School Mascots - Page 2

sugar and spice · #1 10-09-2002, 12:41 PM

Yeah, I'm glad ours is an extraordinarily inoffensive badger.

Personally, I think it's annoying that people are getting so bent out of shape over the whole mascot issue (and where are all those people of Irish descent getting mad about the "stereotypical" portrayal of the Notre Dame mascot?). Yes, it does play on stereotypes, but is there anyone out there who believes that Native Americans really did do the Tomahawk chop? I doubt it. We get enough PC-influenced history lessons from the minute we enter elementary school (or I did, at least) that I knew Christopher Columbus was a bad man before I even knew what he DID.

At the same time, everything that promotes racially-based stereotypes is going to have to go eventually, so it might as well be sooner rather than later.

I think the whole changing-mascot-names thing gets a bad rap too because whenever a school decides to change their mascot from the Braves/Indians etc., they always pick something really really dumb, like "the Fighting Squirrels" or a giant pineapple. If these schools would pick some decent mascot to replace the old one, people would care a lot less about it being replaced.

And who remembers the article about the Devil's Lake Satans changing their name?

DigitalAngel126 · #2 10-09-2002, 01:09 PM

Never thought I'd be able to say I'm glad our mascot is a big ugly bird...

Go Cardinals

lionlove · #3 10-09-2002, 03:04 PM

Our mascot is the mule.

Try being intimidated by the sterile mix of a horse and an ass.

It is a pretty non-offensive term though except for the fact that we can't yell out "kick some ass" at games because that would sort of mean "kick some mules" and that wouldn't be good.

amycat412 · #4 10-09-2002, 03:11 PM

Well, Steeltrap, Chloe, Enna, SC_Honey, Newbie, GPhiBLtColonel and I are all:

TROJANS.

Should we be offended that condoms bear the same name and that we get endlessly teased about this by our rivals?

LOL

this is not to make light of this issue, but i do think our society takes the whole pc thing too far too often these days. its just a mascot, it was chosen likely for its STRENGTH and ability to convey the image the school wanted to its competitors--and isn't that a GOOD thing, rather than a degrading thing?

#5 10-09-2002, 03:15 PM

Haha,

Gig 'em Aggies!!!
Farmers Farmers Fight!!

Seriously, librasoul, i am with you 100%. My personal bane in the whole situation centers with the Redskins. Can you imagine the uproar we'd have if an expansion team decided to call itself the Darkies?

Now, i am not aiming to offend anyone out there, but to me, someone who is proud of their Native American heritage, having a team named the Redskins is akin to having a team named the N*****s.

Kitso
KS 361 threads that i predict this post will generate

UofIL AXO · #6 10-09-2002, 03:18 PM

My school mascot has definetly gotten alot of heat over the years and it still continues to be a big debate on campus. I'm at university of Illinois and our mascot is "chief illiniwek." Usually not a week goes by when we don't have an editorial about this issue in our paper.

doubleblue&gold · #7 10-09-2002, 03:27 PM

While I agree that there may be some inappropriate names/mascots/sayings/etc...come on!! Most of these were created at a time to HONOR those goups or individuals. Get rid of the bad and keep the good. I think it showcases them-----show your pride!

In Oklahoma, the fans still miss "Lttle Red" that was present at all the football games....because he dared to show off his heritage? And yet they still are called Sooners which was a testament to those that broke the law during the land run!!

librasoul22 · #8 10-09-2002, 05:23 PM

You guys are totally missing the issue. It is not at ALL about being PC and more about neglecting someone's history. To whoever said that people know that Seminoles did not do the Tomahawk chop...um...wrong. It is a very popular misconception that Seminoles went around with their tomahawks and scalped the white men. That is totally inaccurate.

And to the person who thinks that potraying Christopher Columbus as a "bad man" is just "PC"....uh...riiiiight. Do you think that he discovered America? Do you think that he is a great man? Honestly, I am not sure when teaching about the truth became too PC.

"Most of these were created at a time to HONOR those goups or individuals."

