Poll finds large majority of Native Americans are OK with “Redskins”

[fearsomefour]

My high school were the "Mohicans" and they wanted the name changed, so they left it to the students to vote on a new name. They ended up with the "Bananna Slugs". :yay:

UC Santa Cruz are the Bananaslugs also.

 

[gogoat1]

"practicing native Americans" What kind of a idiotic statement is that. What, you need to "practice" something you are born into? Now the next idiotic statement. "radical Islam" WHAT!!!! Comparing us ( I am a Native American, Indian, belonging to the Yurok Tribe, largest in the state of California) to radical Islam. Some people need to shut up.
AND, I am from Humboldt County. Yes, we do have schools here. Some of you need to write about something you know about. The Redskin name, logo and team are popular on Indian reservations. Plenty of jackets and some tattoos. While a few have a problem with it, the vast majority do not.
I am amazed at the people who do not get what it is to be Indian. Almost none of us left. Within 10 years after gold was discovered in California over 90% of the native population were killed, murdered by gold seekers. The "49ers" were actually a bunch of killers, thugs. They should be remembered as such. If gold was "discovered" on the lower Klamath River my ancestors would have been killed. Think about it, why are the no reservations, or even freaking casinos in "gold country". American River. They were all murdered.
There territorial government of California actually paid money for Indian scalps and heads. I have a friend that had a great grandmother tell her stories of seeing her family killed with clubs and axes while she hid in the bushes as a little girl. It was called the Indian Island Massacre. Look it up. It was not all that long ago. There were entire populations of natives wiped out in the Willow Creek to Weaverville area along the Trinity River ( a river in which 50-70% of OUR water is pumped, stolen south to so cal) See, thats what they wanted. Our land, gold and now our water. Yukoks are salmon fishermen. Salmon need water too. They take our land, water rights and give indians pacifiers named CASINOS. Where only a few get rich. The money does not go to the people. Nevada gambling interests get a bunch. See folks, what really happens is a few Indians vote themselves into a "rancharia". A mini reservation with no Indian rights. The few of them get all the money while the tribe as a whole gets none. They give up their 'indian" rights, fishing, health care to no longer be a Indian as far as the US Government is concerned to get their casino. The government tried to buy out my Native American rights for 25,000$ years ago. Just about money. Cheaper to pay that than give us health care and keep our fishing rights. They want us gone. If the government does not recognize your tribe you do not exist. I know a man who is 3/4 Indian but because the US Government does not recognize his band of the Tolawa tribe he is not a Indian to them. The gambling thing is a scam. A pacifier they give us while the things that really matter are taken. And all these white people think we are rich because of it. The casinos are a blight on our community's giving us a few jobs but suck huge amounts of money from the people.
Sorry for the rant but some are clueless. I think we can all agree that 49ers are a bunch of scum bags. (and they were a bunch of killers, for real folks)

 

[RamFan503]

As this board's longest tenured Native American may I refer you to.
http://www.ramsondemand.com/help/terms
Rules 8 & 2
Go moderate yourself.

Not sure rule 8 applies to what I said but I may have been a little harsh. The eat a dick reference is on I have used many times and if you have ever watched Archer, you know that it is a used in humor.

The point being that many of the people I have seen speak out against the team name were clearly not practicing Native Americans. As a Native American, you no doubt know what I mean by that. If a person is not engaged in tribal council, ceremonies, or community, and is merely partially Native American from some ancestor way back, and only pulls the Native American card ala Elizabeth Warren, I don't consider them as having any kind of standing in this issue. Instead, they are merely one of a long list of pinheads in search of something to protest.

These were exactly the kinds of people I saw speaking out about it a few years back. It seems that everyone these days is 1/32nd Native American. Allegedly I am too. So? I just don't wield it as if I have some kind of standing for it. And I get very tired of those who want to pull that card when it suits them but couldn't tell you one thing about their supposed tribe, its history, or its traditions.

 

[RamFan503]

UC Santa Cruz are the Bananaslugs also.

That's right. I forgot about those Birkenstock wearin' so and sos.

 

[RamFan503]

"practicing native Americans" What kind of a idiotic statement is that. What, you need to "practice" something you are born into?

If by born into that you mean you are participating in the culture and history of your tribe then you are practicing it. I apologize for using the same terms as the government uses when determining the "benefits" you mentioned. I couldn't agree more actually with most of what you said. But let me ask you. Doesn't it really get under your skin when someone claims to be Native American when you know they have no clue of the history or tradition?

I can only talk to the many that I have met in my time. Most (sorry to use the term again) practicing Native Americans feel the same way about the reservations, casinos, etc, that you relayed. I grew up around Native Americans with my mom's art career and currently live five minutes from Siletz. A great number of my customers and a few of my friends are active in their community. We have had this conversation many times and I am pretty much echoing their very sentiments. Essentially, "don't say you are Native American for some sort of street cred." Every time I hear that "i'm 1/16 or 1/32 Native American" I just cringe.

 

[Selassie I]

As this board's longest tenured Native American may I refer you to.
http://www.ramsondemand.com/help/terms
Rules 8 & 2
Go moderate yourself.

I beg your pardon... I'm the longest tenured Native American here.

 

[Rambitious1]

Of course they wouldn't. There's a whole state that means "Red People" in Choctaw, that was suggested by a Choctaw chief!

Choctaw - that's my people.

 

[Mikey Ram]

If somebody asks if there are schools in Humboldt county, would it be too big a stretch to assume that the comment may have been made in jest...Maybe in that regard, YOU might be EDITED.

Moderator's note: Sorry man - I couldn't let that stay up even though I kind of agree with your point. Obviously you meant your earlier comment as a joke.

 

[Dodgersrf]

Just change the name to Bravehearts and everybody wins!

