OK Instead of favorite mascot....How about most racially insensitive mascot?.... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

billclinton · 12-03-2003, 11:23 PM

Even in the 21st century they still abound:

The Notre Dame Fightin' Irish
The Ole Miss Rebels
The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys
Etc.

An aside - I recently heard the the computer terminology "Master" and "Slave" has been deemed racially insensitive!....I do love stupid people....(not meaning to insult stupid people)!

Hrothgar · 12-04-2003, 01:12 AM

Teams that have Native Americans as mascots i.e., Seminoles, Redskins, Braves could be perceived as being racially insensitive.

wwcd101 · 12-04-2003, 06:43 AM

I'd say the Cleveland Indians Chief Wahoo walks the current insensitivity line pretty closely.

A gentleman I work with, who also happens to be "an American Indian", has said the vast majority of American Indians could care less and think it humorous that so many spend so much time worrying about such things.

I thought his thoughts might be relevant here.

Thanks for listening.

bond007 · 12-04-2003, 08:19 AM

although not the "official" mascot of the University of Northern Colorado... my vote goes to the Fighting Whities.

djtestudo · 12-04-2003, 08:36 AM

The Potomac Drainage Basin Indiginous Persons, aka the Washington Redskins.

It's like calling a team the Washington Negros or Washignton Yellow Men. No one else uses an ethnic slur.

djtestudo · 12-04-2003, 08:37 AM

Also how the hell are the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish or the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys "racially insensitive"?

gov135 · 12-04-2003, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by djtestudo
Also how the hell are the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish or the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys "racially insensitive"?

Aparently, Fighting Irish is deemed insensitive by some in the Irish community who see it as a reference to a stereotypical "drunk, brawling Irishman" I dunno about Arkansas Tech.

As for the Cleveland Indians, Chief Wahoo has been slowly fazed out over the course of the last decade. Their is absolutly no Wahoo anywhere in the stadium, and the hats have been switched to a cursive 'I' from the old Wahoo charactiture. (sp.)

phyzix525 · 12-04-2003, 10:31 AM

I think it pathetic that anyone would be up at arms about this stuff. It is history people let it be.

Sho Nuff · 12-04-2003, 11:02 AM

Its not history if it still offends people. Im a DC native and HUGE Skins fan, but if people find it offensive then it should be changed.

essendoubleop · 12-04-2003, 08:11 PM

Whatever the team is with Chief Wahoo which is completely racist. I think it might be the Indians, which the team name I don't think is racial. Neither is Seminoles, Aztecs, or Fightin Irish.

Redskins, however, is. It sickens me how poorly the Native Americans have been treated in American history and still are today.

wraithhibn · 12-04-2003, 08:19 PM

fuck political correctness. someone has to bitch about every mascot.

present_future · 12-04-2003, 08:35 PM

A while back, there was a big deal about the University of Illinois mascot, Chief Illiniwek. I think that U of I is one of the few colleges out there that acurately portrays and honors the Native American culture through its mascot.

Halx · 12-04-2003, 08:39 PM

I think the Philly Phanatic is atrocious. I mean.. fuck! Martians everywhere are saying, "We don't fucking act like that!"

present_future · 12-04-2003, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Halx
I think the Philly Phanatic is atrocious. I mean.. fuck! Martians everywhere are saying, "We don't fucking act like that!"

LMAO

dy156 · 12-08-2003, 08:17 AM

This may have been posted before, and if so I apologize.

Frisco, a small town that became a suburb of Dallas, was known for years as the "Fightin' Coons." It was changed last year to Racoons, to prevent its interpretation as racially insensitive. The following was an article at the time, but you can't link to Dallas Morning News archives, or I can't fugure out how to.

Quote:

"A mascot by any other name: Some say label has become insensitive
02/17/2002

By CONNIE PILOTO / The Dallas Morning News

FRISCO – There were few hurt feelings back in 1924, when folks in Frisco made a boy's pet their high-school mascot and called their teams the Fighting Coons.

