Illinois says goodbye to Illiniwek
February 22nd, 2007Chief Illiniwek danced for the last time last night, as the University of Illinois bowed to pressure from the NCAA to eliminate the mascot.
25 Responses to “Illinois says goodbye to Illiniwek”
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I’m currently reading Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” and while the flavor of the book is socialist, he does point out the long list of broken promises and treaties between the governments and some groups of Native Americans.
Most of what this book contains, stands in contrast to the way most of us learned in history classes.
What do ya’ll make of how this country came to be what it is? (in the context of slavery and injustices)
I’m waiting for an animal right’s lawyer to sue the cubs on behalf of bears everywhere.
So when are teams going to drop Padres and Friars as mascots. As a Christian, I’m offended!
Stupid politically correctness.
So you guys don’t find the mascot offensive?
Not in the least.
Why not Scott?
Not only that - but the Padre is short - fat - and bald
Since what seems to be imporant is shouting out all our offenses to heap guilt and shame upon anyone whose ancestors may have had some part in placing someone in a bad situation, I’ll jump in: What I’m offended by is all the beer commercials that portray men as mindless robots whose only goal in life is to find a better beer and immediately consume it. Since the NFL is composed of men who might want to shed the image of being mindless (football jocks), it seems that they would seek to prohibit the denegration of men simply for the sake of crass humor which perpetuates a shameful stereotype. And what about the slavery of the Clydesdales? What if they don’t support the consumption of alcohol? Yet, they are forced to help market it. Whine, Whine, Whine.
Maybe NCAA should limit the choice of mascots to either plants or minerals. Today’s game of the week features the Michigan Iron vs the Fighting Potatoes of Notre Dame! Or do you think the vegetarians would get offended.
Has the “Fighting Irish” mascot gotten canned yet?
The comparisons to animal mascots are spurious - humans posses inherent dignity and worth that animals do not. We should treat cases of human team names and mascots differently than those involving animals.
Call me a bleeding heart liberal if you want, but I think changing the name of a sports team is a tiny concession toward a people group who were cheated, exploited, and generally treated badly at several points in our country’s history. If a particular Indian tribe is upset by their name being used in this way, it shouldn’t be a big deal to change it. Conversely, if a tribe supports the use of their name (like the Seminole tribe in Florida), I see nothing wrong with using it, tastefully.
I’m as opposed to political correctness gone wild as any of you (except maybe Bill :)), but this one doesn’t strike me as a hill worth dying on. There are plenty of good names for teams that don’t involve people groups with an unpleasant history.
Bill,
You were close but not quite there… Your example doesn’t quite explain why the mascot isn’t offensive it merely builds up a straw man which you predictably demolish.
Peter, good point bringing up the Seminoles. Though they were screwed as well, they don’t mind FSU’s mascot, good for them. I don’t believe this is the case with the Illinois mascot.
And what is the big deal anyway? Peter is right, it is a tiny concession when one looks in the history books…
I have never seen Chief Illiniwek’s performances in person; however, from the TV clips I’ve seen and from what people who have seen the performances “live” have told me, they were done in a respectful, UNoffensive manner.
All of that being said: I am not a Native American … and neither are the people who have seen the performances, in person, that I have spoken to. I have no way of knowing how I’d feel about it all if I were a Native American.
I’m not idealistic enough to believe that changing the name of a mascot is enough to undo any of the wrongdoing toward Indians throughout the history of the United States. There’s a part of me, though, that believes this was the right move for the U of I to make … even if, ultimately, it was probably done for pretty much the wrong reasons.
If you go back far enough in history, nearly every people group has been oppressed and displaced by some other people group. (I would like an apology from France for the Norman oppression of my Celtic and Saxon ancestors…) That doesn’t excuse anything, it’s just a historical reality.
Also, can someone explain to me why a mascot is offensive? Isn’t it chosen for it’s positive qualities?
I’m not asking this rhetorically, I would really like to understand the logic of this.
