay, so sometimes the insulted decide to take on the name for themselves, as a show of toughness. Doesn't change the original intent, which is to put the disempowered in "their place." Get the difference? Naw, of course you don't. It's just all "political correctness."
Thing I've never understood about that, though, is that if it's correct, what's wrong with it? What exactly is wrong with not intentionally offending disempowered minorities? Wouldn't it be kind of easy to live on without exercising that "right"?
Pingback| 12.4.09 @ 4:08AM
Schimpff S Confectionery « DIY Projects links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Trackback| 12.14.09 @ 9:19PM
nh credit repair, on nh credit repair, links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Galen| 1.4.10 @ 9:19AM
When I was at Wisconsin (many years ao) we had intermural football between seminars. I believe my Team was "The New Left Non violent Killers"
Pingback| 1.26.10 @ 9:39AM
» Problems and Issues Mrs. Shelton’s Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.10.10 @ 10:36PM
Many Denver Schools to Close Campuses During Lunchtime links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
www.us-bapeoutlet.com| 4.2.10 @ 4:47AM
www.us-bapeoutlet.com
Poptropica | 4.8.10 @ 1:39AM
It seems that everyone on the Poptropica island, the virtual world for kids, now wants to find some poptropica cheats. The virtual world, which is causing quite a buzz in the community of online gaming, is a safe area for kids to play and interact with each other – however their personal information is never shared. Cheats for poptropica are obviously hard to find, and so there is a lot of demand right now!
Poptropica cheats
The poptropica island has been in the news lately after it was revealed that they would be beginning a special ‘reality tv’ project – inside the virtual world. Contestants in a variety of online games will be selected from the players of the virtual game, and be taken by helicopter to a special zone where they can compete for prizes, as well as to become the King or Queen of the island.
The virtual online games will be available to all users of the game from today, although they have been used by ‘Members’ of the community for the last three weeks. Memebership of poptropica costs a small amount per month, but allows users to take advantage of a range of offers and special deals which are not usually available. Paying doesn’t allow access to any poptropica cheats though!