The Washington Post is so liberal that even the sports writers are politically correct. In Saturday's Post, columnist Mike Wise stumped for the University of Illinois to dump their traditional Chief Illiniwek mascot. To a sports reader in D.C., it's quickly obvious that Wise is also sympathetic to making the Washington Redskins dump their moniker next.
Wise begins in the most propagandistic way, comparing oafs favoring the tradition declaring they're going to become racists and do violence to Indians with an Indian activist who fears for her life. He suggested this was the biggest issue going in college athletics:
We get all lathered up because college football does not have a playoff system. We produce talk shows about gender equity. We want our student athletes paid, as if that will somehow right another NCAA wrong.
Yet when we come across the most serious and offensive issue on campus -- a hurtful reminder to a people of their grave mistreatment, a blatant misappropriation of their religious and spiritual practices -- we go into denial. A woman is physically threatened by a Neanderthal kid and we want to rail about the BCS again.
It's not much of a stretch, then, for Wise to suggest that if university administrators don't cry uncle to his wishes, they're in favor of any violence that may occur:
By refusing to retire the mascot, at some level the university's Board of Trustees tacitly condones the backlash on campus. Part of the message it sends students is that it's okay for them to feel persecuted for their belief in racial stereotyping. The subtext in keeping the Chief amounts to a code of acceptance.
The good news is that enough critical mass has formed to have the fake Indian eradicated.
Let's be clear: You can't use one ethnicity as a symbol and at the same time expect every student to be treated in an equal manner.
Wise thinks the Chief is dead, and relishes the idea that Republican congressmen who were objecting, among them Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois and Congressman Tim Johnson, a moderate Republican who represents the Champaign-Urbana area, aren't in the majority any more.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
I wonder how far they will wa
January 27, 2007 - 10:14 ET by EvilRoyI wonder how far they will want to take this idiotic trend? My high school was the Warren Central Warriors. That name was chosen in part due to the fact that the word warriors denoted strong, courageous.. huh...um...well, warriors. Brave fighters devoted to defending what is theirs. Hardly a demeaning image. It was also chosen due to the fact that Warren and warriors both started with W, again not because of a desire to humiliate anyone or any group.
But, lets take this issue to it's ultimate conclusion...the city of Muncie here in my state of Indiana was named after a Delaware Indian named Chief Muncee, we they have to change their name? What about the State of Indiana, land of the Indians! Will GM be forced to change the names of Pontiacs and Cadiallcs, both named after Indian chiefs. What about the state of Delaware and the city of Miami, also named after Indian tribes.
Then there's thje issue of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Vikings in Minnesota. What if the Animal Rights people get involved? We will have to give up the Colts, Bears, Seahawks, etc.?
This is just some guy spoiling for a fight and wanting his boyfriend to see him as a brave courageous crusader, opps...can I use that term, it refers to a religious warrior fighting for his beliefs? How far we will allow this nonsense to continue?
Strippers
January 27, 2007 - 14:26 ET by BBallleaperI assume he's equally outraged by stripper / whores filing false rape charges and ruining the lives of athletes????? He's not??? My, my, what surprise!
I wouldn't be surprised to se
January 27, 2007 - 17:54 ET by Del DolemonteI wouldn't be surprised to see them go after the New Orleans Saints next! After all, we can't have any team name associated with religion...
I thought it was the "Ch
January 27, 2007 - 18:12 ET by Eric TurnerI thought it was the "Chocolate City" Saints...?
AKA: armyvet
Oops, my bad!I was sad to see
January 27, 2007 - 19:22 ET by Del DolemonteOops, my bad!
I was sad to see the Saints lose last week-imagine how the city would have recovered psychologically had they made it to the big dance.
Blame Bush & FEMA for Saints loss
January 27, 2007 - 19:26 ET by Eric TurnerAnd that's why I blame Bush and FEMA for them losing the NFC Championship game
AKA: armyvet
Saints
January 27, 2007 - 19:29 ET by nkviking75Do you suppose there are some new Saints season ticket holders this year who purchased their tickets with FEMA money?
