Indians as sports mascots

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Most of the Indian (as in from India) people I know prefer the term Asian. It threw me too when I first heard it, but it's common use. I've also heard people use the two terms "Woo Woo Indian" and "Head Dot Indian". I just say Indian and people usually know which I mean by the context. If I have to explain I say "American Indian" or "Indian from India".

I'm not Choctaw, I'm part Cherokee. I think it represents the idea of an Indian warrior. Very fierce. Most of us from Alabama, when studying Alabama history in school have heard lots and lots about Indians here. We have learned about them for years and it's a huge part of Alabama history, and most people in the state are part Indian of some sort. Lots of our towns have Indian names too, and rivers, etc. I think they tend to use them because they represent part of Alabama's past to lots of people. And because most everybody here shares that heritage, it's something most of us have in common.

I'm part Cherokee and I don't find any of them offensive. I'm half Italian and I don't find the Sopranos or the Godfather or Goodfellas offensive. I'm part Irish and I don't find Lucky Charms offensive. I'm part Scottish and I don't find Trainspotting offensive. In other words, I'm aware that there are some people who are like the stereotypes and in the media you want to find something interesting to people. A regular Cherokee guy going to work and coming home and watching the news and doing stuff with his kids will not be interesting, although that's what you will most likely find when you find a Cherokee. Same with Italians, Irish, etc. In fact I am a member of one of the Cherokee tribes here in Alabama. We pay a fee once a year and there are events we go to or classes we can take etc. Everybody there is just a normal person, even those who are full blooded or close to it. Without a stereotype, they wouldn't be interesting at all. Whats interesting about a bunch of people at a tribal gathering who are sitting around in lawn chairs with coolers of beer, tea and cokes and are listening to the ball game on the radio and cooking burgers and hot dogs on the grill?

If you have a tv show, a movie, a book, etc, you want your Indian character to look and sound like we think they would. You want them to have some sort of mystic thing about them. Just like you want your Italian character to have some attributes that are stereotypical. Unless it's not central to the plot and in which case their ethnicity is not a plot device. Their ethnicity may just be an interesting fact about them, and they show no stereotypical qualities because the movie, show, book etc is focused on other qualities they have which are central to the plots.

I don't see why people spend so much time getting worked up over stereotypes.

Now that I am older and wiser it doesn't bother me it takes a lot to rattle my cage these days.

I'm Irish on my mothers side and the Notre Dame mascot is an Irish leprechaun. I guess I should feel offended, insulted, marginalized, etc.......

Ha we Irish have always been the butt of most jokes I find the idea of some one getting upset over any masscot to be a giant waste of time.

I was being sarcastic.....

I was telling a joke

Right point, wrong place to bring it up.

Whatever the H you call them - is it right to use them as mascots for sports teams ( either by schools or by pro teams ?)- THAT is the question.

Everyone knows that Choctaws dont come from India.
Blame Christopher Columbus, not olive oil mom, for this flaw in the English Language.

But since youve brought that seperate issue up- I not only agree with you-it happens to be one of my axes as well!

And, like you said, its not for "political correctness' but for accuracy.

Its a cumbersome PIA to have to specify which kind of "Indian" you're talking about. You have to say "east" Indian, or "Asian" Indian- if you're talking about folks from Bangalore.

Some people even use the phrase "red dot or feather?" to ascertain which kinda of "indian" you're talking about.

I dont like "native american" because every american who isnt an immigrant is a "native american" because they were born here including White mostly German backgrounded folks like me.

I favor "indigenous American" for a number of reasons including the fact that you dont have to change the initials on their luggage (so to speak)-well you have to flip the AI to IA, but thats all.

Back to the original question: we dont have a team called "the Minnesotta Swedes", but we do have a team called "the Minnesotta Vikings". Other ancient warriors, like Spartans and Trojans, get used a team names. And there are the Boston Celtics, Notre Dame"s "Fighting Irish", and the Montreal Canadiens. Are those that different from Redskins, and Braves, and so forth?