For what it is worth, probably not much, I think the Indians should keep the name but use a "mascot" (as seen in the logo) that is not cartoonist but is a very manly Indian warrior. Perhaps, they could get the Huron tribe to buy in; as I understand it some of the Hurons are still upset that EMU changed its mascot to the Eagles. I remember reading a statement by one Huron leader who said that very few people even know that there is a tribe with that name and that the EMU mascot was one way to keep their name before the public. Of course, there is Lake Huron, and Huron County, Ohio, but they're not on the sports pages!
In terms of the Redskins, I have somewhat mixed emotions. I concede that in today's society it is seen by many as racist, but the history of the word, if I remember correctly (this is not one of my areas of historical expertise), is that it was a translation from one American aboriginal language of the word they used to describe themselves. A number of tribal languages used words equivalent to "paleface" to describe Northern Europeans. I guess what gets me is that in today's polite society it is OK to use the term "people of color" to describe anyone whose skin color is darker than a Northern European's, but not OK to use the term "Redskin" for a person of aboriginal heritage (i.e. American Indian). Seems hypocritical to some extent to me.
BTW, the 19th Century the term "people of color" was as a friendly and uplifting way to refer to those of African heritage. This was a much more delicate and supportive word than the others used at the time: "colored," "black" and "negro" (generally not capitalized at the time as it was a color reference and not a racial one, per se -- that came later). Those who used the term "people of color" back then tended to be abolitionists, anti-slavery activists, and those supportive of African American civil rights. Today, IMHO, the expansive use of "people of color" to refer to not just African Americans but to anyone not of northern European heritage is inherently racist as it pits Northern Europeans (evil) against all the rest of humanity (good). In truth, there is both good and evil in all parts of the world and in every tribe and nation. Ever wonder why there are no Erie Indians around today? Before the Europeans arrived, the Iroquois (specifically the Senecas) had a war with them and killed nearly every last member of the Erie Tribe. The few that did survive married into other tribes and the Erie Nation disappeared from history.
Last Edited: 10/11/2014 10:43:46 AM by OhioCatFan