I am offended by your being offended
Just so we understand each other - I am a fan of two state schools: the University of Florida, and the University of South Florida. This stance generally puts me at odds with just about every other state school there is, at least when in comes to collegiate sporting events, math league competitions, and the ever popular Florida University System Annual Marijuana Brownie Bake-Off. So, whenever misfortune strikes, say, Florida State University, I can usually look from the sidelines with a wry smile.
Which is why it’s more than a little wierd for me to get their back here, but on that ever-growing list of institutions that must be destroyed, I’ll stick FSU way, WAY below political correctness. It seems that fair state institution, they of the well-respected Circus college, has been told by the NCAA that their mascot and team symbols are offensive and disrespectful, and cannot be used at all during post-season competition.
Hmm…offensive. My question is, to whom is this offensive? The only likely culprit I can find would be the Seminole Indian tribe - after all, they call themselves “Seminoles”, and their mascot is a native riding a painted horse who chucks a spear in the ground at every game. Boy, I can feel their hackles rising up from here! The nerve of FSU! Who came up with that brilliant display of tactlessness and crass disregard for others feelings?
Why, the Seminole Indian tribe did, actually. In fact, not only do they fully support and embrace FSU, their team name, and their mascot, they had a hand in designing them. I suppose that’s not good enough for the NCAA, what with their proud, honorable history and all. The NCAA is telling the Seminole Indian tribe what they should think, and spitting in their face by saying their support isn’t good enough.
Hell, this post is double-wierd for me, because I find myself in agreement with Jeb! as well. Now I need to take several showers and scrub myself until clean clean clean must make self clean!
Teh One wrote:
Pretty soon we’ll be naming all our teams after rocks and minerals. We already have the Oilers. How about Florida State Micas?
Posted on 10-Aug-05 at 11:49 am | Permalink
Dave wrote:
Feh… it’s kinda silly. I mean, when will this filter to the pro teams? The Cleveland Indians? The Washington Redskins? The Chicago Blackhawks… were the Blackhawks a Native American tribe?
Posted on 10-Aug-05 at 1:57 pm | Permalink
thegax wrote:
The Redskins are in an ongoing battle with Native Americans over their nickname.
Posted on 10-Aug-05 at 4:01 pm | Permalink
Erky wrote:
What if your mascot’s name is say, “The Savages” but your logo is just a bloody axe? Is that ok? Seems like the part the NCAA finds “offensive” is just a picture of an injun.
Posted on 10-Aug-05 at 11:44 pm | Permalink
Roger wrote:
Well, I read a good article today about where this might be headed. Can anyone say, “Ole Miss, you’re next!”
Johnny Reb should be much higher on the political correctness hit list than Chief Osceola. And then how about South Carolina for having the Stars and Bars as part of their flag…
Makes me wonder, as a 1/5th Irish American, how truly, deeply offended I am by the Golden Domers. Well, actually Touchdown Jesus does seem a little wrong to me. But then again, so does Saint Bobby in stained glass.
Posted on 11-Aug-05 at 10:34 am | Permalink
Roger wrote:
Whoops - correction, South Carolina doesn’t have the Confederate flag as part of their own… this isn’t the PC witchhunt you’re looking for.
The article mentioned the other USC as part of the teams that might be affected in the future… so now I think it might have something to do with caps that say “Go Cocks.” Go figure.
Posted on 11-Aug-05 at 10:39 am | Permalink
Teh One wrote:
South Carolina was forced by the heathens to remove part of their sacred heritage from atop the capitol building where it had flown for over 200 solemn years. So no more stars and bars, at least not in public, tax-payer view. The SC state flag consists of a palmetto tree and crescent moon on a field of dark blue. Not sure what you could find offending about that, exactly.
I often wondered myself how they could get away with the “Go Cocks” caps.
(For those of you who don’t know my political machinations or simply can’t tell because my rhetoric sucks, I don’t have any real opinion of the Conf flag, but I did live in the capital during that hot debate.)
Posted on 11-Aug-05 at 12:29 pm | Permalink
Erky wrote:
I don’t really have an opinion on the rebel flag, except that to me it just says “I am a redneck”.
However, as a veteran, I find it odd that we allow states to fly the flag of a conquered war enemy.
Posted on 11-Aug-05 at 12:50 pm | Permalink
Erky wrote:
I also just heard that the NCAA will allow San Diego State full use of its “Aztec” logo and name, as apparently the NCAA doesn’t care about “offending” people beyond our borders. I still remember watching a SDSU game on TV back when Marshall Faulk played there, and they had a HUGE sign that said “Aztec Football: It’s a ritual!”
Posted on 11-Aug-05 at 10:28 pm | Permalink
Teh One wrote:
So we CAN’T honor the proud and good, clean native American Indians who give permission to use their likeness, but we CAN idolize an extinct culture who ritually bathed the streets with human sacrifices? Have I got that right?
Posted on 12-Aug-05 at 9:30 am | Permalink
Erky wrote:
Yes, it appears you are right. A writer in Dallas actually suggested that the University of Kansas be added to the list, since their mascot is the Jayhawk. Sure, it’s a cute little bird with a smile on his face, but “Jayhawkers” were anti slavery fighters in the civil war who were a fairly violent and rough group. They battled against the Missouri “Tigers” who were a pro-slavery violent and rough group. In many ways they have never stopped fighting. Tigers and Jayhawks are apparently offensive to some people too.
Personally, I would be more offended by teams named after natural disasters. If my family had been mowed down by a cyclone, I am not sure I would be a big Iowa State fan, and of course there’s the Miami Hurricanes, but nobody with any common sense roots for them anyway.
Posted on 12-Aug-05 at 12:33 pm | Permalink
Jay wrote:
Political correctness is so fun. Soon to come: “The San Diego Stuff takes on the New York Things tonight in Brooklyn, only on ESPN!” (Imagine the logos / mascots: an immobile, vague gray lump. But a lump with raw fury. In fact, the Fightin’ Lumps would make an even better team name.)
As for Confederacy - yeah, if ya wanna announce that you’re a redneck, more power to ya. A good friend from the Carolinas once wrote that “It’s not about supporting slavery, it’s about showing your respect and pride for the culture of your heritage.” Which sounded really great… but the culture of your heritage supported slavery, and ummm… mint juleps, I guess? I dunno, I’m Union-born and bred, maybe my northern liberal elitism is showing.
Posted on 12-Aug-05 at 2:28 pm | Permalink
Teh One wrote:
Rednecks are everywhere. It’s an inescapable fact that I’m still learning to deal with. I just wish the other rednecks would quit voting for them.
Posted on 15-Aug-05 at 10:52 am | Permalink