Getting rid of the mascot isn’t going to fix anything Nephos. Anyone can see that, no?
But, just because something is historical reality it doesn’t make it OK to keep denigrating certain groups of people. If you want the Boston Celtics to change their mascot, more power to you I won’t stand in your way.
The Washington Redskins are next on the list, I’m surprised this one has lasted as long as it has…
Laz, my reasoning is that if someone thought of my roots and I as worthy of being a mascot to something as passionate as a team, I’d be honored. Now I know you’ll try the argument that my approach is all well and good if they are potraying the mascot in a good light, but not in any other circumstance. I disagree. The fact is that I think I would still be pretty honored to know that people would like to recognize me and where I came from - even if the potrayal is skewed somewhat.
And you are all my witnesses - God forbid it happens, but the day the Atlanta Braves change their name because “Braves” offends left-wing liberal peace-making potheads or some Native Americans is the day I organize a mass rally of Braves fans to march in protest from the halls of Turner Field in Atlanta to the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Oh yea-
I’m passionate about my Braves like that. And my political views.
I live 15 miles north of Urbana-Champaign, where the University of Illinois is located. Being a caucasian, I cannot pretend to understand the plight of American Indians over the years. (I reject the term “Native Americans” because I was born in Keokuk, IA, USA) Having seen the Chief perform many times, I do not feel it was done disrespectfully at all. Tell me, do the tribes still perform their dances in keeping with their traditions? I do agree that it was WAY past time to make a decision one way or the other. I am sorry to see the Chief symbol retired. On another note, the term “Fighting Illini” is no more offensive than Notre Dame’s “Fightin’ Irish.” Where is the outcry for ND to drop the nickname and the logo of a leprecaun (sic) with his fists up?
Thank you for taking the time to hear my opinion.
We can all rest easier tonight now that this grevious wrong as been righted. Perhaps now some less important things like poverty, abortion and war can be addressed.
Laz,
I agree that there should not be denigration of certain people groups, and I am not arguing that history supports it. I just fail to see how most mascots do that. The Redskins I can understand. The term (not to mention incompetence of the team) is a slur. Most, however, do not. A mascot generally honors certain traits or characteristics of who or what it represents.
I continue to question the logic of attacking what, in most cases, is a positive portrayal. It trivializes (as Larry F. alluded to) the real issues, including the injustices perpetrated on the Native Americans in the past.
Cameron C. (Nephos)
In all this, was it the actual Illiniwek Confederacy that had a problem with the mascot? If it was, them specifically then there’s no reason to be mad at them for opposing the mascot.
It could be argued that the use of these types of mascot stem from the ‘injustices perpetrated on the Native Americans in the past’.
As far as Notre Dame goes, hey if Sinn Fein has a problem then by all means try to get it changed to something else (that goes for the aforementioned Boston Celtics).
Scott,
If the Braves change their mascot I would hope the outcry came from Native Americans themselves and not “left-wing liberal peace-making potheads”. Unless of course, an individual could be found that fit into these 2 categories
I think this whole issue is about power and control, not offensiveness.
Isn’t that what advertising, marketing, and product identification are, influence, control, and financial power?
NCAA wants to continue its influence. It believes that it will be perceived as the great cultural savior by eliminating images which might be perceived to misrepresent historically oppressed groups, so it pressures the schools to eliminate what the school merely perceives as a “brand” or marketing tool to build school loyalty.
Thank you, NCAA, for showing us the error of our ways. (sarcasm). Thank you for giving us the BCS, too.
No, it’s just a power trip.
Good point, Bob M.: I, too, am a native American … just not a native American Indian!
: )
Since Illinois is removing offensive aspects from their athletic department; the next thing that needs to go is the ugly bright orange uniforms.
Ugliest uniforms in America.
Travis….have you seen the uniforms for the University of Oregon? Ewwwww…….
Good point, Bob. Ugly uniforms should be expectred from a school that uses a duck as its mascot.