idiocy

[xdamnemokidsx]

Ok, so the NCAA has decided to ban all schools with an Indian mascot from using that mascot and/or having the name of it on their jerseys during any sort of postseason athletic play. Naturally, this includes schools like, oh I don't know, Florida State

Comments

[anonymous]

they don't have permission of the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma. It seems FSU only wants to be associated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida because they are the ones who were "unconquered". Oklahoma Seminoles have said they do not like FSU's use of the mascot. Maybe FSU doesn't care about what the Oklahoma tribe says because those Seminoles were led to OK in chains....kinda ruins the myth.

[weepingorge]

Correct. Plus it's much easier to negotiate with a small tribe with a greater percent of white ancestors, "conquered" or not than a large Oklahoma tribe.
Not that this should matter. The tribes no more speak for all Natives than the NAACP speaks for all black people. I'm glad the NCAA took this stand.

[xdamnemokidsx]

I don't argue that using an indian tribe name may not be the best idea in the world, but at least FSU isn't using something like "redmen" or something more deragatory.

The fact is, the university is a business and businesses can't keep 100% of their customers happy. Maybe they paid off the Florida Seminoles, maybe they came to terms with them, but whatever the case, the overarching point here is that a body like the NCAA should not force schools to control their mascots..it's just silly, and impedes on the rights of the university just as much as it does Native Americans, all emotional aspects aside.

[lggybchgrl]

but...the University's primary "customers" should be the students. I am an FSU alum..and when attended there were about 100 Native students. There were (and still are) NO American Indian faculty, NO American Indian staff. No official programs to support Native students

[weepingorge]

For some idea of comparison the Amsterdam Ajax have identified themselves as Jews or Superjews for years because of some famous Jewish players the league once had (similar to the story behind the Washington Redskins, who at least have an Indian mascot for a reason). Now the fans of the opposing team make references to the Ajax train to Auschwitz and make a hissing noise to simulate the sound of escaping gas. If you find this disturbing, imagine how someone of native origin feels about the shit that comes up from both the university and the opposing teams. It gets kind of worse because the culture has been so destroyed that your average Indian has more association with these stereotypes than with their actual culture.

The university is not just a business, but a state institution, so it's somewhat similar to flying the confederate flag still. Maybe they do have the right, but the action is still wrong. If FSU really thinks it's that important they can leave the NCAA.