Group calls for mascot changes
http://www.merrimackforum.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4157
June 8, 2007
What should the district do regarding mascot issue?
Change the mascots as soon as possible, regardless of cost
0
No votes
Change the mascot as soon as we can raise the funds
1
5%
Do nothing. It's just another expense we can't afford
1
5%
Do nothing. The mascots are fine the way they are
15
88%
Total votes : 17.
Group calls for mascot changes (13 posts)
by GregRS on Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:29 am
Recently, a group has claimed that our school mascots are disrespectful to native Americans and should be changed. In Merrimack, our high school and a middle school would be affected.
FYI, the job of changing a mascot is similar to cost associated with changing a school name, an issue that came up not long ago. Items affected by the mascot change would be:
School uniforms
Equipment (Band, athletic, etc)
Gyms (floors, walls, banners)
Signs
Trophies, plaques, awards, letters, etc
Wall murals (paintings, signs)
Office supplies (stationary, pencils, pens, etc)
Web pages
Other misc items that may pop up.
I haven't a clue to the total cost, but it could be at least 5 digits.
What would you support?
by Debra Huffman on Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:33 am
Exactly what part of our mascot are you referring to? The name of the teams are the Tomahawks, as in a tool used by native Americans, right? Is there an objection from a recognized native American group to reference to their tools? Or is there something I'm forgetting, like a derogatory depiction of native Americans?
The concept is to make the team seem like something to be feared by adversaries. Recalling the fierceness of our ancestors - be they Viking, native American, or Celtic - seems to suit the sports metaphor well. Whether it pleases us or not, being fierce was a necessary survival mechanism for ALL of our ancestors.
by Ken Coleman on Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:50 am
We went through this a number of years ago.
My ADVICE to everyone is to ignore this. Don't write letters or speak at school board meetings.
The are targeting 100's of schools. If townspeople start making a lot of noise defending the mascot, they will then target our town to take their fight to the media.
In other words, if we do not show up for the fight, there will not be one and this issue will just die a quick death.
My guess is most of you do not remember this issue from a number of years ago. That is because we ignored it and it quickly disappeared.
Just my 2 cents
Ken
by Loweresttaxes on Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:08 pm
Fine Point Ken.
Consider it ignored.
by RBarnes on Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:31 pm
Having gone to a school who's mascot was the "Red Raiders" with a cartoon Indian (Native American) I just don't get it. I have to agree fully with Ken on this one, just ignore it.
If the only motive was to help people who could not afford education, advocates of government involvement would have simply proposed tuition subsidies. – Milton Friedman - Economist. Awarded 1976 Nobel Prize in economics.
by ragin cajun on Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:43 pm
Here's the article that was in last week's Cabinet and MJ:
By Daymond Steer
Published: Thursday, May. 31, 2007
WILTON — A group called the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition wants two local high schools to dump their mascots, claiming their names are racist.
Targeted for extinction by the group is the "Indian Warrior"
by Michael Pelletier on Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:22 pm
We commemorate the chief architect of Native American dispossession and genocide on our most heavily-circulated unit of paper money, the one that drops into the dispensing bins of millions of ATMs across the nation and around the world. Surely that should be of far greater concern to activists than a middle school's mascot.
by Jeannine Stergios on Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:24 pm
More political correctness gone awry.
I agree - ignore this
by Tom Williams on Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:02 am
Self-annointed moral superiority is at the root of many of today's problems.
This one is simply asinine.
Just say no.
Tom Williams
by Davis Powell on Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:31 pm
Again, this is an attempt of the minority to rule the majority.
I went to the Florida State (the Seminoles) and every now and again this issue comes up.
As noted, James Billie, chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, has stated that FSU's use of the Seminole name for its team reflects a pride in Florida Seminole history and is an ego boost to his tribe.
from:http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/lawreview/downloads/271/Gugg.pdf
Davis Powell
by RBarnes on Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:47 pm
Davis Powell wrote:Again, this is an attempt of the minority to rule the majority.
Any group trying to force their will on the rest is wrong regardless if it is a minority forcing their will on a majority or a majority forcing their will on a minority.
RBarnes
by chrisorteg on Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:39 pm
I am a proud graduate of Rippowam High School, Stamford, CT. We were the Warriors.
To give you a sense of how times have changed: meet our mascot, George.
Christopher S. Ortega
by Jamie MacFarland on Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:42 pm
I think we should change the name from Merrimack Tomahawks to the Merrimack "tollers", or the Merrimack "Mallers"
Seriously, I agree with Ken. This needs to be ignored. I am sure they are going spend their energy on any communtity that is willing to take the issue up.
Jamie