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catbyte

(39,154 posts)

139. Sorry, but what "admirable" characteristics? We're not one homogeneous mass of humanity

Fri Sep 28, 2012, 01:10 PM

Sep 2012

It feels like White folks are giving us a pat on the head and that comes across as condescending. I'm not saying you're a bad person, I just wanted you to see the issue through my eyes. Naming sports teams after Native Americans reinforces the whole "Noble Savage" stereotype and there's no honor in that. If all tribes subscribed to pacifist, Buddhist-like philosophies, you wouldn't see any team named after us.

Sorry if I overreacted, but I see absolutely nothing complimentary in being reduced to mascot status. it's just a bugaboo of mine. Nothing personal!

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Why is using Native American names for sports teams considered racist? [View all] Fawke Em Sep 2012 OP

I've never understood it, Fawke. elleng Sep 2012 #1

Well, I live on an Indian reservation and hubby is in tribal law and I liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #11

Cut the crap. elleng Sep 2012 #22

Um, no, no it's not "crap", liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #24

You said it well in you previous post JustAnotherGen Sep 2012 #55

agree MrDiaz Sep 2012 #60

This was the logo of a beloved Seattle restaurant for 2 decades Generic Other Sep 2012 #37

How incredibly rude. Zoeisright Sep 2012 #69

I agree that it was rude to call my elleng Sep 2012 #82

liberalhistorian isn't throwing any crap obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #94

i didn't realize good character was genetic in origin CreekDog Sep 2012 #106

Got that right FrodosPet Sep 2012 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author AnotherMcIntosh Sep 2012 #40

My great-grandparents came from Ireland. I was lucky enough to get to know them whathehell Sep 2012 #126

So very well said. redqueen Sep 2012 #74

Cherokee High School Braves - on the reservation in Western NC LastDemocratInSC Sep 2012 #114

Maybe because not every single one of the liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #120

My Indian friends would laugh in your face for saying that obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #93

it's nice that we honor the peoples that we nearly eliminated centuries ago CreekDog Sep 2012 #98

Oh, ellng, that is SO condescending. Please. catbyte Sep 2012 #131

I've 'cut it out,' cat; haven't responded to the numerous 'complaints' against me on the subject. elleng Sep 2012 #132

Sorry, but what "admirable" characteristics? We're not one homogeneous mass of humanity catbyte Sep 2012 #139

Ever see the old "Chief Wahoo" images from the Cleveland Indians? zbdent Sep 2012 #2

I haven't and maybe my age is coloring my opinon. Fawke Em Sep 2012 #4

Nope, not a caricature at all... TroglodyteScholar Sep 2012 #7

+1 Canuckistanian Sep 2012 #12

I agree that is over the top. Fawke Em Sep 2012 #14

Ask any Indian male how often some stranger refers to him as "chief" Generic Other Sep 2012 #41

God, I hated that damned logo every liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #15

I'm a middle class white gal and that's why I asked the question. Fawke Em Sep 2012 #18

Redskins' is just a bad ThomThom Sep 2012 #27

That's a cleaned up version, too. The original was far worse. yardwork Sep 2012 #35

Sadly, that's just one version ... zbdent Sep 2012 #91

I know! What an honor! CreekDog Sep 2012 #101

I don't think that the Seminoles dislike the name of that team. yardwork Sep 2012 #34

You asked Seminole tribe? tama Sep 2012 #50

Not sure why you are attacking me. I'm not in favor of any of these names. yardwork Sep 2012 #63

Sorry tama Sep 2012 #64

I should have read through the thread before replying... OriginalGeek Sep 2012 #80

FSU is not the example your looking for.... Sgent Sep 2012 #66

Just fact checking tama Sep 2012 #67

The Seminoles do not object and in fact work with the school to ensure that the representations are MADem Sep 2012 #70

Yes, teh Seminole Triv=be has sanctioned FSU's use of Seminole obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #95

