The state Legislature has passed a bill that would essentially require schools to get rid of their Indian nicknames, logos and mascots if it's determined they promote discrimination, stereotyping or harassment.
This could mean the end to longstanding high school nicknames like Warriors, Indians or Raiders.
Do you think schools with those names should change them out of respect to Native Americans? Or is this bill just another example of political correctness?
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Over the last decade or so, schools have changed their name or logos to eliminate Indian references. Those changes were made without having a state law mandating the change. One can surmise that more school districts would have done so in the future. It is obvious that some people felt the pace was too slow and that they needed the legislature to pass a law. Now that the law has been passed, there are four school districts in the greater Milwaukee area that still are on the list maintained by an Indian group indicating schools with Indian references. They are Menomonee Falls, Mukwonago, Muskego, and Ozaukee. No matter how people feel in those districts, I would think they are better off making the change and putting the issue behind them as quickly as possible.
There are many schools (elementary, secondary and college level) across the country that use the team name "Vikings", besides that NFL team in Minnesota. The mascot is usually a tough looking "Nordic" warrior looking man. The Notre Dame College team is called "The Fighting Irish". I've seen their mascot depicted as a Leprechan in a fighting pose-dukes up. Doesn't a single limp-wristed bleeding-heart liberal give a damn about how insensitive these depictions are towards certin members of the white race? Or, perhaps, using supposedly denigrating caricatures of white people is perfectly okay with them?
"Doesn't a single limp-wristed bleeding-heart liberal give a damn about how insensitive these depictions are towards certin members of the white race? Or, perhaps, using supposedly denigrating caricatures of white people is perfectly okay with them?" Of course we do. Stereotyping of anyone is wrong- you knuckle-dragging, soul-less, Neanderthalic reactionary. Oh sorry. Hope I didn't offend you. You're absolutely right. It's time America stopped oppressing white people.
Mascots yes, nicknames no. Warriors does not automatically mean Native American.
The US Army has a longstanding tradition to name their military aircraft after Indians. Is the Democratic Legislature trying to tell us dumb voters that our Military is naming aircraft after whimpy, offensive nicknames? Have you ever heard of the Chinook chopper, the Apache attack chopper, or the Blackhawk chopper, just to name a few? Yeah, that's offensive all right (NOT!). Personally, I am offended at the nickname 'Golden Eagles' used by Marquette University. I don't have to tell you why, but as we all know, everybody in Wisconsin has a legal right to be offended about anything as the Democratic Legislature has proven by passage of this bill. This is SUCH a non-issue, kind of like if a State Legislator would hypothetically introduce a Senate Bill naming "Cheese" as the official snack of Wisconsin a few months ago. Oh, wait... That happened!
As a Native American residing in Menomonee Falls I have strong feelings about the nickname “Indian” being used by the school district. Superintendent Keith Marty said, “The symbol represents the district’s strong commitment to the multicultural tradition of our society dating back to the earliest Native American culture”. I would like to then ask Mr. Marty besides window clings, t-shirts, polo’s, blankets etc; what else has the district done to show that strong commitment they claim to have to Native American’s? I’ve attended various district events and have never seen a Native American tribe involved in any opening ceremony or receive the recognition they deserve as the first settlers in this area. However, I have witnessed the ceremony that takes place to recognize Menomonee Falls alumni sports heroes during halftime at the football game. The school district honors what they think are the hero’s of Menomonee Falls but forgot to how to properly honor the name “Indian” along the way.
We seem to be ignoring the fact that some of us live in MENOMONEE Falls. We really need to get rid of these Native American remnants in our state. Perhaps Oatmeal Falls or Cheddar Falls would be less offensive alternatives.
Proud Native American: Maybe "your" Tribe would like to volunteer to take part in opening ceremonies and Parades in Menomonee Falls. It is easy to sign up for all Parades, and no one is denied. This problem stems from a former MF student who is not Native American-he is a Liberal Lawyer no longer living in WI - looking to leave his mark (or blemish) on Menomonee Falls. I think it is a sign of repect to have a team named after Native Americans. Menomonee Falls, Oconomowoc, Fond du lac, just to name a few were named by Indians. No disrespect has been cast their way. Indian is not a derogatory term. Next up: the same liberal lawyers looking to go from zero to hero will push to rename cities and towns who 'stole' the names from the Native Americans without compensation for such.
Proud Native American: Would you be willing to contact the Menomonee Falls School district and offer some learning experiences for the students, teachers and parents of Menomonee Falls about Native Americans? It would be especially interesting if you had information about the Native Americans that lived in this area. I have lived in Menomonee Falls my entire life and do not think that there is anyone here that is trying to offend Native Americans. We take the name as a sense of pride to this village and it is obvious you do not. So please, before you put in a complaint to the district, offer this experience to us. You also left out part of the Superintendents statement that says "in this context, the symbol represents the districts strong commitment to the multi-cultural tradition of our society dating back to our earliest Native American culture. Therefore the symbol of the Indian manifests the pride in our heritage as well as the proclamation that we are a nation a community and a school of many cultures backgrounds and needs." We just gave the Native Americans top billing.
