Native Americans Are People NOT Mascots--Why Clinton Schools Need to CHANGE!!

stop judging people and let them live how they want to sorry to be so truthfull bout it

I see both sides of this story. The nake is an offensive name and the pain on the faces can be offensive as well. however, I don't think the people are trying ot be offensive they have pride in the history of the land and although they may not know the significance in the paint they know it was part of the native american history. I thin kthat this should bring up conversation and bring people to understand one another not bring up hate (again) I have read very hateful racist remarks made by both sides and that is not the way ot make your point nothing gets heard.

Guess what?  Actions speak louder than words.  YOU don't get to evaluate whether you are racist or not.  Leave that one to the experts--or at least someone who has experience with it (not someone who grew up in an almost exclusively white community). 

Hmmmm, I was a Tecumseh Indian and my kids were Clinton Redskins and we are all well adjusted, proud, productive Americans who respect everything and everyone. Oh and can you believe it....were not racist either??????   Can you believe that we went to schools with mascots such as Indians and Redskins but were not racists.  Wow, crazy!

This is all a bunch of crap. with people who dont have anything better to do so they threaten to go to a highschool baseball/softball game and protest for something that they will never win. Get over it its never gunna change.

For those of you who think it doesn't affect your kids, you're sadly mistaken.  Ask any 8 year old what an Indian looks like.  They will probably say something like, "a tall guy with brown skin with feathers on his head."  Is that an accurate description of Native Americans?  No, it's not.  Ask any 8 year old kids what Indians act like.  They will probably say that they ride around on their horse and kill people with their bow and arrows and tomahawks."  That is far from how the Native Americans lived.  So by having Native Americans portraited in this light by using them as mascots, you're teaching the kids to perceive Native Americans in a way that is inaccurate. You're teaching the kids that stereotyping is ok.  If you think you're not teaching them to stereotype, then what are you teaching them about Native Americans?  If you say you aren't teaching them anything, you're missing the point.  If you saw an inaccurate portrayal of another minority, wouldn't you try to explain it to your kids to teach them that it's not right?  If you would just let it go and not use it as a learning experience, I feel really sorry for your kids.

 If you think the term redskin means bravery and pride and is not a racial slur, what would you say if I taught your kids that calling an African-American "colored" was ok because it just means that something has color and isn't a racial slur.  Give me a break.  Just because some Native Americans aren't offended by it is irrelevant.  There are some African-American who are not offended by the term "negro" but would you go around using that word freely?

Watch how you react to this situation.  Some of the responses are making your village look closed-minded and ignorant, which it's not.  But then again teaching people to stereotype might just backfire when people don't want to send their kids to Clinton (school of choice) due to how they handle this situation.  At the end of the day, what's more important; how your actions affect the lives of others or what your school mascot is?  People don't want to see it changed because they want to "hurt" Clinton, they want to see it changed because it's the right thing to do.

Clinton must have done something to this reporter from Tecumseh,,he just loves to make sure  he gets everything that is for the Geiger girls and against Clinton,,,wow real fair reporting ,,,I would not buy your paper for anything...

Also we are not teaching our kids racism,,they never even thought of it  that way until these girls started pushing it down our throats as to how horrible we all are. The kids and community show nothing but respect and pride for our mascot..

They are being taught racism now by this group because now they are offended by being called racists, skinheads, and worse by the people from this group. and calling in the media to get their 15 minutes of fame..I don't care what they do we will always be REDSKIN fans and be proud of our mascot.

And then to come to our school and smoke on school property and throw your cigarette butts everywhere,,that is so respectful too I guess..we are proud of our mascot but now I am beginning to rethink that ,,because you are showing your ignorance by acting like you do...so maybe we do need to change and get a mascot we can be PROUD of . not one that acts like you do when you don't get your way.

Any luck with the Milan Big Reds school district?    What about the Tecumseh Indians?  I would rather have my land back then be a mascot!  There isn't anything racist about being called a Viking, Spartan, etc.   It takes a "union" of people or lawsuits to get things changed.  Our society feels guilty and honors Black History, Spanish History, shouldn't there be a month and holiday for Indians like other groups of people.  There are plenty of wild animal names out there, no disrespect to our beautiful wildlife.  We should use them since we are making them extinct!

