OT: NoDak Going Back to Fighting Sioux
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/228879/
Some interesting developments out of Grand Forks. It's a bit confusing, but it looks like a petition drive has been successful in restoring North Dakota's Fighting Sioux name. Things are about to get real interesting between the University and the NCAA.
February 8th, 2012 at 8:21 PM ^
I don't think most people think of Indians as Braves or Chiefs anymore. To the extent that they think about Indians, they view them with a benign condescensing attitude.
What animus people may have had has long since dissipated because of the Indians lack of profile. The only time we see anything about Indians is when it is a discussion like this one.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
You don't see the problem with a condescending attitude? There is still racism against American Indians - certainly more than there is against Irish Americans! Modern racism/the current attitudes of whites doesn't even matter much for this conversation, though. A lot of American Indians suffer today as a very direct result of what was done to them in the past by the U.S. government.
February 8th, 2012 at 9:40 PM ^
These things are not so much a mascot or caricature as a representation of how one sees himself or his team. For example, Amphibious1 probably uses the Predator as an avatar because it's a bad ass warrior. If the tribe(s) vote it down as deragatory I'd respect that, but not necessarily just individuals complaining. Wikipedia's name origin section is interesting, but not definitive.
AFMich, love the Airedale (another term for hard-headed, but lovable bastard).
February 9th, 2012 at 12:14 AM ^
They do need a firm hand, but they are of such great temperment that even disobediance seems acceptable, some times. We have a 7 month old and he just lets him snuggle up next to him and pull on his fur without a care in the world, but if I walk up to him and he even senses I'm ready to play he'll go hard for as long as I can take it.
February 8th, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
I'm glad "Wolverines" is not offensive.
February 8th, 2012 at 11:48 PM ^
Somewhere out there is an ethnic group just waiting to be outraged by it.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:18 AM ^
A proper name, such as the Seminoles, or Irish, is fine.
Adding "fightin'" or some other caricature / stereotypical adjective in front of the name cheapens the identity of the group.
As for those claiming that no team should be named after any group, I disagree. It can be turned into something positive from there; naming a team Sioux, just "Sioux", especially for a university, can be turned into an opportunity for said university to encourage the study & appreciation of the culture of thier chosen name.
Naming a team "fighting sioux" or let's go the other way, "mean drunk Irish" , encourages a stereotype and IMO makes appreciation of the culture & history of the name awkward at best.
Lastly the NCAA trying to take the moral high ground - PUH-LEEZE. Yeah ok they'll go after a team name but if you cheat your ass off - they do nothing.