My Facebook friends are once again on the warpath. What has their knickers in a wad this time? It's those goofy Native Americans complaining about sport team mascots again. You know, like the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, or my favorite ball team: the Atlanta Braves. My friends just don't get what's to be offended about, and frankly, the consensus is, if they're not offended by it, no one should be.
My great-grandmother was Cherokee, but I've never considered myself American Indian. Other than reading several books about the Cherokee, I've never gotten involved in any of it. I did plan once to attend a rain dance, but it was cancelled due to inclement weather.
But I get it. From the time Columbus arrived in 1492 until the year 1900, 95 percent of the American Indians in the USA were killed either by disease brought by the white man, or directly by white soldiers. Men, women, children, and babies were killed, tortured, raped, as they were removed from their homes and forced to live a sub-human existence on reservations. The horror of the Trail of Tears alone is unimaginable.
So, yeah, I understand why some of them might be upset that the one thing they were left with - their identity -- was also taken to be used as a profitable logo for several professional sporting teams.
One friend argued that Washington's mascot is an honor to the Native Americans. But shouldn't Native Americans get to decide for themselves what is or is not an honor? Would an expansion team called the Nashville Negros be an honor to African Americans? Would a soccer team in Germany called the Berlin Jews be an honor to the Jewish community?
All of my friends on Facebook complaining about this are Southern white Christians, which is a group that rarely is offended by anything. That's sarcasm of course. While being offended might not have been invented in the Bible Belt, we sure as hell perfected it.
A few things that offend most Southern white Christians are: Pro-choice, birth control, Charles Darwin, anyone quoting Charles Darwin, evolution, science, scientists, science data, other people's welfare checks, taxing rich people, the global warming hoax, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists, Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, sex education, vegetarians, vegans, gun laws, gun limits, gun debates, democrats, anything Clinton, Stephen Colbert, John Stewart, David Letterman, Bill Maher, Rachel Maddow, the Dixie Chicks, gay people, gay couples, gay unions, gay marriage, gay weddings, gay pride, gay parades, gay books, gay magazines, gay movies, gay actors, gay supporters, the term "gay old time," and any words that come out of the mouth of President Obama.
Maybe that's why they are offended by people being offended - it's theirs. They built that. Even the friend, who said Native Americans should be honored by the Washington Redskins' name, added that people today get offended by the most trivial things. I know he's right, because this same friend was totally put out when I posted a picture of my Christmas present, an Iron Bowl shirt that read "Iron Bowl Beat Down." Being a Crimson Tide fan, that was too much for him to bear. So one shirt making his team look bad is okay to be offended by, but a sports team wearing jerseys and helmets that demean an entire culture... well, that's just overreacting.
Personally, the sport teams' mascots do not offend me. Neither was I offended by Al Jolson's Blackface. On the flipside, however, I can understand why some people were. These things just didn't hit me on a personal level.
Chances are the professional sports teams using Native American mascots will not change their names any time soon. Most of their paying fans would be more offended and when it comes to making decisions for companies like these, the almighty dollar trumps moral discernments.
But even if they did, if the Washington Redskins one day became the Washington Renegades, or the Atlanta Braves became the Atlanta Rebels, would that really be the end of the world as we know it?
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.