Riiiiight. I am always honored when misconceptions about my ethnicity are heralded and perpetuated.

To ALLLLL the people who have compared Native American to soft drinks, pirates, and yes, even condoms...can you see how this is just a terrible argument?

AGDLynn · #9 10-09-2002, 05:35 PM

If this intimidates you, you need should seek immediate medical advice!

http://www.thesquirrelstore.com/more...Product_ID=133

Kevlar281 · #10 10-09-2002, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by librasoul22
To ALLLLL the people who have compared Native American to soft drinks...can you see how this is just a terrible argument?

Funny I thought it was a joke but you’re obviously way to defensive about this subject to have a sense of humor. I did however notice you avoided to comment on my Fighting Whites post.

Rio_Kohitsuji · #11 10-09-2002, 06:29 PM

Hmm..the people who complain about these sorts of things would have a hayday here. We have the Black Knights (not even going there), Rebels (confederate flags and all, yeehaw), Marauders (the great ole men who raped women and pillaged towns) and my own college has a spanish name (misprounced at that...) and has a 'Redman' as a mascot.
Thank God my hs mascot was a Blue Devil/Angel. Then again..if you had real bible-beaters as parents they hated that. *shrugs*

valkyrie · #12 10-09-2002, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
So the next year (2001), they came out with an "ambassador". The guy looked like a huge pineapple, and was ridiculed by the media and alumni and........

ROFLMAO thinking about this goofy, pineapple shaped "ambassador" dude walking around shaking hands and welcoming people to the game. That is TOO funny.

Seriously, though, I can totally understand why people get upset by "culturally insensitive" mascots. The Illinois mascot for example -- what bothers me is that you have a person dressed up as a stereotypical Indian doing stereotypically "Indian" dances and stuff, and I do think it's insulting. There are millions of inoffensive mascots to choose from, and so I don't think changing should be a big deal. It would have been even less of a big deal if the University had changed it as soon as it became an issue instead of being so darn stubborn.

As for the "tradition" argument, there are plenty of things that were traditional in our society that we no longer do. Times change and we need to adapt to things as they are now.

ZTAngel · #13 10-09-2002, 08:00 PM

Mine is ok. The Knights.

One of my favorite is Florida Atlantic University's. No offense to anyone who goes there (please, please don't flame me...I have much love for FAU...I went there for a summer semester and I grew up in Boca...I think the school is great...just not the mascot).
They are the Owls. Can you just imagine when their football team starts to make it big? I can see the opponents taunting the FAU students with hoo! hoo! hoo!

aggieAXO · #14 10-09-2002, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by librasoul22

Yes, because these are clearly the same thing.

You guys minimize the issue, but I bet y'all would be (publicly) aghast if we were speaking about something like oh...say...an African-American or Latino mascot? Hmm. Notice I said publicly.

The whole idea is that the "traditions" and symbolism that these schools carry out are not only stereotypical, they are also FALSE. Native Americans did not SCALP people. They were not SAVAGES.

and not all Irish are "Fighting" and we aren't all short people with knickers on and redhair/beards but I am not demanding that Notre Dame change its Mascot

librasoul22 · #15 10-09-2002, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aggieAXO

and not all Irish are "Fighting" and we aren't all short people with knickers on and redhair/beards but I am not demanding that Notre Dame change its Mascot

Soooo...does that make it better? Because the Irish are not protesting? Explain your logic please. I am not demanding hat anyone change their mascot. I just think it is totally insensitive. Besides, realisitically, it ain't gonna happen.

And Kevlar, I am not that sensitive, believe me. I know it was a joke. There are many people, however, who really use that kind of logic and roll their eyes at this topic. And yeah, I checked your site. I didn't really comment on it because I am not trying to start yet another racial debate.

BUTTTT since you brought it up, lol. Not many white people would be offended by that. Why? Because whites have been the majority and in power since this country's founding. So it doesn't really have the same affect that it does on other cultural groups.

ZTAngel...I am now mopping off my monitor from the Aquafina I spit...thanks for the laugh!