> There seems to be a very fine line between was is and isn't > appropriate (boy aren't I profound;]). Overall, I think the > nickname of a team should reflect the cultural history of the > region they represent. Miami could have a native-american > type mascot, maybe something less demeaning than redskins. So, should Clarkson change their name to the Golden Icemen? :) (Sorry, I had to say it...) I hope this doesn't get drawn into another PC debate. For those who were not on the list last year, UMass-Lowell had to change from the Chiefs to the River Hawks due to the outcry of native Americans in eastern Massachusetts. We all have different perspectives about nicknames, but I don't consider "Redskins" to be demeaning. In a lot of cases, it does offend native Americans. To me, it's just another description of a native American. But, then again, I'm not a native American, so I wouldn't know how some native Americans would interpret the word "redskin". However, I don't think that the committee, person, (whatever) who came up with the nicknames Redskins, Chiefs, Fighting Sioux, Seminoles, etc. had in mind that American Indians were really bad, violent people. The mascots are presented that way because of the supposed nature and drive of their respective sports teams and to drive fear into their opponents! Well, maybe not. Regardless, maybe North Dakotans should be proud of their Sioux heritage, Floridians should be proud of their Seminole heritage, and so on. My point is: I don't consider any Indian mascot to be demeaning to the tribe or people it represents, nor do I think that is the original way the school tried to represent them. But, as I said, I'm not native American..... =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= + Andy Weise Let's Go Tech!! [log in to unmask] + = SUNY Potsdam '93 = + Union College '95? Let's Go U!! [log in to unmask] + +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+