Use of Native American Imagery in Sports

[Buster]

I cant believe how many people here are advocating against freedom of expression.

Its not a right to be 'not offended'.

[Buster]

And being offended by words makes you weak.

[Badger Bob]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

1) Damn liberals, they ruin everything; and

This forum used to be a place for in-depth discussion about hockey. Now, it's more about offensive team nicknames, having a float in the gay pride parade and expressing outrage over a thrown banana.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Buster

And being offended by words makes you weak.

Exactly, and the weakest of all are the pathetic sports fans that are offended by the words (nicknames) for their teams getting changed. Grown men crying about whether they can call other much younger men Redskins or Warriors while they worship them, pathetic.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think this is a case where a majority isn't required. If a sizable amount of people find something that seems offensive, offensive, then get rid of it.

I would change the question to allow for three answers. Offended, Indifferent, and Proud. If the offended outweigh the proud then you change it. While I dont think you just ignore a sizable minority who is offended it needs to be balanced by those who take pride in the name

[ArbourLake]

Originally Posted by blankall

You can't see the difference between the Siminoles logo and the Cleveland Indians logo. I'm just as anti-PC as many of you, but some of these logos and names are extreme. The Indians, Blackhawks, Eskimos, and Redskins all need to go.

I've never heard of Inuits rallying to get the Edmonton CFL franchise to change their name. Also, the logo is just two letter-E's joined together.

Maybe the Calgary Stampeders need to change their name too since they're named after people who chased aboriginal people off their land?

[stignasty]

Front page on CNN today:
Native American mascots: Pride or prejudice? – In America - CNN.com Blogs http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2013/...-or-prejudice/

[missdpuck]

I've been checking out some small Florida towns (yep I want to buy some swampland) , some of which were once known for citrus production. I never realized how much Native American imagery was used in the logos of the citrus groves. And yes of course African American, like Ya Dis Bin Grown in Dixie!

I can understand why this stuff is offensive but when I see the logos/mascots I don't connect them with real people, as that would be ridiculous. But apparently some idiots form their opinions of real people. from goofy logos.

[Armchair Quarterback]

Interesting discussion. I haven't weighed in on this myself but if anyone is interested, here are some books that examine use of Native imagery in white society:

1. Terry Goldie, Fear and Temptation
http://books.google.ca/books/about/F...d=LXqWxhKaoikC

2. Edward Bushcombe, Injuns! Native Americans Movies (look it up esp. if you like Westerns!!)
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Rzee...ed=0CC8Q6AEwAA

3) The Ecological Indian: Myth and History
http://books.google.ca/books?id=on7t...ed=0CDIQ6AEwAA

Main idea of all of these is that often what we say about others says more about us than it does about them. Something to think about.

To my knowledge nobody has yet studied the specific use of Native American imagery in sports but it is definitely an interesting topic.

[JiriHrdina]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/joelanderson...skins?s=mobile

[PaperBagger'14]

I for one am horribly offended that our football team, the stampeders, profiles Calgarians as redneck cowboys. Our city is trying to make strides in diversity and progression but this slur has us hemmed in the past. There is no way we can continue to grow as a community with this sore attached to our heritage.

Now, why aren't all the yop gobbling yuppies in arms over this? No it doesn't pick apart a certain race but rather an entire city and none of us can do anything to change it. Overblown and purposeless fight with no tangible benefit to changing the names for either party.

[JiriHrdina]

Find anyone offended by the term stampeders and then we can talk.

[dino7c]

I can see why redskins is offensive...the other ones not so much

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Find anyone offended by the term stampeders and then we can talk.

I'm offended by it.

Edit: Isn't it fair to say that someone out there is actually offended by the term Stampeder? And since Jiri you have posted on the last page saying that it shouldn't require a majority to make change, that should have met all of the requirements necessary to make change. Or is there a caveat that a objective non-majority population is sufficient for change? There's far too much grey area, with no net benefit short of potentially sparing some liberal arts majors feelings.

[JiriHrdina]

Well in that case you can empathize with those offended by Redskins right?

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Well in that case you can empathize with those offended by Redskins right?

Can there not be a group of people who are unhappy without needing change? When did not approving of something require change instead of indifference?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Can there not be a group of people who are unhappy without needing change? When did not approving of something require change instead of indifference?

Right because apathy and indifference are admirable things

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Right because apathy and indifference are admirable things

Agree to disagree here because I don't see how moaning over the name of a sports team as honorable or admirable either.

[superfarmer]

The dead horse is dead. But let's beat it some more. Pretty sure this site has had its fill of this for a long while. We get it. But it won't change.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

http://www.buzzfeed.com/joelanderson...skins?s=mobile

That reminds me of this great Onion headline from a few months ago:

"Redskins’ Kike Owner Refuses To Change Team’s Offensive Name"