“Indian” mascots – appropriate or not?

[RICHARD]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Indian Affairs--Washington

Supplement to Circular No. 1665
February 14, 1923
Indian Dancing

To Superintendants:

At a conference in October, 1922, of the missionaries of the several religious denominations represented in the Sioux country, the following
recommendations were adopted and have been courteously submitted to this office:
1.
That the Indian form of gambling and lottery known as the 'ituranpi' (translated 'Give Away') be prohibited.

2.
That the Indian dances be limited to one in each month in the daylight hours of one day in the midweek, and at one center in each district;
the months of March and April, June, July, and August be excepted.

3.
That none take part in the dances or be present who are under 50 years of age.

4.
That a careful propaganda be undertaken to educate public opinion against the dance and to provide a healthy substitute.

5.
That there be close cooperation between the Government employees and the missionaries in those matters which affect the moral
welfare of the Indians.


These recommendations, I am sure, were the result of sincere thought and discussion, and in view of their helpful spirit, are worthy of our
careful consideration. They agree in……



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Check it out.........

now let me get this straight...

In 1923 the government was trying to stamp out Indian Dancing in the Sioux Nation and in 2003
the Indians are trying to stamp out Indian
Dancing in the American Nation.

I know there is a difference in the two- but isn't the basic message of both movements that Indians-in any shape or form shouldn't dance???

I'm a little more rattled about St Paddy's day and Cinco De Mayo......

You see people wearing buttons saying,"Kiss me, I'm Irish!"

AHA! Drunken Irish Sex Fiends must be the norm-
Not to mention the all the college frat kids
wearing a Mexican sombrero slamming down Coronas
on May 5th...

Actually the May 5th group doesn't bother me that much.......slurred english is just as unintelligble as slurred spanish....I know, I speak both.

[Prairie Purrs]

Originally posted by catland
excelent article CinD.

I did not know for example, about Indians being forbidden to practice their religion.

I think one of the issues here is how people who support the mascots are branded as "racist" when they are really just uninformed. This can then make them defensive because they know that they aren't racists.

There are traditions of using strong warrior names for school teams such as "Vikings", "Trojans" (stop giggling 2k and Gini), and "Spartans". I think that many people, myself included, thought of the word "Braves" in this same fashion, as a compliment, and not a put-down. Which is why we cringe when someone calls us racists.

Education is the best way to tackle this issue.

I agree entirely that education is needed--but sometimes a wake-up call is needed, too.

My belief is that a practice that is offensive to a large percentage of a particular racial group is a racist practice and should be discontinued. And I don't think schools will bother to change their mascots until they recognize that it's a racist practice.

Here's another interesting link on the issue:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/levesq...1_leve30.shtml

And to emphasize a quote from that editorial:

"It's entirely possible that not all ethnic and racial nicknames started life as pejoratives. But when cultural evolution does make them offensive to a segment of society, shouldn't all of society strive to remove the thorn rather than jam it in deeper? Instead of saying, "Deal with it," shouldn't we be bigger than we were yesterday, better than we were yesterday, and seek common ground?"

[RICHARD]

CID,


My high school team was named the 'Parrots'.

http://poly.lausd.k12.ca.us/index.html

Tell me, you would fear a giant parrot in a yellow cardigan sweater??

It didn't do my fragile ego any good to sit across from a crowd yelling, POLY WANT A CRACKER???

I would have chosen a more masculine, warrior like
mascot to represent our high school and our sports teams......


I just thought of the Fighting Wussies too late.

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Geeeez what a good time to visit PetTalk. I know one thing the Indians are getting plenty of money here in California from their casinos, I know because I help contribute. Their casinos are huge many of them outdoing Las Vegas, and it is all California tax free. I think it would be wise of them to take the money that they give to people in politics and spread it around to their own people throughout the country who are living in poverty.
As far as mascots, Soledad your a little more intelligent than to worry about what a mascot is named. We have a baseball team here called "The Padres" I guess all you liberals will be running to the Supreme Court to make them change their name, let's see it's called "PetCo Stadium" so we could call them "The Dogs", no that would be infringing on dogs rights.
Come on Soledad wake up and smell the coffee.
Jackie

[catland]

Give me a W.... Give me a U... Give me an S... Give me another S....

[Soledad]

You're so right, JackieDaisy. I guess I never thought of it that way. Wow. You've totally changed my entire outlook on life with your clear and fluid logic.

[mugsy]

"W", "U", "S"!!!!


Ok, so I did post again, but, someone had to help with the cheer.....

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by mugsy
"W", "U", "S"!!!!


Ok, so I did post again, but, someone had to help with the cheer.....

shortchange the team an 's' why don't you!

[Prairie Purrs]

Originally posted by RICHARD
CID,


My high school team was named the 'Parrots'.

http://poly.lausd.k12.ca.us/index.html

Tell me, you would fear a giant parrot in a yellow cardigan sweater??

It didn't do my fragile ego any good to sit across from a crowd yelling, POLY WANT A CRACKER???

I would have chosen a more masculine, warrior like
mascot to represent our high school and our sports teams......


I just thought of the Fighting Wussies too late.

My high school team was named the Hilltoppers. Nobody had the foggiest idea what a Hilltopper was.

And how sexist of you to want a "masculine" mascot! What about the girls' (er, womyn's) teams?

[lizbud]

A few years ago some area groups protested against our
Indianapolis Indians Baseball team's (American League) logo.
It was awful. A caricature of an American Indian with a blood
red face , big nose & skinny body, welding a tomahawk. After
some discussion & shared views it was changed to an American
Indian like art symbol like this



Everybody agrees it's a much better logo & not at all offensive
to any group of people.

[mugsy]

Well....catland only had 1 "S"....give me a break! lol

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by CatsinDenver
My high school team was named the Hilltoppers. Nobody had the foggiest idea what a Hilltopper was.

And how sexist of you to want a "masculine" mascot! What about the girls' (er, womyn's) teams?

what?

womyn can't be wussies either??

----------------------------
Main Entry: wuss
Pronunciation: 'wus
Variant(s): also wus·sy /'wu-sE/
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural wuss·es also wus·sies
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1983
: WIMP
- wussy adjective

----------------------------

the fighting wimps isn't as edgy....

----------------------------

Main Entry: hill·top
Pronunciation: 'hil-"täp
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
: the highest part of a hill
----------------------------

Now, that one has me stumped!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by lizbud
A few years ago some area groups protested against our
Indianapolis Indians Baseball team's (American League)

Everybody agrees it's a much better logo & not at all offensive
to any group of people.

I told you Chief Wahoo was a troublemaker!

Just wait until all your address labels have to be changed to Nativeamericanapolis, Nativeamericana.

[Cincy'sMom]

Originally posted by 2kitties
At this point, I have this image of a fighting Pope chasing a Mighty Baptist to a dunking pool by a Fighting Crucifiction while the Marching Band plays onward Christian Soldiers.

I can't help it. I'm rofl.

I couldn't get any further in the thread. without commenting...too funnny!!!! Love the visual!!!


My high school was the "Black Knights" I was so glad I went to one of the small schools outside Findlay, instead of Findlay High School...did not want to be a Trojan!

[Karen]

Thank you, 2Kitties, for being a grown up and showing restraint. Big hug to you!


I don't mind debates, folks, but BE POLITE! No slinging insults back and forth, or questioning anyone's sanity - after all, many non-pet-lovers would think we're ALL crazy.