Heap big pissing contest
Let me preface this by saying I went to Villanova University and the University of North Florida. Our mascots were the Wildcats and the Ospreys. I am pleased to announce that neither seem to be offended by our adopting them as such. I say this because I want it known I have no real predisposition toward any team with an Indian name. I'm not a Florida State fan. The Atlanta Braves and Washington Redskins have no special place in my heart. It did however, disappoint me when another Big East school, St. John's, caved in a sea of political correctness several years ago, changing their mascot from the Redmen to the Red Storm.
I'm having a real issue with the NCAA's decision to coerce schools with Indian named mascots to change them. Sorry, I won't use the term 'Native American', because if I grant that a certain group of Americans are 'native', I'm not sure where that leaves the rest of us who were born here. Are we not native? This issue is bigger news here perhaps than some places because the Seminoles of Florida State are nearby. I'll dispense with one argument for the name right away. Florida State says they can claim the name Seminole because the Seminole tribe of Florida endorses the name and the school's use of it. The opposing argument is that Seminole tribes elsewhere don't. I say who gives a damn. I don't know how many other Seminole tribes were polled, and I don't think either side of that argument carries much weight anyway.
I guess the crux of my issue is...since when is it offensive to be a school mascot? I'm of Italian descent. If the University of Northwest Southern Alaska wants to call themselves the Greasy Wops and wear pizza boxes for hats at basketball games, more power to 'em. I really don't care. I'm not that easily offended. If the University of Notre Dame wants to call themselves the Fighting Irish and use a little brawling leprechaun to represent the school, why shouldn't they be able...wait a minute. Never mind. What is so offensive about having a school that wants to associate themselves with a symbol in which they take pride? I'm hearing that it's offensive, derogatory and abusive. I have yet to hear in what way, and I am open to that argument if anyone wants to put it forward. Please, someone tell me what's wrong with a school using your tribe as it's symbol of pride?
I have heard the argument that these schools are making money off these Indian names and symbols. Bullshit! Is the University of Akron making money off the Zips of the world? University of Richmond exploiting spiders? Those universities wouldn't make any more money from school sports paraphernalia than if the team was called the Flying Bozos. They just don't want to be the Flying Bozos, because where's the pride in that? But if they were the Flying Bozos, people would still buy their t-shirts and jerseys and visors and ball caps and whatever. Their mascot isn't what's making money for the school. The school is making money for the school, although I understand Hurricane Irene changed course and is headed toward the University of Miami, because she's wanting her cut.
I've heard, "It was time. The NCAA had to get off their butts and do something!" I agree, but they did the wrong something. It's time they told the handful of whiney ass activists, "The answer is no, and it will always be no. Political correctness won't go to this ridiculous level. We won't pressure teams to change their names so go and do something productive with your lives instead of camping on our front door."
The specific punishment for having an Indian mascot is that your school won't be able to host an NCAA post season event, which means pretty much, baseball and basketball playoff tournament games would not come your way. Football doesn't come under their umbrella. If you were fortunate enough to play in those games, your Indian mascot name couldn't be seen or mentioned. You'd have to wear uniforms that did not display it.
I've heard Florida State might sue the NCAA. Although I agree with their fundamental position, I don't see them as having a leg to stand on in a lawsuit. They voluntarily belong to the NCAA, and therefore agree to abide by the rules the organization sets forth. If the NCAA pushes this rule, and it looks like they are, FSU has three choices. Find a new mascot, wear uniforms that don't show their mascot name when playing in NCAA sponsored post season events and give up the right to host any such events, or thumb their nose at the NCAA and say, "we're giving up our membership in this organization".
Curiously, one of the schools being targeted is the Fighting Illini of Illinois. These folks are in a pickle. Lets say their team goes to the baseball playoffs. Well, the Illini can't be on their shirts, but neither can the University of Illinois. Both names are of Indian derivation. I hope there's enough room on that shirt for 'a school from the state that happens to include Chicago'.
Now, I know what's coming. John you hypocritical ass. (You might not say it but admit it. Some of you were thinking it. Some still are.) The stars and bars are outa here but Indian names are OK. There's a huge difference. The confederate battle flag is a symbol being used even today to intimidate and offend. A local middle school had to ban it on clothing for just that reason. Middle school, mind you. Twelve year olds were using it as a symbol of intimidation. Last time I looked, no Indian symbols were used that way. Indians deserve to be seen in a place of honor, and that's how I view being a school mascot, and maybe why I'm missing the boat. The stars and bars might have deserved that at one time, but until that symbol can be wrestled back from those who use it as a symbol of hate, it doesn't.
As I said, I'm open to an opposing point of view. I just haven't heard one yet that's very convincing. If you have one, bring it. I'm all for a little enlightenment.
I'm having a real issue with the NCAA's decision to coerce schools with Indian named mascots to change them. Sorry, I won't use the term 'Native American', because if I grant that a certain group of Americans are 'native', I'm not sure where that leaves the rest of us who were born here. Are we not native? This issue is bigger news here perhaps than some places because the Seminoles of Florida State are nearby. I'll dispense with one argument for the name right away. Florida State says they can claim the name Seminole because the Seminole tribe of Florida endorses the name and the school's use of it. The opposing argument is that Seminole tribes elsewhere don't. I say who gives a damn. I don't know how many other Seminole tribes were polled, and I don't think either side of that argument carries much weight anyway.
