A little fresh bigotry by endorsing race-based nicknames and mascots, here, not to mention other outbreaks here, and here, and soon we'll be the heart of the new Confederacy.
By the way: It's regrettable that Elkhorn State Sen. Neal Kedzie, (R), is among the sponsors of the bill to permit Indian names again to be used by school sports teams.
Some history and context here.
[Fresh background for doubters, added, here.]
What is the point of going out of one's way to offend?
Isn't it enough that some tribes or native people have made that clear?
Haven't we beaten them down far enough?
Another of the co-sponsors is New Berlin's State Sen. Mary Lazich, (R), whose chief of staff has compared DNR employees to Nazis, and suggested some liberals are "matzo-skinned."
So no surprise there.
But Kedzie? His official website notes:
"A trademark of Senator Kedzie’s legislative career has been his ability to build consensus among generally polarized groups. This strength has led to the passage of prominent legislation, which is gaining national and even international attention.What a disappointment: the GOP bloc in the legislature has really moved to the right, and the moderates have caved in.
"Haven't we beaten them down far enough?" -J Rowen
ReplyDeleteApparently taking their lead from the Federal level Republicans, the horribly despicable actions by the Republican bigots of Wisconsin can't be much of a real surprise to anyone.
After all, when US House Republicans want to say to women that simply saying, "no," is not enough to determine that one has been raped,
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/republican-plan-redefine-rape-abortion
the want-to-be self-righteous home contingent, must not have wanted to be left out of the lime-light for not being equally as repulsive.
nonquixote
Oh, maybe I was being a bit too harsh in my previous comment.
ReplyDeleteOne can never be sure, but, maybe this is (Obama Style) eleventh-dimensional chess being copied by Republicans, minor payback to attorneys around the state, a token effort to help keep a few of them employed after all that serious, improving business climate, and job creating, tort reform.
nonquixote
nonquixote
It goes along with the racist anti-immigrant and "put obstacles to minorities, college students and the elderly" voter ID bills being introduced as Wisconsin continues its slide toward becoming "Mississippi of the north."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it's fair to Mississippi to make that comparison. It looks like we are breaking new ground right here.
ReplyDeleteIndian mascot names were adopted to honor them not to disparage them. It was only when some professional victim discovered that they could get some kind of recognition by claiming that they were some how affected that this silliness was given credit by equally silly liberals.
ReplyDeleteThe one comparison which is accurate, however, is the DNR nazi storm troopers.
Which Indian mascot name which has been eliminated is now going to be restored?? I am guessing that there are none.
ReplyDeleteTo the last Anon:
ReplyDeletehttp://walworthcountytoday.com/news/2010/nov/30/kedzie-joins-effort-repeal-race-based-school-nickn/
Anonymous commenter is quite ignorant about very real damage done by race-based nicknames. I don't think this is even smart politics for the GOP to try to allow Indian mascots and nicknames. With the Internet, I am sure many people have had their eyes opened by first person testimony regarding the impact of these mascots and nicknames, especially on young students.
ReplyDeleteWhy is using "Native American" names/mascots looked as wrong? It is an honor to have one's name used in naming a facility, park or street. Why is this any different?
ReplyDeleteCheck out this information:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/indian-mascots.aspx