Ramone Romero thinks it’s pretty ironic that people who want to keep offensive Native mascots complain about losing their heritage.
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I read some comments by people who were upset that their team had to change their Indian mascot, or that Natives were protesting their mascot. There were comments about how the team’s name is “our heritage” and how political correctness was trying to “take away our identity” or traditions.
It was unbelievable. I was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to say.
Then I thought of all the Native kids who were taken from their families, sent to far away boarding schools where their Indian clothes were taken and burned, where they were beaten for speaking their Native languages, where they were forced to convert to a different religion, where they were overworked and abused in countless ways…
And these people are upset about having their “heritage” taken away just because Natives protest their mascotry?
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Image courtesy of the author.
Baltimore lost an entire NFL franchise briefly and then got another totally different one. Different mascot, different colors, different AFC division, different rivals. Somehow the people of Baltimore managed to go on living their lives. Somehow the new team made money, somehow the fans found something to root for.
Excellent point. I’d be more sympathetic if Washington fans were beaten in school for using the traditional name of their mascot.
These teams who refuse to change their mascots are also missing out on a great economic opportunity, especially the pro teams. A great source of revenue nowadays is to change your team logo, team colors, official fan shirt, etc. There are even multiple “throwback” jerseys for sale. “Throwback” even means “way back in the 1990’s” nowadays.