The idea was a sentimental hit, the story goes, after the boy stood up nervously at a town hall meeting, clutching his pet raccoon, to suggest the name. Longtime residents say questions of race never entered anyone's mind.

"No one here attached any racial significance to the name 'coon,' " said Bob Warren, a former mayor and a 1938 Frisco High School graduate. "In those days, no one around here called a raccoon a raccoon. We called them 'coons."

Today, though, some residents in one of the state's fastest-growing cities say the name should be modified to Fighting Raccoons in the interest of racial sensitivity. As the school district moves in that direction, some who grew up with the tradition say they're proud of it and don't want it to fade.

"I feel fortunate that I grew up in an environment where the word 'coon' has nothing to do with race," said Jim Newman, a Frisco High graduate whose family owns the last working farm in town. "We were insulated from that."

A small group of parents says the name is racially offensive and hurtful and that the city can't stay insulated anymore.

"While Frisco was small, they had no reason to be concerned with that name, but now that it's booming and becoming more diverse, they need to address it," said resident Pete Campbell, who is black. "I knew that the people of Frisco did not mean any ill will with this name, but they must realize its potential dangers, considering the society and world we now live in."

Mr. Campbell, whose two sons play football at Frisco High, said the issue struck home for him when he saw other black children wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the name.

"That was the most disheartening thing," Mr. Campbell said. "A lot of the kids don't know what the name means, but the parents and grandparents do."

The Rev. Jason Branch, who is black, agrees. His son, a member of the Frisco basketball team, recently had fans of an opposing team yell the slur at him. After the game, Jason Jr. asked his parents what the word meant.

"We danced around the issue and tried not to get into the race issue," Mr. Branch said. "But he started asking more questions. It was real devastating to him."

The conflict, both sides say, is another of the fast-developing city's growing pains.

"This phenomenon of old versus new is happening in suburban communities throughout," said Edwin Darden, senior staff lawyer for the National School Boards Association. "As this happens, many communities are finding that integrating these new cultures and sensitivities is difficult."

Over the years, schools have changed the names of athletic teams after receiving complaints that some find the names demeaning. Over the last decade, universities, colleges and professional sports teams have come under fire from some for using American Indian names for teams and mascots.

Some colleges and universities – such as Stanford, Siena, Miami of Ohio, Dartmouth, and St. John's – have changed their names and mascots. Professional sports teams such as the Washington Redskins, the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves also have been criticized.

Eleven years ago, students at Southwest High School in Fort Worth voted to call themselves Raiders instead of Rebels after black students and parents complained. South Grand Prairie High School officials are considering replacing the Warriors' mascot with one that a local American Indian group deems more culturally sensitive.

In Frisco, Mr. Campbell's concerns prompted him to approach school trustees and Superintendent Rick Reedy last year to recommend calling the mascot by its full name – Raccoon. He said he is frustrated by the district's gradual approach.

"We're trying to address it in a measured way," Dr. Reedy said. "We've invited everyone to use the many methods of communication we have to let us know what they feel. We're going to be real good listeners."

The district has started printing sports uniforms and building names without the Coon mascot name.

The football stadium's name was changed from Coon Memorial to FISD Memorial. All the teams, except for football, have jerseys without the Coons mascot name.

The football team uniforms are purchased every couple of years, and the name will be phased out when the district purchases new uniforms.

A city water tower welcoming visitors and designating the area "Home of the Fighting Coons" will be repainted once the district's second high school opens in 2003, Dr. Reedy said.

"As we add new high schools, there are going to be different mascots and this issue will become less and less significant to people."

Mr. Newman, for instance, has purchased T-shirts for his daughter saying, "Don't Rac my Coons."

"I have no shame in saying that I'm proud to be a Coon," Mr. Newman said. "I get a little bit tickled when I see someone get irate about it."

Some residents and school officials say most students have no idea that the word has been used as a racial slur.