Yeah tama Sep 2012 #108

There are tribal members who find the fake regalia, the war paint, and the fake war cries offensive. Brickbat Sep 2012 #3

That, I can understand. Fawke Em Sep 2012 #6

The way I see it, if a group of people says something is offensive, I can afford to give them the Brickbat Sep 2012 #10

Those would not exist without the names loyalsister Sep 2012 #49

I dunno...I mean, white folks exterminated so many natives... TroglodyteScholar Sep 2012 #5

Another good point that I hadn't thought of. Fawke Em Sep 2012 #8

That distaste gave rise to the FIGHTING WHITIES MADem Sep 2012 #71

Think about this. aaaaaa5a Sep 2012 #9

That's my point! Thank you for the visuals! Fawke Em Sep 2012 #16

And it doesn't bother you that the Irish are depicted in this way? Generic Other Sep 2012 #44

I use to live in Boston. It has a strong irish-catholic heritage. aaaaaa5a Sep 2012 #89

You really don't get the differences? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #97

There is no difference, of course! JoeyT Sep 2012 #111

The Celtics logo and even the Viking one don't seem mocking Generic Other Sep 2012 #100

yes, well they look a bit like the people who pushed native americans off their historic lands CreekDog Sep 2012 #110

Trust me when I tell you that if the Scandanavians in Minnesota had objected to the name"Vikings" dflprincess Sep 2012 #115

You mention the Pittsburgh Steelers. Do you find that name to be offensive? spin Sep 2012 #53

No. I don't find it offensive. That was the point of my post. nt aaaaaa5a Sep 2012 #56

That's fair. ... spin Sep 2012 #86

Excellent point. aaaaaa5a Sep 2012 #90

I would so play for a softball team Kelvin Mace Sep 2012 #105

Colonel Reb is gone Sgent Sep 2012 #68

Good post. Thanks for the info. aaaaaa5a Sep 2012 #83

They deserve a lot of credit for doing so Generic Other Sep 2012 #102

The word is GAMUT, not "GAMBIT". Now, take a closer look at those depictions - notice something scarletwoman Sep 2012 #87

We don't disagree. aaaaaa5a Sep 2012 #118

Right. scarletwoman Sep 2012 #129

i think the insult is greater if the majority has harmed a people and *then* caricatures them CreekDog Sep 2012 #109

I don't disagree with that statement. aaaaaa5a Sep 2012 #119

I don't remember 22 million irish being exterminated, however. Scootaloo Sep 2012 #127

I can see how decimating indigenous peoples, then co-opting their imagery and names zonkers Sep 2012 #13

In for the win. Nt xchrom Sep 2012 #17

Like Republican men are doing to women. Fawke Em Sep 2012 #19

so much THIS GObamaGO Sep 2012 #31

And yet I'm told here to liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #46

The University of North Dakota is being forced to change it's name... Odin2005 Sep 2012 #20

Like it? More like, 'meh, who cares' for the most part, IMHO. LiberalAndProud Sep 2012 #33

Um, no, they don't. Only one ND Sioux reservation liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #47

They are Lakota, not Sioux obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #99

NoamChomsky suggests an apt metaphor for such American Indian sports mascots... MinM Sep 2012 #21

EXCELLENT article! unblock Sep 2012 #28

takeaway: when oppressors purport to "honor" an oppressed group... MinM Sep 2012 #84

So my take-away is that you all have helped me understand. Fawke Em Sep 2012 #23

Exactly. ""Vikings" is OK, but "Squareheads" would not be n/t eridani Sep 2012 #54

What about the Yankees, Celtics, Vikings, Cowboys, Fighting Irish, Sooners, 49ers, Rebels, Elwood P Dowd Sep 2012 #25

Demon Deacons...and my favorite... jberryhill Sep 2012 #26

I haven't noticed any offended gold miners about. LeftyMom Sep 2012 #38

It's called "cultural perspective." liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #48

"The majority does not get to decide for a minority group what they should and should not like." redqueen Sep 2012 #76