You mean you didn't get yours
January 27, 2007 - 19:52 ET by Eric TurnerYou mean you didn't get yours yet? I mean sure, me and the wife and kids are living in a cardboard box now, but we sure got some season tickets! I would say thank you FEMA and Bush but they ain't on the 50 yard line box seats. And that would mean Bush did something for me.
--- sarcasm off ---
All joking aside, I really liked reading those posts the other day about religious organizations providing assistance. I know/knew it is/was happening but it's good to see it mentioned on here.
AKA: armyvet
I look forward to Mike Wise
January 27, 2007 - 10:17 ET by MyKindaSpamI look forward to Mike Wise and Indian activists turning their attention to Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival and associated businesses because it is a "blatant misappropriation of their religious and spiritual practices." A Sun Dance is a religious ceremony practiced by many American Indians and is a sacred tradition that was outlawed for many years. It was outlawed because some ceremonies included a portion where involving piercing the skin on the chest of male Indian with a stick, tying the stick to the sun-pole and then the Indian pulling until the stick is ripped from his body. If it is offensive and to use a term associated with Indians for a sport, then I would think that using the memory of those determined Indians to sell documentaries, ski lift tickets and trendy T shirts is also offensive. I'm sure the protest of the Sundance Film Festival is being coordinated for next year as we speak! Power to the people!
Libs
January 27, 2007 - 10:48 ET by iveseenitallLibs are never satisfied. Their ideology trumps common sense and ,of course, the facts. A few years ago the Title IX activists forced schools to drop men's programs in favor of women's programs. The schools had to beat the bushes for female participants while some long-time men's programs were no longer available to many who would have benefitted from them. Liberals are ignorant fools.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
I don't know how many schools
January 27, 2007 - 12:44 ET by balboaI don't know how many schools were actually beating the bushes for female athletes. I think Title IX is a good thing, but it's application has been flawed.
Flawed.
January 27, 2007 - 12:51 ET by iveseenitallFlawed? That's an understatement. See my next post.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Bal, I agree that there cou
January 27, 2007 - 12:54 ET by JerryBal, I agree that there could be a reasonable and necessary application of title IX. Unfortunately, there has been no common sense used in its implementation.
You have hit on one of the major problems that conservatives have with liberal policy. Democrats have had good ideas. It's just the implementation of those ideas are always carried to ridiculous extremes, and then are used as political wedges to divide people into little pockets of dependent, democrat voters (ie. republicans will take away your "special" priviliges that democrats will protect).
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
There are actually a number o
January 27, 2007 - 13:18 ET by balboaThere are actually a number of different ways that a school can comply with Title IX, but the one that's easiest for athletic departments to do, i.e. the that's most beneficial financially, is getting rid of men's sports. Men's wrestling has almost disappeared from the landscape of college sports.
You are right, a lot of men
January 27, 2007 - 17:09 ET by JerryYou are right, a lot of men's teams are biting the dust in order to balance out the numbers.
IMO, the best way to implement Title IX would be to exclude revenue generating sports from the equation (ie. football & basketball). These 2 sports usually fund themselves and a lot of other sports, as well as generating big alumni contributions. Football's 80 scholarships are just too big a hurdle to overcome in the Title IX balancing act.
Another option, if one is going to adhere to the truest form of "equality of the sexes", is to get rid of the whole concept of seperate programs (mens & womens) and just have one team in each sport; one basketball team, one track team, one tennis team, etc. Everyone would get an "equal" chance to make the team, and the best players would be granted scholarships.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Title IX
January 27, 2007 - 13:00 ET by misterbillTitle IX--It's great success can be witnessed at this year's Salad Bowl. The game that matches the winningest women's football teams. Oh , what a great success. Also, watch the camera work at the women's basketball games. Occasionally, they accidentally display that the crowd all sits at center court. They try not to show the empty seats. It is just like the camera work at the Oakland Raiders games this year.
Do not misunderstand, I actually agree with Bal. The idea is good, the execution is bad.
