Why is using Native American names for sports teams considered racist?

[whathehell]

126. My great-grandparents came from Ireland. I was lucky enough to get to know them

before they died, each in their nineties.

I've always identified with, and been quite proud of my Irish ancestry and have not a

clue as to why I or any Irish person would be offended by Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish". .

Having said that, I understand and completely AGREE with Liberal Historian, that it is up to the GROUP to decide what is offensive,

I have to admit to being confused when people find it patronizing when some find certain cultural qualities "admirable",

because I see a contradiction there, and this is it: The meme that we should "celebrate" our differences is all around us, but

then at times like this, people seem to act as if we should HAVe no cultural differences and mentioning it is "patronizing".

I mean I "get it" when an ethnic group is MINIMIZED and/or DEFINED by only one characteristic, however admired, but

I'm not sure that's always the case, and I at least don't feel that way about the Irish, although I'm certainly aware of

the historic discrimination against the Irish in this country.