Sorority suspended for "Indian Party."

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

I bet no one in this thread was a member of Indian Princesses? Boy, those little girls and their daddies sure were racist!

No, they were ignorant by participating in something that promotes racial stereotypes.

"Red Face" does not honor us
On Indian Princesses

And on the Y program Indian Princesses

It's with mixed feelings that I hear the YMCA has chosen to end its Y-Indian Princess program. I do think it would have been better to fix what was racist about the program rather than throwing the whole thing out entirely. Youth groups are a good opportunity for constructive dialogue and teaching children about another culture, which is too often swept under the carpet in our country today. On the other hand, changing the program to be more culturally respectful might have entailed more work, expense, and argument with members than the YMCA wanted to deal with, and I certainly commend them for caring about our feelings enough to do something, even if it isn't necessarily the solution I would have chosen.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

No, they were ignorant by participating in something that promotes racial stereotypes.

"Red Face" does not honor us
On Indian Princesses

And on the Y program Indian Princesses

Even Florida Governor Jeb Bush has weighed in on the controversy, expressing his disappointment that Florida State will have to give up the name "Seminoles."

"How politically correct can you get?" the governor asked of those who fought for the change. "These people need to get out more."


Kudos to Jeb.

It just amazes me. People actually worship and truly love these institutions and professional teams that have names, logos, and mascots influenced by Indians.........and it upsets people. Personally I'd feel honored.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Personally I'd feel honored.

Your "personally" doesn't really matter, though.

No other racial and ethnic minority group would feel honored if there were caricatures of them. The "red sambo" mascot from the Washington Redskins would've been axed from the jump.

http://www.aics.org/mascot/mascot.html
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/wahoo.htm

Some mascots and "tributes" are perceived as less offensive because Native Americans actually participate in them directly. However, only until Native Americans actually feel honored instead of mocked by their representation can anyone legitimately say they should feel honored.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

However, only until Native Americans actually feel honored instead of mocked by their representation can anyone legitimately say they should feel honored.

So all Native Americans agree on this, or are we talking about fringe groups which claim to speak for the whole?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Kevin

So all Native Americans agree on this, or are we talking about fringe groups which claim to speak for the whole?

This distinction is unimportant.

There have always been offensive images targeting blacks that not every black person finds offensive or gives a darn enough to speak out against. As long as there's more than one person who feels a certain way, there's a reason to speak out and they are within their right to say that "we" are offended. "We," to everyone with common sense, means that it is potentially degrading in general even if every PERSON within that group doesn't feel offended or doesn't agree that it should be addressed.

[shinerbock]

You know, when white people stop getting so defensive over other people getting somewhat offended, the people getting offended won't wield nearly as much power.

Also, sub in any other race for white, but I think we're the worst about this stuff. "Really, they dressed up like Indians?! Well, I'm certainly not a racist like them, so kick them all off campus (this will show I'm not one of those racists, right?)."

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

You know, when white people stop getting so defensive over other people getting somewhat offended, the people getting offended won't wield nearly as much power.

Example #1356409870 (and counting) of white people thinking they hold the key to all that is powerful and therefore are LOANING nonwhites power.

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Also, sub in any other race for white, but I think we're the worst about this stuff. "Really, they dressed up like Indians?! Well, I'm certainly not a racist like them, so kick them all off campus (this will show I'm not one of those racists, right?)."

Nah, don't sub because you called it accurately but for more reasons than you know. You probably didn't intend for your words to be interpreted a certain way...but...hey.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Your "personally" doesn't really matter, though.

No other racial and ethnic minority group would feel honored if there were caricatures of them. The "red sambo" mascot from the Washington Redskins would've been axed from the jump.

http://www.aics.org/mascot/mascot.html
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/wahoo.htm

Some mascots and "tributes" are perceived as less offensive because Native Americans actually participate in them directly. However, only until Native Americans actually feel honored instead of mocked by their representation can anyone legitimately say they should feel honored.

This distinction is unimportant.

There have always been offensive images targeting blacks that not every black person finds offensive or gives a darn enough to speak out against. As long as there's more than one person who feels a certain way, there's a reason to speak out and they are within their right to say that "we" are offended. "We," to everyone with common sense, means that it is potentially degrading in general even if every PERSON within that group doesn't feel offended or doesn't agree that it should be addressed.

None of this means that a group of girls playing Indian dress up at a college party should get in trouble. If that offends people, tough.

[33girl]

Who are these dorks who need an excuse or a costume to get drunk and/or party? Cinco de Mayo, Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve, St Patrick's Day - all for amateurs and all days which I usually stay home or go someplace really low key because they're populated with idiots who don't know how to hold their alcohol.

FWIW, I can totally see any of my friends going as Liesl & Rolf to a Halloween party, and not a single person being offended by it. That's our sense of humor. Throwing up a heil or two is staying in character, not being anti-Semitic. However, if you start saying things like "Jews are cheap" and the like, then you need to STFU - it's like the Seinfeld where Tim Watley converted to Judaism so he could tell Jewish jokes.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Who are these dorks who need an excuse or a costume to get drunk and/or party? Cinco de Mayo, Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve, St Patrick's Day - all for amateurs and all days which I usually stay home or go someplace really low key because they're populated with idiots who don't know how to hold their alcohol.

Well, I like to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, Savannah for St. Patricks........and I love to do it big for New Years..........I am certainly not an idiot, or a dork....and I can hold my alcohol just fine. Please don't stereotype people that like to engage in some of these once a year happenings just because you don't like to.

What does that even mean, "all for amateurs"??

It's called having a good time.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Well, I like to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, Savannah for St. Patricks........and I love to do it big for New Years..........I am certainly not an idiot, or a dork....and I can hold my alcohol just fine. Please don't stereotype people that like to engage in some of these once a year happenings just because you don't like to.

What does that even mean, "all for amateurs"??

It's called having a good time.

I am talking about the people who NEVER go out except on (insert big holiday here). They think they have to because it's (insert big holiday here) so they do, and make asses of themselves in the process. Anyone who's been to the Pgh St Patrick's Day parade (or in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras) knows the types I'm talking about.

I didn't say I didn't go out at all, but that if I do, it's not the place that is yelling OMG FREE MARDI GRAS BEADS AND SHOTS FOR GIRLS WHO SHOW THEIR BAZOOMS. Too many people think that's all those holidays are about.