Title IX
January 27, 2007 - 13:39 ET by iveseenitallInequality is wrong. But when the government gets involved and starts micro- managing things, watch out. Title IX has hurt more than it's helped in the areas it has been applied. Liberals grab something like this and run common sense into the ground.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
(It's not NCAA...but) The loc
January 27, 2007 - 11:42 ET by Minilab(It's not NCAA...but) The local baseball team in my hometown went from the Greenville Braves (Greenville, SC)....now they are called.....(drum roll)....The Greenville Drive.
What a letdown.....Our team is actually named after traffic.
Oh yeah, that's better.... P
January 27, 2007 - 11:52 ET by rimskyOh yeah, that's better.... Pretty soon somebody's going to say that we shouldn't be naming teams after animals. It's demeaning. So, the Detroit Lions would have to become the Detroit LugNuts. Don't laugh.. it could happen.
This has been going on for ye
January 27, 2007 - 12:00 ET by balboaThis has been going on for years now. Eastern Michigan Hurons became the Eagles. St. John's Redmen the Red Storm. No one seems to be concerned that Notre Dame is The Fighting Irish.
St. John's
January 27, 2007 - 12:38 ET by iveseenitallBalboa:
St. John's is one of those I'm talking about. My old sweat suit still reads Redmen and I'm proud of it. But my cross country team is gone. Thanks to "flawed", liberal P.C.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
"No one seems to be concerned
January 27, 2007 - 13:44 ET by mbx175"No one seems to be concerned that Notre Dame is The Fighting Irish"
That's because there's nothing bad about it. In fact, many Americans of Irish decent welcome it.
At least Central Michigan is still the Chippewas.
No one seems to be concerned that Notre Dame is a token either.
January 27, 2007 - 13:46 ET by acaiguanaNo one seems to be concerned that Notre Dame is a token either.
:-)
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "I love blind Monkeys and any inference that I am making fun of blind Monkeys would be wrong.
It could be argued that the F
January 27, 2007 - 13:53 ET by balboaIt could be argued that the Fighting Irish insignia could be just as objectionable as one depicting an indian. (I wouldn't, but it could be done.)
There are still Chippewas, Utes, Seminoles, Illini, etc. I like those mascots, but then I'm not part of the offended group.
Many have equated mascots to
January 27, 2007 - 12:01 ET by danboMany have equated mascots to totems. Defined as: "the emblem of a clan or family and sometimes revered as its founder, ancestor, or guardian". It's where the term totem pole comes from.
It is revered and takes on magcal qualities. Hardly a slur at someone. Or a threat. If anything it's a complement.
Yet some activist and the Post feel it's racist. All I can say is, grow up.
From a neanderthal.
PS Are you suggesting we also rename the "Redskins"?
"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.” H.L. Mencken
Oh, no! What a quagmire the l
January 27, 2007 - 12:30 ET by Mica the MagnificentOh, no! What a quagmire the libs are getting into. I believe the liberal Commonwealth of Massachusetts should change their name. If you break it apart, it's not politically correct.
'Mass' is very religious sounding, can't have that christianity thingy.
'Massa' is rascist and may upset our African-American citizens
'chus' sounds too much like jews, can't have that
'etts' may offend feminists, as in 'Rock-etts'
They should solve the problem by simply calling their state the Commonwealth of Kennedy
You can imagine my surprise when my doctor told me hops and malted barley are not considered whole grain! - Ted (Edward)
The Commonwealth of Kennedy?
January 27, 2007 - 12:34 ET by rimskyThe Commonwealth of Kennedy? Uh.. NO.. I'm offended by that!
I understand, Rimsky. 'Common
January 27, 2007 - 12:38 ET by Mica the MagnificentI understand, Rimsky. 'Commonwealth' could be taken to mean that everyone in the state shares a common wealth! How did I miss that one?
Not to mention that in full,
January 29, 2007 - 13:59 ET by JoeBobNot to mention that in full, like the Dakotas, Illinois, and Deleware mentioned elsewhere, it is the name of an Indian tribe.
