The Native American Mascot Issue and it’s effects on the growing sensitivity on society

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Men and women from all walks of life in the United States watch sports and identify themselves with a team. Fathers and sons watch the big game together and talk endlessly about the outcome. This American culture has developed over the course of generations. Many believe that these children are going to grow up as racists as a result of watching sports and even going to school. How can people make such wild accusations that essential parts of American culture and society are the catalysts for racism? Some sports teams are accused of having derogatory names that are offensive to Native Americans. Examples of these offensive names are the Indians, Chiefs, Braves, Redskins, Illini, Savages, and Redmen. Additionally, the mascots that represent these teams are also seen as offensive by their mockery of Native American Traditions. Some people take this theory of ruining our youth through mascots even further. Beyond this desire to remove racially offensive mascots, it is believed by some that impressionable students are in danger of fears and impending violence as a result of guns in school mascots. Some schools, like Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, have a patriot as a mascot. This patriot, bearing a musket, causes mixed views as some see it as a symbol of our history and freedom while other see the gun as a sign of fear in the dangerous times of today. Although the use of derogatory names and offensive mascots are a cruel part of society that require immediate change to sports customs, the guns in school mascots are not dangerous in any way; they are a symbol of what the U.S stands for and those who have died in the fight for freedom, and the people who fear the musket-toting mascot highlight the sensitivity of toda... ... middle of paper ... ...l, Stevenson, also has a patriot mascot. I feel empowered that a strong character, like the patriot, is representing my school. Some people propose that this issue can be resolved by simply removing the gun from the patriot rather than changing the mascot entirely. What is a soldier without his gun? What is a lion without its roar? The fight to remove guns is shadowed, for good reason, by the fight to remove offensive messages toward Native Americans. The push against racism has been going on in the United States since its birth in 1776. Who fought against this racism? A man bearing a rifle proudly served his country and all of those affected by racism. We shouldn’t be hiding from our past; it only shows the heightening hysteria in our society. While we continue to strive for equality, we wrongly attempt to wipe out our history because it makes us feel “safe”.

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