Here is the latest from the anti-nick name crowd. This was in today's Grand Forks Herald, as ussual the Herald didn't allow comments to this post. It would appear that the it's the Herald's modus operandi in cases where a writer writes something about the Fighting Sioux name. My response is, yawn!
TOLNA, N.D. — The North Dakota Board of Higher Education recently voted to prohibit UND from using Fighting Sioux as its nickname. As a Christian who strives to follow the commands and ethics of the Prince of Peace, I was encouraged and delighted with the board’s decision.
Non-Indian schools and universities have no moral bases for using the names or images of American Indian people for their corporate agendas. The dominant Anglo-Saxon culture has, for generations, manipulated and exploited the indigenous people of this continent for our economic gain.
Nicknames and logos are little more than mass-marketing tools that are used nationwide by schools and sports teams to create billion-dollar commercial brand allegiances among consumers.
Institutions of higher education such as UND morally discredit themselves when they stoop to using racial stereotypes as mass-marketing techniques.
None of us likes being labeled or told who we are. God made diversity to be the founding principle of creation. We show reverence for God’s works when we respect each other’s differences and let our neighbors define themselves and create their own destiny.
I’ve heard too many white folks defending the Fighting Sioux nickname by saying it’s “a good and proud role model for the Indians to have.” This simply is us telling another race of people what’s good for them.
We would be insulted if anyone did the same to us. Imagine our reaction if an Indian school created a Farming Rednecks nickname. The Fighting Sioux nickname should be as offensive to our moral sensibilities as a Farming Redneck or Dancing Negroes nickname would be.
The North Dakota Board of Higher Education’s decision returns UND to an ethical standard it lost when it traded its Flickertail nickname for an offensive racial stereotype. By doing so, the board models for a generation of students the ethical demand of Christ to love and respect your neighbor as yourself.
David Nichols
Rev. Nichols is the pastor of Morning Star Parish
When he states how unethical the decision was to change the name to the Fighting Sioux from the Flickertails. Was there really a huge outcry at that time? Wasn't it initiated by the Tribes?
ReplyDeleteAlso, this guy refers to "white folks" and their reasons for supporting the nickname. This guy is from Tolna, what other "folks" does he have contact with? I invite Mr.Nichols to come and stay with me at my home in North Minneapolis where he can spread the word about his ethics of the Prince of Peace.
Yeah I caught that so I looked up on the internet and Nichols is white just for the record.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Grand Forks for 22 years and I have never ever in my life heard of anyone saying that the Sioux logo in any of its forms (Old Blackhawk style, geometrical style of the 90's, or current Indian head) gives Native Americans "a good and proud role model."
ReplyDeleteTo suggest a logo could be a role model is assinine (sp?). I see how the athletes who play for the Sioux could be role models but not the logo, does not make any sense.
It's be like saying the Patriot logo for New England of the NFL is a role model, people want to be like him with his giant hat. Everyone knows the logo isn't a role model the players and coachs are.
seejowski, I can't remember anyone saying that either since the Fighting Sioux logo it is a symbol or logo.
ReplyDeleteAnother misuse of space in the Herald editorial section.
ReplyDeleteWhy not bring up the real travesty that has reared it's ugly head in this whole situation; the fact that Ron His Word Is the Final Say won't allow his tribe to have any say in all of this?
The guy totally discredits himself by bringing/making up the "a good and proud role model" line.
To be fair it's not like Christians have ever gone around and told other cultures what to think and do as far as their god is concerned right? Oh, wait....nevermind.
ReplyDelete