JoeBob
Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man. - Confucious
Wise has a pretty "shaky
January 27, 2007 - 12:33 ET by SMGalbraithWise has a pretty "shaky" record, it seems to me, with these columns. He blasted the University of Miami when they decided to play a football game the week after one of their players was killed. He stated that they had done so for financial reasons and without considering the views of the late player's teammates.
Unfortunately, he was entirely wrong. The coaching staff and top university administrators met with the players and got their opinions on whether the game should be played. They were in full support of playing that week as they explained that they thought their dead teammate would have wanted them to compete.
Very embarassing column for Wise, who has been on this kick of need to change the football team's name for several years.
Sports reporters and columni
January 27, 2007 - 13:22 ET by CaringwhiteguySports reporters and columnists are continually obsessed with race and gender issues. There's no doubt in my mind they are just as liberal (if not more so) than their breatheren that so blatantly slant the other news of the day. Just count the number of stories about "First Black Superbowl Coaches" you have heard or will hear. ESPN is clearly as politically biased as CNN or MSNBC. Remember these people are "JOURNALISTS" who report on sports. They went to the same schools and hung out with the same people who produce the CBS Evening News.
Africans
January 27, 2007 - 13:45 ET by iveseenitallWhat they said is that it's wonderful to have two African-American coaches in the Superbowl. Are they Africans or are the Americans? And does it matter at all? Liberal hypocrites have told us over the years that we should all be colorblind. It appears they are not. Liberalism is sickening.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
As an Italo-American I resent it.
January 27, 2007 - 13:58 ET by misterbillAs an Italo-American I resent it. Of course, I am confused because I am also a Franco-American(not the food) , an Anglo-American and an Amerind-American. Sheeesh!!!
Those who profess to help to stop racism in America have created a reversed racism that is as bad as, or worse than the original problem.
And to this that Rush Limbaug
January 27, 2007 - 13:47 ET by mbx175And to think that Rush Limbaugh got fired from ESPN for saying that the media wanted a certain black quarterback to succeed.
I don't see Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith as black coaches, I see them as damn good coaches and solid professionals.
Exactly right. Try reading so
January 27, 2007 - 18:02 ET by Del DolemonteExactly right. Try reading some of Peter King's columns for SI online (Yahoo Sports picks up his football columns). He occasionally injects his personal (liberal) politics into his columns. For example, he was VERY happy about the results of the 2006 elections, and said so in one of the first columns he wrote that week.
And as I recall, some of the Philadelphia sports writers are quite liberal, as they really went after Limbaugh for his McNabb remarks.
And it's not just the sports writers; a friend of mine is a sports editor for a major newspaper, and not only voted for Kerry in 2004 but accepted Michael Moore's"F-911" film as gospel.
UND Fighting Sioux
January 27, 2007 - 19:25 ET by nkviking75The University of North Dakota are known as the fighting Sioux, and according to all the accounts I've heard, the Sioux living in the state love it! Something else to consider: A lot of state names are taken from Indian words, including the Dakotas and Illinois. What are we supposed to do about that?
Wow Viking, N. Dakota, S. Dak
January 28, 2007 - 00:12 ET by Clear thinkerWow Viking, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, and Illinois are screwed!
I have to tell you, I was VER
January 28, 2007 - 00:08 ET by Chicago RepublicanI have to tell you, I was VERY relieved that my alma mater got a pass from the NCAA thought police about the "Seminole" mascot. FSU fans and alums see the use of the name and the Chief Osceola and Renegade mascot as a way of honoring, not mocking, the Seminole tribe of FL.
The day that the faculty caves to the NCAA thought police and we become the FSU Garnet Wave or whatever, well... that's the day I start cheering for Blonde's Gators.
Well FSU....I'd be happy to w
January 28, 2007 - 00:22 ET by BlondeWell FSU....I'd be happy to welcome you to the Swamp.
I love that horse. It's a great tradition. And as you well know, Osceola is a relevant part of Florida history. Good luck...I'm siding with you on this issue, my Seminole friend.