I guess the crux of my issue is...since when is it offensive to be a school mascot? I'm of Italian descent. If the University of Northwest Southern Alaska wants to call themselves the Greasy Wops and wear pizza boxes for hats at basketball games, more power to 'em. I really don't care. I'm not that easily offended. If the University of Notre Dame wants to call themselves the Fighting Irish and use a little brawling leprechaun to represent the school, why shouldn't they be able...wait a minute. Never mind. What is so offensive about having a school that wants to associate themselves with a symbol in which they take pride? I'm hearing that it's offensive, derogatory and abusive. I have yet to hear in what way, and I am open to that argument if anyone wants to put it forward. Please, someone tell me what's wrong with a school using your tribe as it's symbol of pride?
I have heard the argument that these schools are making money off these Indian names and symbols. Bullshit! Is the University of Akron making money off the Zips of the world? University of Richmond exploiting spiders? Those universities wouldn't make any more money from school sports paraphernalia than if the team was called the Flying Bozos. They just don't want to be the Flying Bozos, because where's the pride in that? But if they were the Flying Bozos, people would still buy their t-shirts and jerseys and visors and ball caps and whatever. Their mascot isn't what's making money for the school. The school is making money for the school, although I understand Hurricane Irene changed course and is headed toward the University of Miami, because she's wanting her cut.
I've heard, "It was time. The NCAA had to get off their butts and do something!" I agree, but they did the wrong something. It's time they told the handful of whiney ass activists, "The answer is no, and it will always be no. Political correctness won't go to this ridiculous level. We won't pressure teams to change their names so go and do something productive with your lives instead of camping on our front door."
The specific punishment for having an Indian mascot is that your school won't be able to host an NCAA post season event, which means pretty much, baseball and basketball playoff tournament games would not come your way. Football doesn't come under their umbrella. If you were fortunate enough to play in those games, your Indian mascot name couldn't be seen or mentioned. You'd have to wear uniforms that did not display it.
I've heard Florida State might sue the NCAA. Although I agree with their fundamental position, I don't see them as having a leg to stand on in a lawsuit. They voluntarily belong to the NCAA, and therefore agree to abide by the rules the organization sets forth. If the NCAA pushes this rule, and it looks like they are, FSU has three choices. Find a new mascot, wear uniforms that don't show their mascot name when playing in NCAA sponsored post season events and give up the right to host any such events, or thumb their nose at the NCAA and say, "we're giving up our membership in this organization".
Curiously, one of the schools being targeted is the Fighting Illini of Illinois. These folks are in a pickle. Lets say their team goes to the baseball playoffs. Well, the Illini can't be on their shirts, but neither can the University of Illinois. Both names are of Indian derivation. I hope there's enough room on that shirt for 'a school from the state that happens to include Chicago'.
Now, I know what's coming. John you hypocritical ass. (You might not say it but admit it. Some of you were thinking it. Some still are.) The stars and bars are outa here but Indian names are OK. There's a huge difference. The confederate battle flag is a symbol being used even today to intimidate and offend. A local middle school had to ban it on clothing for just that reason. Middle school, mind you. Twelve year olds were using it as a symbol of intimidation. Last time I looked, no Indian symbols were used that way. Indians deserve to be seen in a place of honor, and that's how I view being a school mascot, and maybe why I'm missing the boat. The stars and bars might have deserved that at one time, but until that symbol can be wrestled back from those who use it as a symbol of hate, it doesn't.
As I said, I'm open to an opposing point of view. I just haven't heard one yet that's very convincing. If you have one, bring it. I'm all for a little enlightenment.
John put this out here at 7:10 AM
5 Comments:
Does that mean that the place where the universtiy of Illinois is based will have to change its name too...?
I can see why Native Americans are upset by things that they feel are perpetuating a stereotype of their peoples. I can understand why names like the "redskins" or "braves" are objectionable, but the actual tribe names I would think to be a point of pride and historical heritage. Maybe they consider the mascots offensive... but maybe they should stop being so damn sensitive and help the teams come up with more accurate representations of their ancestors?
The whole "native american" thing... well I see your point, but I think it's inapproprate to call them "indians", since that was originally based on Europeans having no idea where they were... and since there are so many different cultures being fit under the same general term, it's difficult to figure out what else to call them. I don't have a problem with the "native" thing, since it's a word we use to describe the evolutional origin of a species or sub-species, race being a sub-species of sorts. Like you would say that the coon cat is native to Maine, etc. Since our cultural influences are so scattered here in the states, I find the concept of "native" to be hard to apply to myself at all.
I guess that gets down to my basic problem with the whole concept of being politically correct. From what I've been told, the vast majority of these Americans of tribal descent (for lack of a better term) have no problem with teams using them as mascots. It's truly a handful fo activists that keep the issue alive. I think it's about time someone told these people, I got it. I understand that this can be offensive. Almost anything can be offensive if you let it. So what! Sometimes I find the smell in the men's room at Alltel stadium offensive, but I still use it. I find the Lifetime channel offensive, so I don't watch it. I found our last president offensive, but I survived. I'm sure lots of people find this one offensive. Deal with it! Life ain't all sunshine and roses, and it's definitely not fair. Grow a thicker skin and get on with your life. The fact that there's a school football team out there called the Fighting Illini has zip, zilch, nada effect on your day to day life. Get over your whiney ass.
Call it the John brand of tough love.
Most of what goes on in congress is spurred by activists of one type or another, John. If you've got money and time, you can influence policy, and it doesn't have to make sense or be agreed with by the majority of americans... just the ones that we have elected to take bribes from the activists.
I have a hard time with that concept. I have to believe the people we elect are doing what they think is right. Even when I'm not happy with the administration in power, I do believe they are trying to do what they, in their heart of hearts, believe is the right thing to do. I may wholeheartedly disagree with them, and believe something to the contrary, but that doesn't change the fact that they believe they are doing good things.
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