Yeah I heard a pact of lions were protesting at Ford Field because they want their logo changed to for being racist. I just think this group is going way to far, if anything be proud that you are recognized and your history gets to live on. Why do people pick Mascots? They pick them to stand for something like having pride, fighting strong, honoring people from their location etc. etc. They just don't pick them randomly because it sounds cool or everyone would have a chuck norris or rainbow colored zebra.

Our MCARSM group certainly has a good mission statement!!!!  Please read it.   Correcting the economy and finding people work is unfortunately beyond our present framework of concerns.  Framing this problem for the public to understand is our right and duty.  Vikings and Fighting Irish mascots can be the responsibility of Europeans.  Most of the Indian mascots were invented by Europeans who loved us so much they came up with war drums, war chants, war songs, war dances, war cries, war bonnets, war paint , war tomahawks while riding on their war horses.  This mascot problem is a nightmarish- and warlike- stew of ignorance, racist tendencies with a huge remembrance of those INDIAN WARS and those smiling faces on all those warriors !!!!    Half naked men,  big noses, buck teeth,  6 foot tall cigar store Indians in school hallways and  frozen images of men with no real tribal identity and no real names and  in incorrect dress and headgear on sterile school walls honors no one.  All children are hurt by these stereotypes no matter what their heritage is and if not stopped it continues on.            Most of the people writings these posts have no idea what is going on at these school board meetings.  We have handed out tribal resolutions denouncing these mascots.  We have discussed what is wrong with the R******  name ad nauseum.  School boards and superintendants are supposed to take the moral high ground and continue to teach the community if necessary.  We have a community that has figuratively circled the wagons against the Indians about whom they know nothing.  They have even had the audacity to claim we are sneaking around and are not of native heritage.  Someone said we mumble when we talk.  Our  voices have filled this school board room.  We have had stones thrown at us.  A group of kids drove by and yelled "White is right" at us.  We have been called all the nastiest names.  Even though our cause is being played out all over the country we have been told that we are outsiders and that  we need to go home.  America is our home.  One visitor at a school board meeting started to laugh when I mentioned the Native American Holocaust.  These examples inspire no feelings of honor for us.           All of these laptop warriors with their heightened sense of bravery and demands for justice can do a simple thing.  They can start attending these school board meetings and listen to us and quit hiding behind their laptops like the unthinking people they really are.  We have given a ton of information to the school board members.  The truth is that for the most part you know very little about your history and nothing about our history.  Except for the war part. You are not having a fight with your neighbors.  We are a distinct people with our own languages, values, histories and memories.  We are always looking for respect between peoples and for peace.  We see the interconnectedness of all Creation.  Read what Chief Wilma Mankiller thought about these mascots.  She has just walked on as we say.  She touched many lives including mine I am proud to say.   We are not mascots.   Niaweh kowa for your time. 

  It amazes me how resistant people are to hearing that something is offensive to a marginalized racial group. The very idea that something might be racially or culturally offensive makes people indignant, defensive and righteous in their claims that the world has gotten too "P.C."

  The implication is that if mainstream white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant society doesn't find a thing beyond the pale, then it is acceptable, no matter what anybody else says, that the feelings of the majority of Native Americans are not as important as their intentions. If they deem their actions are well-meaning, then their consequences doesn't matter. They don't want to be bothered to change - even if change is painless for them - to spare the Native peoples from pain.

  People who shout us down by their indignant and uneducated comments are rarely interested why something might be offensive.

  Some people have commented that "they're not offended by or  don't see anything wrong with the "Redskins" name, they're "honoring" us." Well, we're NOT honored by this racial epithet, we're NOT honored by these mascots and fabricated images of who you think Native Americans really are. We have our own ways of honoring our people and it's not on the 50-yd. line at half-time. 

  The offensiveness is felt by those being imitated, not by those doing the imitating.

  This mascot and logo issue, not only in Clinton but at all the other high schools, universities and in pro sports, at its core, is not strictly about race, it's about Human Decency and Respect.

  In a community such as Clinton, MI with very little diversity (1.5%), you are all challenged to understand different cultures and what others might find offensive.

  Those of you willing to listen and to understand why Native Americans find these mascots, logos, images, nicknames, fight songs, facial paint etc. offensive should help lead the effort to erase the word "Redskins" from everyday vocabulary. It doesn't require the Superintendent's endorsement, it only requires that thoughtful people take thoughtful action. Native Americans Are People - Not Mascots...for America's fun and games.

