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

[H Tower]

You wouldn't believe that stink at my university over this subject. We're the fighting Illini. And our mascot and symbol for the university is Chief Illiniwek. I've always thought that the Chief is a symbol to be revered, he comes out at half time, and we all sing the alma mater together, with everyone showing respect for him. Everyone except the protestors that is

[GePap]

Well, this whole name thing can get silly: but somehting like Redskin does go a bit too far.

All I know is that no one would ever protest the name of the teams form my high school.. "The Peglegs". Just cause the last Dutch governor of New Amstardam had a peg leg. What a dumb name..imagine a scary looking man in 17th century dress chrging you with one wooden leg...tremble in fear!

[SlowwHand]

Condom makers aren't as sensitive as Native Americans?
Just a guess.

[Inverse Icarus]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


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.

so does that mean if all the gays died off i could call somebody a *** without fear of someone butting into my business?

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
"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.

That's not really true. Many see Indian as just as correct as Native American. American is a name Europeans put on this place. The Most poltical Indian groups and newspapers still use the term Indian quite frequently. It's pretty much interchangable, since neither is really correct. Having been to quite a few pow-wows, I haven't noticed everyday folks refering to themselves mor one than the other.

[Kropotkin]

As I see it from the other side of the wast atlantic this eagerness to erase native team names could be to help to erase their names from history. How PC is that? By now using native american names could as well be a form of respect as something else.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by H Tower
We're the fighting Illini. And our mascot and symbol for the university is Chief Illiniwek. I've always thought that the Chief is a symbol to be revered, he comes out at half time, and we all sing the alma mater together, with everyone showing respect for him.

And he dances around like a goon dressed up like a Souix, not an Illini (not that we know how the Illini looked, since the Pottowattami wiped them out at Starved Rock two centuries before whites began settling the area). Yeah, such respect. When the people you charicature tell you you are being insulting, take their word on it instead of telling them that you're being "respectful."

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
As I see it from the other side of the wast atlantic this eagerness to erase native team names could be to help to erase their names from history. How PC is that?

The drive to stop Indians being used as mascotts was started and is still led by Indians in the US. The US demanded that Ecuador paint over the mural it has in its parliament because it has a leering skull that asys CIA on it. If we get upset about how others depict us, then w need to deal faily with those whom we depict.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by UberKruX


so does that mean if all the gays died off i could call somebody a *** without fear of someone butting into my business?

I think I can say without fear of being corrected that you just bought yourself a Moderator Alert over that remark.

[Inverse Icarus]

every day is just pushing the envelope with you, isn't it Uber?

[Boris Godunov]

Uber seems to have selectively ignored the part about "Trojans" not being a perjorative terms so he could make a childish and false analogy.

[Inverse Icarus]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Uber seems to have selectively ignored the part about "Trojans" not being a perjorative terms so he could make a childish and false analogy.

a term is only pejorative if the person is offended by it.

the world should grow the f*ck up and stop being so deeply offended by words.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by UberKruX
the world should grow the f*ck up and stop being so deeply offended by words.

The world should grow the f*ck up and not continue insulting people just for being different.

[ixnay]

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.

Actually, the University of Idaho's nickname is the Vandals. That's about it, though.

[Timexwatch]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Condom makers aren't as sensitive as Native Americans?
Just a guess.

Yeah, they can take a good natured ribbing....