"We have kids here who are white, black and Hispanic, and all go by the same name. They're proud to be Coons," said Russell Sutton, who has a yard sign in favor of not changing the name.

A 1969 Frisco graduate who was paralyzed from the neck down during a car accident 31 years ago painted and sold the wooden signs in favor of keeping the original mascot name.

Janice Watkins, 50, maneuvers a paintbrush in her mouth to create the neatly painted signs reading: "Don't Rac my Coons" alongside the face of a raccoon.

Ms. Watkins says it takes about five hours to complete each sign. She has painted 12.

"Frisco is my home," Ms. Watkins said. "FISD was my educator, and the Coon is my mascot.""

12-03-2003, 11:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
billclinton Insane Location: Arkansas ....summer home in Harlem	OK Instead of favorite mascot....How about most racially insensitive mascot?.... Even in the 21st century they still abound: The Notre Dame Fightin' Irish The Ole Miss Rebels The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Etc. An aside - I recently heard the the computer terminology "Master" and "Slave" has been deemed racially insensitive!....I do love stupid people....(not meaning to insult stupid people)! __________________ No Comment.... Last edited by billclinton; 12-04-2003 at 12:27 AM..

12-04-2003, 01:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hrothgar He's My Girl Location: The Champagne Douche	Teams that have Native Americans as mascots i.e., Seminoles, Redskins, Braves could be perceived as being racially insensitive. __________________ The fortunes of war favored Hrothgar.

12-04-2003, 08:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	The Potomac Drainage Basin Indiginous Persons, aka the Washington Redskins. It's like calling a team the Washington Negros or Washignton Yellow Men. No one else uses an ethnic slur. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

12-04-2003, 08:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	Also how the hell are the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish or the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys "racially insensitive"? __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

12-04-2003, 10:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
phyzix525 Psycho Location: Broken Arrow, OK	I think it pathetic that anyone would be up at arms about this stuff. It is history people let it be. __________________ It's hard to remember we're alive for the first time It's hard to remember we're alive for the last time It's hard to remember to live before you die It's hard to remember that our lives are such a short time It's hard to remember when it takes such a long time

12-04-2003, 06:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
wwcd101 Insane	I'd say the Cleveland Indians Chief Wahoo walks the current insensitivity line pretty closely. A gentleman I work with, who also happens to be "an American Indian", has said the vast majority of American Indians could care less and think it humorous that so many spend so much time worrying about such things. I thought his thoughts might be relevant here. Thanks for listening.

12-04-2003, 08:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
bond007 Junkie Location: too far from Texas	although not the "official" mascot of the University of Northern Colorado... my vote goes to the Fighting Whities.

12-04-2003, 11:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
Sho Nuff Addict Location: Harlem	Its not history if it still offends people. Im a DC native and HUGE Skins fan, but if people find it offensive then it should be changed. __________________ I know Nietzsche doesnt rhyme with peachy, but you sound like a pretentious prick when you correct me.

12-04-2003, 08:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
essendoubleop Psycho	Whatever the team is with Chief Wahoo which is completely racist. I think it might be the Indians, which the team name I don't think is racial. Neither is Seminoles, Aztecs, or Fightin Irish. Redskins, however, is. It sickens me how poorly the Native Americans have been treated in American history and still are today.

12-04-2003, 08:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
wraithhibn Dopefish Location: the 'Ville	fuck political correctness. someone has to bitch about every mascot. __________________ If you won't dress like the Victoria Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

12-04-2003, 08:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
present_future Take my hand Location: Everywhere, but nowhere	A while back, there was a big deal about the University of Illinois mascot, Chief Illiniwek. I think that U of I is one of the few colleges out there that acurately portrays and honors the Native American culture through its mascot. __________________ The only thing I'll ever ask of you... you gotta promise not to stop when I say when.

12-04-2003, 08:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	I think the Philly Phanatic is atrocious. I mean.. fuck! Martians everywhere are saying, "We don't fucking act like that!" __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]