Martha Marti Wilkinson for the win! If you are not open minded enough to research and ACCEPT the facts after the research is done then there truly is no point in even TRYING to help you to understand the pain that this mascot causes a tribe of native Americans that were part of the American holocaust. Heres Martis views. BRILLIANT I might add; This is what I posted on the WCIA site - I also made a reference to Jay Rosensteins documentary In Whose Honor Supporters of the former mascot are on the wrong side of history, and no matter how much people carry on over the loss of the beloved chief, that will not change. The Honor the Chief society will probably not even be around 20 years from now. Anyone who thinks that the push for the removal of the Chief came from a bunch of whiny white folks can benefit from viewing the documentary, In Whose Honor. There was also a statement released by the Peoria tribe several years ago which demanded the University to retire the mascot. For the people who want to honor native history, the Peoria Tribe is what is left of the Illinois confederation aka The Illiniwek. As for the individuals who dont understand why the former mascot is offensive, one thing I have learned in trying to engage on this topic, is that the supporters frankly dont give a damn for anyones perspective other than their own. I grew up in Champaign, and I grew up around the tradition of the former mascot, and it didnt teach me a damn thing about Native Americans or their culture. Ive learned more from talking to Native Americans, and actually listening to what people have said to me. There are examples of African Americans who supported slavery, and Jim Crow. Just as there have been women in history who campaigned against giving their sisters the right to vote. In recent years there have been anti-gay activists who have been outed. So handing out cherry picked examples of Native Americans who dont have an issue with this, is just as foolish. Additionally, Ive seen people argue that they have a certain amount of Native American blood and since they dont find the mascot to be offensive, then the rest of us should just suck it up. Ive been told that I have a certain amount of Blackfoot ancestry, but it doesnt change the fact that I was socialized as a white woman, and that I benefit from white privilege. I dont care what your DNA says, if you think that somehow a halftime minstrel show is a respected tradition, then you are still on the wrong side of this issue. I have friends and family members who dont agree with me, and Ive agreed to disagree with them. This is because I understand that its uncomfortable and unpleasant to be told that something that one loves is harmful to other people. I certainly didnt like hearing the objections when I saw them on the local news. Like many people I frankly just didnt get it. However, I also took the time and made the effort to study the history and I listened to what people had to say on the subject. After weighing both sides of the issue, I ended up siding with the people who wanted to see the mascot removed. For a long time before that, I was inclined to sit on the proverbial fence. Perhaps in time people will learn to accept the fact that the mascot is gone. However, it probably wont happen anytime soon. SOUND OFF: The University of Illinois and the Honor the Chief Society have come to an agreement over the former mascot. Under the settlement, the society wont be able to use the term Chief Illiniwek or the official logo and their events cant be associated with the school. But the group can honor the chief and its history. https://facebook/photo.php?fbid=10151917913953252&set=a.199555873251.130562.134816148251&type=1&relevant_count=1
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:39:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015