Why do schools have to give up their Indian name mascots but not ones like Trojans?

[Dis]

My jr. high school name was Kenny Guinn Trojans. No one complained about them.

Sure there are no Trojans running around today, but there are decendants of Trojans.

And what about Giants. How do you think those overly large people feel about this?

And what about animal names? Surely PETA has a problem with this. They should not be allowed to use animal names. That implies violence against animals.

[Urban Ranger]

Are you bored?

[AnnC]

What about Scandinavians? Seattle's Rainier Beach High School, whose student population is primarily African American and Latino, is the home of the Fighting Vikings.

Somebody decided that it wasn't PC to have a lily-white symbol for such a diverse school, so they made the mascot darker. Now their school is represented by a swarthy Viking.

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by AnnC
What about Scandinavians? Seattle's Rainier Beach High School, whose student population is primarily African American and Latino, is the home of the Fighting Vikings.

Somebody decided that it wasn't PC to have a lily-white symbol for such a diverse school, so they made the mascot darker. Now their school is represented by a swarthy Viking.

Read the Icelandic Sagas. They're chock full of Vikings identified as "swarthy".

[Straybow]

Political correctness is a b1tch

[MRT144]

whens the last time you ****ed over a trojan? actually whens the last time you ****ed with a tojan...

[Jac de Molay]

I've always figured if the Washington Redskins are perfectly acceptable, the New Orleans ******s and Carolina Klansmen should be acceptable, too.

If we're going to do away with all vestiges of sensitivity, we might as well be consistent about it.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by DetroitDave
I've always figured if the Washington Redskins are perfectly acceptable, the New Orleans ******s and Carolina Klansmen should be acceptable, too.

If we're going to do away with all vestiges of sensitivity, we might as well be consistent about it.

Too True.

"Indians" is not, in general, a term Native Americans like to be called, as it is not only ethnically inaccurate, it is seen by many as a perjorative.

"Trojans" isn't offensive to anyone, as there aren't any Trojans around anymore and isn't remotely a perjorative name for anyone. Unless you're calling someone a condom.

[Guynemer]

Bite me, you Trojan!

[Ned]

I've always wondered about team names myself. The Romans, Germans, Goths and Huns were among the best "fighters" in ancient times. However, I cannot recall any teams named after one of these peoples. No Legionaires. No Gladiators. No Barbarians. No Huns. No Goths. No Franks or Vandals or Suebi or Alemanni or Saxons.

Instead they choose the Trojans, who lost.

The ancient Jews at least twice put up a better fight against the Romans than did the Trojans against the Greeks. Remember Masada and the Zealots? I have never seen a team named the Zealots or the fighting Jews.

Instead we get Raiders, Pirates, Buccanneers.

Even the Americans are honored: Yankees.

Ugh!

[Jac de Molay]

"Indians" is not, in general, a term Native Americans like to be called, as it is not only ethnically inaccurate, it is seen by many as a perjorative.

I guess it depends on the context. Food for thought:

My alma mater, Eastern Michigan U, was originally called the Hurons, after an area tribe. Even though tribe members expressed no strong objection to its usage, the name was changed to Eagles(blah). I thought it was PC going overboard. Hurons was always respectfully used.

The city south of detroit where I grew up, Wyandotte, is named after the tribe of the same name. Junior High and elementary sports used the name "Indians". There is a LOT of respect for the tribe's heritage in this town in museum and landmarks, and I really don't think any insult or disparagement is intended. Change the name?

[Bosh]

Yes all Trojan names should be replaced. Horrible things happen like having opposing schools set up posters like "Trojans burst under pressure" and other horrific condom jokes

[Timexwatch]

Greeks wouldn't complain. They're egomaniacs ....

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Ned
I've always wondered about team names myself. The Romans, Germans, Goths and Huns were among the best "fighters" in ancient times. However, I cannot recall any teams named after one of these peoples. No Legionaires. No Gladiators. No Barbarians. No Huns. No Goths. No Franks or Vandals or Suebi or Alemanni or Saxons.

That does it! If I ever become the owner of an expansion team, I choose Ned to come up with the name for it. What a great selection!

The Zkribblian Barbarians, Zkribbler's Legionaires...zounds!!

[Guynemer]

Originally posted by DetroitDave


I guess it depends on the context. Food for thought:

My alma mater, Eastern Michigan U, was originally called the Hurons, after an area tribe. Even though tribe members expressed no strong objection to its usage, the name was changed to Eagles(blah). I thought it was PC going overboard. Hurons was always respectfully used.

Why oh why oh why didn't they change it to the Emus?

I don't think tribe names are generally regarded as offensive; even "Indians" seems, in and of itself, okay. But when coupled with an abhorrent racial caricature like the Cleveland Indians, or when the nickname is a racial insult, i.e. Washington Redskins, it frightens me how much resistance there is to change.