[nurseratchett29]

I have worked on this issue for years with a certain organization who shall remain nameless. We have come along way but there is more work to do. White People still do not get it. Racial stereotypes are demeaning and need to stop. White people do not understand what the big deal is---they don't even blink an eye at the "Fighting Whites" (U of Northern Colorado) because they don't get it--it is just another perpetuation of the centuries long struggle against racism. I wonder if they will ever understand.
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[MultipurposeRN]

I think peoples' energy should be better spent on things than agitating over sport mascot names, IMHO. Why spend money on lawsuits over something so ridiculous? No wonder our society is such a mess, no one can stand to see something that they might not like..don't look the other way, just file a lawsuit; pay lawyers big bucks to assuage your hurt feelings. And no one really wins.
I am a big busted blonde..and I laugh at blonde jokes. I would have no problem w/ a team called the 'dumb blondes'. It might sound stupid, but big deal.

[fotografe]

It is about more than just "hurt feelings". Studies have been done on how the protrayals of Native Americans as sports mascots is damaging psychologically to children from those groups. The Chief and his dance are particulary damaging. When Charlene Teeters (I think that is her name) took her children to that basketball game and her children had to sit through the humiliation of the chief's dance, she had the cajones to stand up and say it was wrong. Her children wanted to know why they were being made fun of. And how about Native students who had to walk through rival campuses to see efigies of Native figures hanging, burning or otherwise disfigured all in the name of "fun"? A simpler and less drawn out solution would have been for the UNiversity to recognize and admit they were creating a hostile environment, and to make the change over 20 years ago, when this was brought to the forefront. Then were would have been no need for any lawsuit.

I am of CHerokee descent, and when I explained to my inlaws, who live overseas, that I was Cherokee, they were puzzled that I would be descended from a car. My history and culture had been reduced to the vehicles on a car lot. I found that sad and disturbing (commercial use is a whole 'nother ball of wax so I will let it go there.)

I think you would find "In Whose Honor" an informative film for you to watch. It does a very good job explaining this situation. You may not be so quick to just dismiss it as a bunch of babies wanting attention. It is a serious issue.

I also did a paper on this subject and did extensive research on the implications of the chief. If you want it, I will be happy to forward it to you.

Originally Posted by MultipurposeRN

I think peoples' energy should be better spent on things than agitating over sport mascot names, IMHO. Why spend money on lawsuits over something so ridiculous? No wonder our society is such a mess, no one can stand to see something that they might not like..don't look the other way, just file a lawsuit; pay lawyers big bucks to assuage your hurt feelings. And no one really wins.
I am a big busted blonde..and I laugh at blonde jokes. I would have no problem w/ a team called the 'dumb blondes'. It might sound stupid, but big deal.

[sirI]

Agree totally with fotografe. And, I might add, naming a sports team "The Dumb Blondes" doesn't come close to this issue for dumb blondes are not a race, but is a disparaging remark.

[prmenrs]

http://www.inwhosehonor.com/

[cholul]

Believe it or not, as the actual, alive and well, family of "the Chief," all we really asked was that they correct whatever that garb was that he was wearing, correct the so-called tribal dances - and stop flailing about - literally - like Big Bird on drugs. Then, he could have been not only "fun" - but something to be proud of too. They got ugly - No problem - we took em to court.