Before I saw Bob Costa's editorial on SNF last night I made this comment on another social site. I wanted to share this with you all and ask your thoughts. This is not about politics. This is about whether this name is appropriate or not.
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The current push against the team name "Redskins" as being a racial slur made me think. For the longest time, like most people, I never thought about it. And before that, I actually got angry at people who would dare attack team mascot names. But time and life experience has made me see things in a different light.
Most people don't think about the team mascot names, and, in most circumstances, I see that these names that could be considered racially insensitive have multiple meanings, or could be seen as tribute rather than slander.
Team names are supposed to be fearsome "fighting" names. In most circumstances I see these names that are designed to bring up visions of specific fighting, vicious men (i.e. by definition, racist names) can be turned into tributes. Braves, warriors, chiefs, and the like can refer to any group. In our culture we see these are brave Indian warriors. We can celebrate these men fighting for their way of life. It can be a positive image. But a name like Red Skins has absolutely no redeeming quality. The San Francisco Chinks, San Diego Wetbacks, Cincinnati Krauts, The New York Guineas are exactly analogous to the origin and continued meaning of "Redskins". (and the common derivative: Red Men).
My opinion is not yet fully formed on mascot names for tribes such as the Seminoles, Mohawks, Blackhawks, etc. I see how these can be tributes to indigenous peoples. And in some cases (like blackhawks) there are multiple meanings including a Black Hawk. The fact that the Seminole nation gave Florida State permission to keep the name in the face of the NCAA rule against such names makes the point that at least some Indian nations see the tribute potential in that type of name. And in these names I don't even count the Illini, as I would wager most don't even know it refers to an Indian tribe that used to inhabit the area we now call Illinois.
Of course among my favorite team names is the Fighting Pretzels of Freeport Illinois.
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Here is Bob Costa's editorial, please watch before commenting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT9wy5xoMcI
One of the people who commented on the other social site took objection, not to the subject, but to the fact that it was presented at halftime during the game. My retort was that no one seems to complain when the editorials are about steroids use, concussion/brain injury or other such controversial topics that don't have the "political correctness" overtone. And that his objection totally circumvents the actual issue.
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The current push against the team name "Redskins" as being a racial slur made me think. For the longest time, like most people, I never thought about it. And before that, I actually got angry at people who would dare attack team mascot names. But time and life experience has made me see things in a different light.
Most people don't think about the team mascot names, and, in most circumstances, I see that these names that could be considered racially insensitive have multiple meanings, or could be seen as tribute rather than slander.
Team names are supposed to be fearsome "fighting" names. In most circumstances I see these names that are designed to bring up visions of specific fighting, vicious men (i.e. by definition, racist names) can be turned into tributes. Braves, warriors, chiefs, and the like can refer to any group. In our culture we see these are brave Indian warriors. We can celebrate these men fighting for their way of life. It can be a positive image. But a name like Red Skins has absolutely no redeeming quality. The San Francisco Chinks, San Diego Wetbacks, Cincinnati Krauts, The New York Guineas are exactly analogous to the origin and continued meaning of "Redskins". (and the common derivative: Red Men).
My opinion is not yet fully formed on mascot names for tribes such as the Seminoles, Mohawks, Blackhawks, etc. I see how these can be tributes to indigenous peoples. And in some cases (like blackhawks) there are multiple meanings including a Black Hawk. The fact that the Seminole nation gave Florida State permission to keep the name in the face of the NCAA rule against such names makes the point that at least some Indian nations see the tribute potential in that type of name. And in these names I don't even count the Illini, as I would wager most don't even know it refers to an Indian tribe that used to inhabit the area we now call Illinois.
Of course among my favorite team names is the Fighting Pretzels of Freeport Illinois.
---------------------
Here is Bob Costa's editorial, please watch before commenting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT9wy5xoMcI
One of the people who commented on the other social site took objection, not to the subject, but to the fact that it was presented at halftime during the game. My retort was that no one seems to complain when the editorials are about steroids use, concussion/brain injury or other such controversial topics that don't have the "political correctness" overtone. And that his objection totally circumvents the actual issue.