" You might try to get some." Kolesar Sep 2012 #81

That's it. LiberalAndProud Sep 2012 #122

The name "Steelers" came from the fact that Pittsburgh at one time was a steel town Art_from_Ark Sep 2012 #123

ooh, daddy! can we keep one of those savages as a pet? pleeeeease? unblock Sep 2012 #29

To me, Native American names for sports teams is not in and of itself offensive. mysuzuki2 Sep 2012 #30

Because it says they don't have the right to their own identity. TheMadMonk Sep 2012 #32

Can we at least agree anybody doing the Tomahawk Chop gets their arm broken? LeftyMom Sep 2012 #39

Only if XemaSab Sep 2012 #42

It's the same people. LeftyMom Sep 2012 #45

the last people I saw Go Vols Sep 2012 #75

Yeah... they'll never change this nycbiscuit Sep 2012 #43

The University of Utah's athletic program is named the 'Utes'... Drunken Irishman Sep 2012 #51

I agree. sendero Sep 2012 #52

no disrespect intended, and the Native Americans get all the money right? CreekDog Sep 2012 #113

About as much as.... sendero Sep 2012 #128

if there's no branding then why are American teams allowed to make money off the logos? CreekDog Sep 2012 #141

I am native and have lived with this. aandegoons Sep 2012 #57

Wellcome to DU! tama Sep 2012 #65

Thank you aandegoons Sep 2012 #88

Excellent points and much to think about Kelvin Mace Sep 2012 #107

If I could recommend a response, it would be this. LiberalAndProud Sep 2012 #125

Aanii, aandegoons. My mom never wore sleeveless blouses or a bathing suit in public catbyte Sep 2012 #134

Thank you for putting it so eloquently Marrah_G Sep 2012 #137

You ARE more white than classic Native American. renie408 Sep 2012 #58

The Seminole tribe supports FSU using their name. They are not offended at all. davidn3600 Sep 2012 #59

The Messiah's, FIghting Jesus's, The Raging Popes, The Virgin Marys, Flyin' Crosses, The Crucifiers Evasporque Sep 2012 #61

I dunno. I'd kinda like to root for a team called the Raging Popes. Bucky Sep 2012 #138

You answered your own question. lunatica Sep 2012 #62

Because we colonized them. And are now appropriating their culture. Puregonzo1188 Sep 2012 #72

My favorite team name of all time is the MineralMan Sep 2012 #73

The Nippon Ham Fighters. I always get a vision of hurling lunchmeat. nt msanthrope Sep 2012 #117

What about towns named after tribes HockeyMom Sep 2012 #77

I always name my fantasy teams the Washington D.C. Politically Correct. Waltons_Mtn Sep 2012 #78

Years ago, a preacher wanted Duke University to change its Blue Devils WilmywoodNCparalegal Sep 2012 #79

A name change might have been fun. LiberalAndProud Sep 2012 #124

As an Eagles fan, I find the Redskins offensive on many levels Inkfreak Sep 2012 #85

The Seminole tribe has approved FSU using the name obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #92

if we hadn't basically committed genocide on these peoples, taking their names for ball games... CreekDog Sep 2012 #96

When the Atlanta Braves are owned by a tribe, then it'll be okay CreekDog Sep 2012 #103

I would think that the simplest answer Kelvin Mace Sep 2012 #104

I think there should be a football team called the Feminazis. undeterred Sep 2012 #112

Why it's racist: We took their land and we're mocking them for it Taverner Sep 2012 #116

racist cartoon stereotypes are offensive Zygoat Sep 2012 #121

There is only one group I hope never feels affended..... whistler162 Sep 2012 #130

That's great, whistler, but I'll bet there were at least a few Swedes on the Vikings board catbyte Sep 2012 #133

I have a Greek-American friend who feels that way about the Trojans Bucky Sep 2012 #135

Reminds me of this story: Norrin Radd Sep 2012 #136

Curious if you find generic "Indians" offensive. wtmusic Sep 2012 #140