Not bad.

 

[Mackeyser]

I've shared before how I'm part Lenape and Seneca. We lost our registration I think around the time of our grandfather. A lot of people in mixed marriages off the Rez didn't maintain any tribal registration because it caused lots of problems. Because my grandfather married a black woman, well, let's just say, they weren't looking for attention. Their marriage was illegal in many states at the time.

Most spiritual moment of my life wasn't in church. It was dancing with my young son in my arms in the drum circle. Been to several Pow wows (health issues preclude going to more), trying (badly) to learn Lenape, and doing all I can to learn the history of my people. Honestly, I dunno if that qualifies as "practicing" or not. I'm just tryin' is all.

I've just had conversations with all sorts of people from the Nations and the answers were mixed. I mostly took the time to listen.

My personal conclusion based on my knowledge of history, my principles and personal beliefs is that it is offensive and that I won't use it. I don't correct anyone who does, I don't boycott Washington games or take it on as a cause. With everything there is to be concerned about, this doesn't crack the top 1,000.

So, it's just my personal deal. I appreciate other Native peoples who believe differently. That's their right.

I think there's a deeper, more nuanced conversation that's possible, but I'll leave it at that.

 

[Roman Snow]

They have schools in Humbolt county ???

Humbolt County has one product keeping it afloat. And it ain't hemp ropes for the boating industry.

 

[Roman Snow]

I've shared before how I'm part Lenape and Seneca. We lost our registration I think around the time of our grandfather. A lot of people in mixed marriages off the Rez didn't maintain any tribal registration because it caused lots of problems. Because my grandfather married a black woman, well, let's just say, they weren't looking for attention. Their marriage was illegal in many states at the time.

Most spiritual moment of my life wasn't in church. It was dancing with my young son in my arms in the drum circle. Been to several Pow wows (health issues preclude going to more), trying (badly) to learn Lenape, and doing all I can to learn the history of my people. Honestly, I dunno if that qualifies as "practicing" or not. I'm just tryin' is all.

I've just had conversations with all sorts of people from the Nations and the answers were mixed. I mostly took the time to listen.

My personal conclusion based on my knowledge of history, my principles and personal beliefs is that it is offensive and that I won't use it. I don't correct anyone who does, I don't boycott Washington games or take it on as a cause. With everything there is to be concerned about, this doesn't crack the top 1,000.

So, it's just my personal deal. I appreciate other Native peoples who believe differently. That's their right.

I think there's a deeper, more nuanced conversation that's possible, but I'll leave it at that.

Macs full of crap. He's really Irish!

 

[LumberTubs]

We in this country have an issue with catering to the few rather than the masses. Doesn't mean it's right or wrong but makes for a spineless society. #'Merica

It's the same over here in the UK.

This poll confirms to me something I've believed for a while regarding a wider point about people taking offence to things especially when race related.

Very often the demographic group which is perceived to be offended isn't actually offended. It's other people being offended on their behalf which is stupid. Everyone can speak for themselves. They don't need some over sensitive bed wetter doing it for them.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I'd like to chime in but my racial views often get greatly misunderstood so...
Have a gif instead

 

[jap]

I'd like to chime in but my racial views often get greatly misunderstood so...
Have a gif instead

No, you were not. Africans were here in the Americas before the so-called "Native" American. Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer whose first name was the derivative root for the term "America," described the New World natives who were rowing out to meet his ship as "Ethiopian." Ethiopian is a Greco-Roman term that literally translates as "burnt skin" for obvious reasons or "burnt eyes," probably because the vast majority of those of African descent have brown eyes. There is also a large percentage with black eyes, and the few remaining have the other eye colors---blue, hazel, gray, etc. Even the so-called "Native" Americans have talked about the people who were here in the Americas before them.

 

[Loyal]

I liked it when Jews could tease italians, and blacks, and whites, like Rickles used to...The last time I saw Rickles and he did his normal routine, he was crucified........It comes from the intent of the heart, which Rickles was wickedly funny and people knew that he loved them while he was crucifying them on stage...It makes me old to feel this way I guess....


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KeTNU-ods

 

[Mojo Ram]

No, you were not. Africans were here in the Americas before the so-called "Native" American. Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer whose first name was the derivative root for the term "America," described the New World natives who were rowing out to meet his ship as "Ethiopian." Ethiopian is a Greco-Roman term that literally translates as "burnt skin" for obvious reasons or "burnt eyes," probably because the vast majority of those of African descent have brown eyes. There is also a large percentage with black eyes, and the few remaining have the other eye colors---blue, hazel, gray, etc. Even the so-called "Native" Americans have talked about the people who were here in the Americas before them.

I'm not Native American.
According to every study i've ever read the Native Americans are believed to have migrated and settled here(North America) from Asia via Alaska. Regardless, the message i posted is clear.

 

[Faceplant]

I am guessing that 100% of idiots with Man Buns are offended by. ... Everything.

 

[dieterbrock]

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures
and the Dutch.
-Nigel Powers

 

[Ramhusker]

I'm not Native American.
According to every study i've ever read the Native Americans are believed to have migrated and settled here(North America) from Asia via Alaska. Regardless, the message i posted is clear.

This is where I chime in to piss anthropologists off around the world. Who cares who was presumably somewhere first? I dare say all the experts are more often wrong than right on such things. I just read an article the other day that they are finding proof of human activity in northern Florida that predates the land bridge migration through Alaska from Asia by as much as 1500 years. And all of this is relative to reality only if the various dating techniques we count on are remotely accurate. The real issue is us living things are supposed to live in harmony. When all is said and done, the drug stupored Rodney King summed it up best with one simple question, "Can't we all just get along?"

http://fla.st/24X2Iqw