"All American Mutt," 3/31/2005

(Chief opinion: For)

The bigger problem I have with the debate of using "Native American" mascots, is the use of the term "Native American" as opposed to the term "Indian". Back around six years ago, I met the Chief of the Ho-Chunk Tribe. In our conversation, HE was using the word "Indian" quite freqently! If he was so offended, I do not beleive he would use the term at all. Thus, it is not as offensive as the liberals would think.

The term "native" simply means that is the place in which a person is born. Simply put, no matter what color of skin or ethnic background, anyone who is born in America can rightly say they are native Americans. I am a "native" American because I was born in America. When someone asks "What is your nationality?" I say "American, that is what someone from a different country will call me." Then they will say that I am not. I think what they are asking what is my ethnic background...ok if you really want to know here it goes: German, Lithuanian, Albanian, Ukranian, Russian, Greek, and Cuban. The typical all American mutt! And if I go back far enough, there's probably more. Just as true with different ethnic backgrounds. If you go back far enough, people migrated from different areas and were originally from a different area and called something else.

In terms of the Chief Illiniwek mascot, personally I do not have a problem with it. What I am opposed to is if the mascot/logo may depict a group of people in a negative light. Mascots like the Seminoles, Chippewas, Mohawks speak of particular tribes. Braves and Chiefs speak of levels of status within a tribe. Blackhawks is named after a particular chief. Mascot names like Redmen, Redskins, Injuns are undoubtedly more offensive than the others. In this day and age what is "offensive" is so subjective that it is tough to determine what is and what is no, especially when the courts get involved...then things will really be more complicated than before.

Why am I Pro-Chief? Because the names Illini, Illiniwek are not derogatory names in themselves. I wonder...if the problem is with the addition of "Fighting" with Illini? If so, let's just have all of our sports teams play to a tie so that nobody's feelings are hurt or offended.

"All American Mutt," via the web.