"matt," 3/31/2005

(Chief opinion: Undecided)

stop crying already! i guess i really don't get it. why is there all this hupla over a MASCOT for crying out loud? where is the offense? i guess i really don't see the negative or the 'negative symbolism'.

i am a native american, but i hate that phrase. i am an AMERICAN. i was born in the USA, protected by the constitution, i am not restricted to a reservation, no one is forcing me to live anywhere i don't want to, and i am free to pursue my dreams, just as are all other AMERICANS.

granted, the native american people have probably been the one group that has been screwed by the government dating back to the beginning of the nation. but when is enough enough? the only reason 'the cheif' stirs negative emotions and connotations is because you CHOOSE to let it do so. that is all. it is a symbol. you can call it a symbol of hatred and oppresion - but that is YOUR CHOICE, your Undecided.

when i think of native americans, or when i see the cheif, or when i think of other teams that have 'indian' themes in sports (i.e. Golden State WARRIORS, Cleveland INDIANS, Washington REDSKINS, etc), i think of POSITIVE things, like PRIDE, PROUD, ancestors that fought ancient battles with courage, teamwork, united in cause - things like that.

you idiots perpetuate the stereotype with your rumblings. this is up there with getting rid of the confederate flag, because as a symbol, it represented a country that recognized and condoned slavery. people CHOOSE to let that offend them as well. they also choose to forget that it was a symbol for a group of states that DID form their own country, and that was their flag. it is a very important piece of history. to those who would say that their flag was ONLY a symbol of oppresion and hatred must also seem to forget, that for the first 70 or so years of this country's existance, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA also recognized slavery and allowed it to exist - so should our current flag - old glory - ALSO be removed because it too is a piece of cloth that represents a country, so if one flag was a symbol of oppresion - then by definition, the stars and stripes must be as well...

grow up already and move on to something else. the cheif is offensive only because you deem it to be. whatever happened to majority rules in this country? if you just ignore it, it wouldn't be an issue. i would argue that MOST people probably don't give a rat's ass about this.

here is something to suggest: why not get rid of ALL mascots and team nicknames all together? maybe that will solve all the problems with sterotyping and prejudice in america. imagine. the 'fighting illini' (which i think shows strength and teamwork) can just be reduced to simple temrs... "today, the university of Illinois football team will be taking on the University of Iowa football team"? how about instead of "the atlanta braves will do battle with the cleveland indians in an intra-league thriller" - we can just say "tonight's baseball game features the franchise from Atlanta taking on the team from Cleveland"?

HOW BORING.

i can see it now. naming teams after trees, occupations, or fish. "the university of illionois woodsmand try to cut down the university of Iowa sycamores"... that is, until some tree lover wants to step up and say it is offensive to animals or trees!

give me a break!

"matt," via the web.