OleMissCub

I fear friends that one day, some of our beloved sports teams with offensive names will become generic boring names....CASE IN POINT.... THE MONTGOMERY BISCUITS http://www.starstruck.com/images/P0067997.jpg A biscuit with a stick of butter as a tongue is absolutely terrifying.

Truffle, yes yes, I know. I misspelled [expletive]. I was never a great speller. Second, of COURSE I didn't mean to make fun of mentally challenged people. My god, i'm not that coarse. Saying something is "[expletive]" is common vernacular the last time I checked. It's comparable to saying "crazy" or "stupid". And I know what you mean about the Special Olympics. I've done miracle league baseball games several times. In College one month I worked at Camp Barnabas in Missouri which is a summer camp for mentally and physically handicapped people and I have NOTHING but great respect for them. I just think johnny needlessly pulled out the PC police on me. He knew what I meant.

All of this begs the question: why were these schools named Choctaws, Utes, Seminoles, Illini in the first place? If not for tribute then what. I equate a tribute as being the same thing as naming them because they once lived in the area of the school. People seem to think "tribute" means it is some sort of glorified honoring of them. When I think of tribute as far as this is concerned I think of the regional distinctions. Choctaws lived in central Mississippi and this is where MC is located. The Seminoles lived in central and northern florida, this is where FSU is located, the Utes where in present day Utah. And as far as the argument about them having logos that are warlike. Well, generally speaking mascots are supposed to be fierce. Most schools with animals try and be fierce: panthers, cougars, bears, lions, etc. The Rebels, Minutemen, and Volunteers have their rifles, the Trojans and Spartans have their swords the Indian mascots have their tomahawks. At least that's how I see it. And I know what you all will say "this furthers the racial sterotypes that they were cruel, bla bla" Well, a school called the "Savages" certainly does that. But I don't think a Tomahawk Chop promotes a stereotype. Does the firing of Cannons at some schools such as the Vols and Rebels further the stereotype that the particular group represented are violent? I honestly don't think that a person will look at the Tomahawk chop and go "oh gosh! I better watch out for Indians, they might hit me with a tomahawk" and if they do, well then, they are just idiots. Disclaimer for Treebeard: Sorry if any of the words i've used in this diatribe have offended your sensibilities. I know that using the word "idiots" may offend actual idiots. Sorry.

it's because they are mascots at colleges good guess, but it's because they live on a reservation and white folks killed all their relatives and took all their land and THEN made them mascots at colleges and dressed up like them and made lots of money by putting pictures of them on t-shirts Ah yes, we have Sully juniors here: Everything is the white man's fault. Every disease, every hardship, every famine, every thing wrong with the world is the white man's fault.

it's because they are mascots at colleges maybe it's because those in power keep throwing their weight around. "hey can we maybe have reservations that aren't out in the middle of the desert? it's not very fun there." "well, we would but instead we decided to make a tribute to you with mascots. look, theres a guy who looks just like at a football game! isn't this better?" "um." You do know they can leave the reservation? It isn't a prison. They aren't forced to live in squalor.

I honestly think it's a tribute. At least the tribe names. I can't speak for Indians or Braves or such. Mississippi College is located in the heart of Choctaw country. FSU is located in the heart of former Seminole terroritory.

it's because they are mascots at colleges

dude....there is ALWAYS something that offends someone. So I guess you'd be the type who says that because a couple thousand atheists dislike "In God We Trust" then the whole system should be changed to make them feel more comfortable?

there are lots of potential reasons. one of the more interesting: say you know a big game hunter. he goes to africa and kills a lion. he comes back and wants to get the head of the lion mounted. he gets it in a scary pose, and hangs it in his den. why? to show people how intimidating and powerful that creature that HE defeated was. it's a tribute to the lion, but it's also a tribute to the hunter who killed it, for he must be very strong indeed if he defeated it. now if that isn't an awesome allegory, i dont know what is. Treebeard... honestly...i'm very impressed. You should come to Law School with me. That is a MASSIVE stretch, but a very good one.

This is why I said that I would be in favor of letting the local indian groups decide for themselves. Maybe the Mississippi Choctaws are fine, but if the Indian people in Utah don't enjoy being a mascot, I say they shouldnt have to be. then that is fine. Let them speak for themslves. I honestly don't think most Indians give a rats-ass. The Native American reservations in this country are in such squalor that it is emberassing. I think they have great problems on their hands other than mascots. How about the highest suicide and alcoholism rate of any demographic in America. These things need to be worked on. And I know one thing, Mississippi College gives nearly full scholarships to Native Americans.

