Wampum

I completely agree with your view. As to Willis, I just stopped reading his blog because of that Redskin section of his. How ironic for a black man not to understand how offensive the term Redskin is.

It feels a little weird to be quoting myself but I'm gonna do it anyway! In that round up you linked to I said this about the Asian racism at FDL:
"I assume it has to do with the fact that most Americans are so ignorant about Asian people, cultures, and histories, that it's almost like ridiculing them is like ridiculing fictional or cartoon people. Now that I think of it, much of racism is this way."

I think that is why people aren't in an uproar over Redskins/Braves/Indians either. We are cartoons to alot of America. Not only that but through history lessons we are the fiendish ones killing innocent Euros, and even the fact that Columbus could 'discover' a land that is already inhabited leads you to believe that we don't count as human beings. It's not simply ignorance, as in lack of knowledge, but the knowledge they do have is just plain wrong.

I even have a hard time explaining to people why the romanticized spiritual stereotype is damaging. They assume that by putting us up on a pedastal that it's a good thing, but it isn't when we prove to be as human as they are, we somehow let them down.

I wrote something on this, MB - copying your title, by the way. (will probably keep revising, as I am so rusty at writing things, sigh, lol).

Anyway, Donna, that's one of the points that stuck out to me too... people don't view native americans as real yet.

Donna and Nanette: I think the "Indian as romantic/spiritual-action-figure" is one reason whites feel so "betrayed" when we turn out to be, in fact, human. Their indignity over many tribes desire for economic gain, e.g., gaming operations, is part and parcel of this all. Ironically, they have no problem using Indian stereotypes for their own economic gain, e.g., the NFL franchise, as well as baseball's "Braves", "Chiefs", etc.

Spencer, I truly wish more North Americans acted like you. Bravo.

Nanette, just read your post. Updated this post accordingly (couldn't help it - just too good.)

Great, and thanks, MB. I'm glad it resonated. So often I can't seem to say just what it is I'm trying to say ;)

The entire "cartoon people", or what is more likely nowadays "magical, spiritual people" thing is really damaging. Somehow, in some minds, with all this new age or whatever it stuff, the supposed "spiritual culture" of Native Americans (as if there is just one, has come to replace the actuality of living humans. I think I told of the woman... very nice woman, would do anything for you, wouldn't hurt a fly... who simply could not grasp why it was a terrible thing for one of the nations to die out -for the last full member of that tribe to completely disappear off the face of the earth, as long as people like her and others were around to carry on the spiritual traditions.

One of the weirdest - and scariest - things I'd ever seen... but I don't think she is alone in thinking that, apparently, Indians are just here as conduits of spiritual enlightenment or something.

I really think that some feel that people living on reservations, or that run casinos or that just live normal (but not necessarily "western" lives) don't deserve to be full members of society... and the keepers of their own traditions... because they don't fit some sort of Sitting Bull type preconception of what a Native American should be.

Oh, and Willis... he's very invested in being the "non race-obsessed minority". Always reliable for saying this or that isn't racist, or if it is, it doesn't matter, just get over yourself, etc.

Nanette, there are so few people, Indian or otherwise, who understand the true dangers of cultural appropriation for native peoples.

It's just about all we have left. They got the land and resources so now some of them want to have the culture too.

MB, I thought you might be interested in a post at Progressive Gold since RoP does mention the Koufaxes: Metablogging For Fun & Profit

I also apparently told some little kids the Easter Bunny isn't real. I call racism racism and non-racism what it is. The name of the team is the Washington Redskins, I have no control over that.

So Oliver, what would you think if it had been called the Washington n*****rs?

Or the Washington Coons?

Or .... ?

Would you just sit back and say you had no control?

Oliver, perhaps finding another team, one without so much racist baggage, for whom to root might be a start, no? It seems like an easy enough choice for someone with your intelligence.

Yes, as for me, I prefer the Celtics.

Because I've been rooting them on since I was a little boy. If they were the Washington Crackheads I'd have a "crackheads" category.

Yes, Oliver, but Crackhead does not equal Redskin. Scour your mind for the most racist, offensive, demeaning term used to describe African Americans, and THAT equals "redskin." Would they still be your team then?

The "name" of the franchise awarded to George Preston Marshall for the Boston market in 1932, was "Braves", a man who managed to get all African-Americans out of the NFL from 1933 to 1942. Marshall changed the name of his NFL property to "Redskins" to distinguish it from the baseball franchise operating in the same market, and moved the franchise venue from Braves Field to Fenway to improve market share. Failing that, Marshall moved the franchise to Washington City in 1937.

The "name" of the franchise is whatever branding its owner, Dan Snyder, decides to market his product under.

The Washington NFL franchise is reasonably unambiguous, as is the Snyder NFL franchise.

Oliver, here's the test: Would you sit in a room with a dozen Indians and use the word "redskin" interchangably with "Indian" or "Native American"?

There has been progress on this issue in some places. Here in Minnesota the high schools were forced to change their mascots or be thrown out of the athletic leagues.

Oliver, a suggestion: make up a new name that makes it clear which team you are talking about while avoiding the offensive word.

I don't follow football, so I don't have any clever suggestions. Call them the R**sk*ns. Call them the "Washington R-words". If anyone questions your usage, you can use it as an opportunity to educate about racial slurs.

Good comments on the "redskins" issue. See Red-skin n. Dated, Offensive, Taboo for more on the subject.

[hmm. we normally kill ads silently. leave it because they buy (or are given, acee and todd are generous) ad space on indianz, on the theory that since we're on indianz' side bar ... a heck, he contributes to victor's pechanga and lives in culver. i'll let the ad stand. ebw]