No, not if they are not derogatory. The name "warriors" certainly isn't limited to American Indians. Any ethic group had warriors. The whole topic is ridiculous. Being "politically correct" is one thing, but many times things are blown WAY out of proportion.
In an effort to "sanitize" our living environments, we create new problems. If we continue to placate the easily offended few, we will end up sitting on our hands. Did you know this effort started not by a full bloodied Indian but by an oversensitive individual, a wasp. Our world is full of REAL problems and our representatives are spending time on made up problems. Shame on them.
I think that people and their community should take pride in who they stand for. If Native Americans think that a community who wants to pride themselves by using an image associated with their culture is offensive, then change the logo BUT not the name! For instance the term "Warrior" is not only associated with Native Americans! The term "Warrior" can be associated to many cultures who had a "fighting spirit", like Aztecs, Spartans, Greeks, Romans, Nomads... I would fight for my community to keep their nickname of "Warriors" and change their logo to a Spartan shield. We should be proud to be known as Warriors! Remember this about a battle.... "Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." — Heraclitus 475 B.C. The name "Warrior" is used by many cultures, change the logo but keep the name!
Is this topic that critical in this day and age to warrant this amount time, money, and attention? Really?
Eliminate the 'mascot' names all together. Just call the teams by the names of the schools, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield East, etc. What is the benefit to adding a name like Warrior or Indians or Raiders. IMO having a 'mascot' name is obviously not necessary, it might even be considered retarded.
So what you are saying is that the Brewers and Bucks should just be called Milwaukee and the Packers should just be called Green Bay or the Vikings should just be called Minnesota.
Once again, the state oversteps its bounds and takes control away from the local districts. This is not a state issue; it's ridiculous for the state to once again try to control and regulate absolutely everything. It should have been up to local school boards, parents, and residents to decide if the names were offensive or not.
A warrior can be anyone, so I do not think that "warrior" is a bad term, but dressing up in a costume to emulate Native Americans to me is simply wrong. The fact that a NFL team exists that uses the moniker, "Redskins", just horrifies me. Cleveland and their Chief???? Crikey. I remember what the University of Northern Colorado did to make a point - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/647579/posts
Well, Proud Native American has not responded to my question or to the question of craiglifetimeresiden of whether he/she would like to volunteer teaching about the Native Americans to Menomonee Falls; so I can only assume that he/she is just complaining for the sake of complaining. What a shame if we have to change the name of our sports teams and go through all the time and expensive if Proud Native American puts in a formal complaint.
In 2004 WEAC submitted the following statement in support of the measure: "As you are aware, Wisconsin school districts using American Indian names, nicknames, logos, or mascots draw considerable criticism. It raises the objections of American Indian tribes, groups, and citizens in our state to being reduced to caricatures. WEAC opposes the use of American Indian mascots, nicknames and logos by Wisconsin school districts and supports accurate teaching and curricular materials relating to American Indian issues, past and present. WEAC’s official position, revised by our Representative Assembly in 2004 to include a statement putting WEAC in opposition to Indian mascots. " Apparently they do not support eliminating derogatory nicknames of anyother ethnic group as they only mention Native Americans. Therefore the use of Vikings, Fighting Irish ETC does not offend those who teach our children.
Very interesting, BayView RedCat. I had no idea that WEAC was so deeply in bed with the Democratic Wisconsin State Legislature. Thanks for sharing WEAC's stated position on this. Very revealing.
After what "Proud American Indian" wrote, I think I have changed my mind and it is time to rename our school team to something less wimpy. Let's have "The Falls Marines." A certain Indian tribe was offended that a school wanted to change the name from the "Fighting Sioux." Maybe we could ask the Sioux if we could honor them by using their name. Mark Cheddar Falls is good, but it is too bad that Sioux Falls is already taken. Mainly I am just disgusted that WEAC and our legislature can't prioritize worth a darn.
Indian themed mascots aren't an insult, they admire their mascots. Take the Lowly Detroit Lions... The lion isn't seen as derogatory. Of course, if a lion could sue the Detroit Lions it probably would :) and it would probably win. The Fighting Irish, The Ticked Off Germans, The Angry Middle-Aged White Guy.... so many mascots, so little time to defend each of them...
Land of the free home of the Braves
When the tree huggers and the panty waist lawmakers get a set tell them to tell the NFL to change some names. You know what would happen absolutely nothing I repeat nothing theres such a thing as minding ones own house and no one else's . I always said when you pay my taxes morgage put food on my table etc ok fine until then shut the h--- up
"Reading scores for Wisconsin's African-American fourth-graders trail those of their racial peers in every other state and the District of Columbia, according to a national government report that delivered dire news Wednesday about how Wisconsin prepares its students." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel March 24, 2010 Maybe legislators should direct their attention to the subject areas that will truly have a positive effect on the lives of students, like academic excellence (or even mediocrity !)