Josh Kleinbaum <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
(snip)
 
>I really don't
>understand why people are insulted by team names referring to a group of
>people.  Quite frankly, I'd be honored in Miami changed their name to the
>Miami Kleinbaums (although for some reason I don't see that as happening),
>or even the Miami Jews (if there are any Jews in Ohio ;-) ).  It's all a
>matter of perspective.  Instead of seeing the name as insulting, the Miami
>tribe should see it as an honor.
 
Having actually lived in Oklahoma and Ohio, I'll jump into this one...
(BTW, in Northeast Oklahoma, Miami is pronounced as if it ended in "a".)
 
There are Jews in Ohio--I knew plenty of them in Cleveland, and since two of
them moved to Cincinnati, I know there are Jews in that part of the state :-).
Not having asked them, I don't know if they'd find the name Miami University
Jews insulting.  The likelihood would be increased if, let's say, the mascot
and fans ran around in a tallith and yarmulke in school colors, or with fake
Nazi concentration camp tatoos...
 
Another point I'd like to make is that at least in the case of Miami, the
pressure to change is actually coming from the Miami tribe, not just a
bunch of PC white liberals with no Native American heritage (you know,
people like me :-)).  So far, I have no problem with the Fighting Irish
(well, other than Lou Holtz, but that's another sport and another story).
 
Lisa Sweeney
CWRU '88, Cornell U. '93
 
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