But therein lies a HUGE difference. Redmen IS offensive; Savages IS offensive, Redskisn IS offensive. It is Clearly offensive. Choctaws or Utes is not. And I can't possibly see how it is offensive.

Treebeard, i'm still waiting to know why these schools named their teams after Indian tribes if not for tribute

the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians don't seem to mind. I can't speak for natives in other necks of the woods but around here they don't care and I know a good many and am 1/16th myself. i think the mississippi band of choctaw indians is in the minority when it comes to native americans' stand on this Ahh...I see, the Choctaws don't count. And your statistics on this subject are where?

the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians don't seem to mind. I can't speak for natives in other necks of the woods but around here they don't care and I know a good many and am 1/16th myself.

Well context clues in this thread also tell me that you seem to have some sort of self-loathing for you own race, constantly referring to "the white people" what else are the white people supposed to be called? because there's nothing more politically correct than "caucasian", and we all know your stance on political correctness how about "the people who came up with this" not "those white people" as if he isn't one himself. If i was to say "those black people" you'd probably say I was being racist.

Archie Bunker was an insensitive, bigitous, racist jerk. As clearly you think I must be.

Well context clues in this thread also tell me that you seem to have some sort of self-loathing for you own race, constantly referring to "the white people"

no, it doesn't rock. It's [expletive]....[expletive] [expletive] [expletive] [expletive] hey guys i'm using the word [expletive]!!! That makes me an insensitive jerk according to Treebeard who obviously nary speaks a word that could be deemed offensive by ANYONE. WOOHOOO!!! I'm Archie Bunker

describing things as [expletive] certainly isn't politically correct on any level. i wish you wouldn't do that. Why are you always so high and mighty? Unbelievable. Retarted according to websters can also mean "To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede." I'll use whatever words I please, I don't need you or any other PC police on my case. If people are allowed to preach hatred in this country and incite violence according to the first amendment then I damn well can use the word "retarted" quit nitpicking. jesus. This is absoultely delaying? Is that what you meant? yep

describing things as [expletive] certainly isn't politically correct on any level. i wish you wouldn't do that. Why are you always so high and mighty? Unbelievable. Retarted according to websters can also mean "To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede." I'll use whatever words I please, I don't need you or any other PC police on my case. If people are allowed to preach hatred in this country and incite violence according to the first amendment then I damn well can use the word "retarted" quit nitpicking. jesus.

there is the season. I'm normally not one to be so pessimistic, but that's it. That's all folks.

Alright then, so why were they named after these tribes if not for tributes? I guess in your view MC was named Choctaws so the "white people" could always remember how badly we conquered these people, is that it?

Do you have a statistic to back that up? Because the Indians that I know readily support the MC Choctaws. So all mascots should be furry animals in your opinion. Not people? Because surely this is 2005, we can't dare have people as mascots. And like i've said before, there is a VAST difference in Indian Joe, Redmen, Redskins, Savages etc as compared to Utes, Choctaw, Sioux, Seminoles, Illini

Let's take a look at the names that have been banned by the NCAA. Some I think rightfully so are offensive, but most are not. The only two on the list that I think are offensive are the Carthage College REDMEN and the Southeastern Okie State SAVAGES. You can't possibly tell me that the majority of these schools that are banned are offensive. Even their logos seem pretty harmless and seem to glorify the Native American spirit, etc. This is politcal correctness gone mad Alcorn State BRAVES: http://sportsevents.net/ncaa/basketball/images/alcorn_state_braves.jpg Central Michigan CHIPPEWAS: http://www.covers.com/images/data/logos/ncf/cmich.gif FSU SEMINOLES http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~hjm0585/nole.GIF Utah UTES http://www.kall910.com/images/cow_utes.jpg Arkansas State INDIANS http://www.allsportsmarket.com/Images/Logos/FAKS.gif Illinois ILLINI http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/ncaaf/teams/1/80x60/iic.gif Catawba INDIANS http://www.indianhuddle.com/images/catawba_arrowhead_logo.gif Mississippi College CHOCTAWS http://www.mc.edu/images/logos/mcarrow.gif North Dakota FIGHTING SIOUX http://www.und.edu/dept/soc/Staples/web_assets/pics/sioux.gif

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2525/cleveland7fh.jpg o rly this is about college names, not professional. I've already expressed my disdain on this board for the Redskins and Indian Joe as being stereotypical.