Native Youth Beaten For Taking a Stand Against Redmen Mascot

a reply to: ketsuko

Pointless as none of those are considered a race of people.

a reply to: theonenonlyone

Utes? Seminoles? Irish? Vikings? They are distinct ethnic groups. The mascots for those schools could be considered to play on stereotypes just as much as this one.

a reply to: theonenonlyone

What do you think a Cornhusker IS if not a stereotype?

originally posted by: cryptic0void
a reply to: IridiumFlareMadness

Mostly because you were never used as a mascot being part of the master (white) race?
Good, then I'll name my team the KKKrazies rednecks with long beards and shotguns will be my mascot.
Hope you don;t mind, it is out of respect for the warrior abilities of redneck settlers

Yeah, in Boston the Irish are PISSED about the Celtics, and they storm almost every game.



Just look at all those irate people!

Don't get me started on the Patriots!



Those people even come out when it snows to show their anger!

How dare these teams use PEOPLE as Mascots! Stick with animals!

originally posted by: theonenonlyone
a reply to: ketsuko

Pointless as none of those are considered a race of people.

Google Celtic. Apologize. That is just one of many that show you are wrong.

a reply to: Spider879

Only if it was on fire...

Im part Native, and I think the point of this is, history shows that so much of the first nations cultural identity was literally beaten out of them. My great grandmother attended one of those government schools that was hell bent on wiping out our heritage in Oklahoma. My grandfather was born on the Choctaw Res. in Oklahoma. Her story is horrid.

We have had to hang on to what little culture was left after so much decimation. So much of our history and way of life was completely wiped out. To see the very culture that had a hand in wiping millions of our people out, use these icons of Native Spirituality as frivolous symbols for a childish game. Is offensive to many Native Americans. And many feel like it is as bad as if there was a "mock" passover event with the symbols of the eucharist or the blood and body of Christ used as a party theme to drink wine and eat crackers. Many people would be offended by that.

I personally dont care one way or the other. But, I do understand how these kids feel. Its awful to see their spiritual heritage continually mocked and used as part of a "game". However, I also think that there could be a better way to deal with this. And that is through education. If these young natives took it upon themselves to help organize these "pipe ceremonies" and actually took the time to explain the meaning behind the symbols. It might make a difference.

Many of the natives I know, want to complain about the lack of connection and knowledge that the non natives have toward the earth and their culture. I live near MT Shasta and we can replant a meadow and idiots just walk on top of the new seedlings. They are clueless fools. (rainbow people mostly) Ive tried to get the Natives to share their knowledge to teach other cultures why these areas should be respected.

Ive tried to explain to my native friends that these idiot rainbow people are really just like us. Most are probably descendants of celtic tribes that were also decimated. They are like children searching for their heritage. In many ways the natives are lucky they were able to hang on to some of their knowledge and culture. The celtic tribes were treated just as bad. And very little was left after the crusades.

a reply to: misskat1

But it is hardly universal.

The Seminole tribe likes the Seminole mascot.

There are mascots who are very respectable and people are very fierce defenders of their schools and the emblems of those schools. Something like Chief Wahoo is a farce that needs a reworking, but by and large, the trend has been away from cartoon mascots toward more fierce ones in recent times.

And forget cultural appropriation. That argument flies out the window when everyone and their brother is busy celebrating The Wiz at the moment.

EDIT: Not to mention ... If the beef is that native cultures have been destroyed and nearly lost, then why would you take great pains to scrub all vestiges from popular culture as though you and only you are worthy of that culture? I would think you would use it as an educational base from which to work, not as something you want to use to form a negative impression with. When folks get all up in arms and swear that people who actually do love their mascots are somehow disrespecting them, it does not help your cause.

a reply to: ketsuko

As I said, I dont care one way or the other. I was just relating how other natives I know feel about it.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

I have been trained to respect the flag perhaps owing to my military back ground, I hate when ppl let it touch the ground, dump it in a corner or use it as common table cloth, my point is as a symbol it is important to me and others even to the point of me getting in someones face, That first nation kid also have a thing about symbols and what it mean to him and others like him, it ain't about P.C but respectful , off course one do not have to be respectful but one shouldn't be surprise when someone reacts badly like kicking someone's ass for burning the flag.

originally posted by: theonenonlyone

originally posted by: IridiumFlareMadness
I will never understand why it is so offensive to use a "person" as a mascot when it was originally used as a tribute to said person.

It is offensive because it is a stereotype. All they want is respect for who they are and to not be used as a mascot.

What would you think if someone used Jewish Americans, African American, Polish Americans..etc as mascots. There would be outrage and there would validity to that outrage.

If you cannot understand than I highly doubt you ever will.

I don't ever remember seeing any Nordic folks protesting the Vikings mascot... What about the Pirates..? There are no Vikings anymore, there are no Pirates (as depicted by the current mascots), and there are no native Americans (Indians/Redman) as represented by the mascots (dressed in buffaloes hides with headdress and bow/arrow in a war party like fashion)...

Today's mascots using the Native American theme are not referencing the current native Americans as they currently appear in business suits running casinos, or as accounts, or doctors, etc.. Just as the Vikings mascots of today are not referring the common Nordic/swedes of today..

Mascots are referencing a specific idealized image or symbolic reference paying homage to an attribute that the team/organization finds inspiring or revered.. I.E. The brave native America warrior (from the 1800s)...

Absolutely disgusting that these "fans" should beat up a child for taking a different interpretation of the mascot and admonishing it..