Miigwech to Nimkiikwew for her continued fight for Native peoples rights. I would like to add just a few lines to further our cause. Hitler studied the European's conquest and the genocidal attempt on the original people of this continent, the Nishnabek. It's a proven fact that most of his ideas came from the Europeans trek westward. So congratulations to the community of Clinton for breeding continued generational intolerance. You are hurting your community and most of all your children. Miigwech for letting me speak

Both of you sound just like the rest of the people who have not had any education on this issue.  I have a question for you ?  Why is it you think you have to honor a Native American Spiritual Leader in this way, so that your enjoyment  is satisfied at football games etc. and the students at pep assemblies.  Why is it you do not HONOR your own Minster, Rabbi, Priest or Religious/Spiritual leader ?  Why is it people have to always try to be another culture  or race and can not be their own race ?  Most Europeans want to act like the black,  yellow or red race, but not their own.  What makes you think we do not do other issues ?  What makes you think we do not have lives ?  and yes according to the 2000 Census I am sure 90% of you do want to keep the mascot, logo and nickname because you are WHITE.  What cant you get it ?  Tribes here in Michigan have stated They do not want you to use Native American images in your public schools, they have written resolutions against this issue.  Redskins in not a nickname is a racial slur!!!!

Hitler killed the Jewish people and skinned those people.  He made lamp shades out of their skins..Would you call a public school the "Lampskins"?  No....I am sure the Jewish people would not stand for that or appreciate it.  so Why would you call your school the Redskins?  the U.S. Government put bounties on Native Americans and they where killed for their skins, same as Hitler did the Jew's.  The U.S. Government made Bridle ranges and Chaps out of those Native American skins.  This is documented.  Think about it, alot of babies died to be Redskins

Think about this.  Tecumseh was a great leader of his people .  He traveled all over the area uniting his people for what reason.?   To get ride of the WHITE people who were here stealing our land ,murdering and SKINING our people.  Think about that one?   

Finally, you got it right.  People are not mascots!!!  We are a living , breathing culture  of people who are here today.  We do not need to be made into mascots and logos.  You do not need to honor our past, WE ARE HERE NOW, in the present.  We are not a thing of the past.   You are mocking our religion when students and adults put spiritual ceremonial paint on their faces, you are mocking our Spiritual people when you use those images with ceremonial head dress and face paint.  It is easy, STOP mocking our religion.,  Put your own religious leader on your gym floors to stomp all over, put them all over your school so students can write their names all over them,. In fact, go ahead and put your religious leader up high on the gym wall so he looks like he is flying thru the sky, to maybe your heaven.  Mocking peoples religion is just wrong.  Some of you call yourselves Christians,  Is this what you are taught?  I do not believe that your God teaches you to call other people names and mock their religions.  The first intent was not being hurtful when these images where being used or where they?  You know now they are hurtful because many people have been writing to your school board, posting comments everywhere and still you do not stop using these religious images.  Someone just a few weeks ago posted something about church and state in public schools, well this is something to think about people.

Spartans,Viking and Giants are not my people.  I guess that question should be asked to those people who culture they are using, If they are offended.   Are Giants a culture of people ??  what makes a Giant a Giant?

Clinton and other schools need to change their Native American images to some other images that do not offend a living, breathing  culture of people .  OH! and believe me , we have alot to worry about, just like the rest of you.  But you see,  this is what this issue does, it stereotypes us because Indians do not have anything better to do.

OH and the other thing is Clinton needs to stop carrying these racist images out side of Clinton, to other towns, cities, villages etc. exposing other people who find it offensive.  This is not something that stays in Clinton, Michigan. 

Are you kidding me???? They are called Tecumseh Indians and Clinton Redskins not out of disrespect but because of the history of this area! Its common knowledge that these areas were once used by the Indians! In fact Tecumseh is named after an Indian!!!! I'm mean, come one!!!!! This is not racism, its part of our history! This is just a way of preserving that history! Goodness!!!!!! People are not mascots??? What about the Spartans, the Vikings, or even the Giants, should these teams have to change their names and logos too? Because after all, a person's a person no matter how tall! Goodness!!! Don't you people have more important things to worry about!

GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!  THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT IN THIS WORLD, EVEN IN THIS STATE THAN A HIGH SCHOOLS MASCOT.  MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN OUT OF A JOB OF ALMOST A YEAR.  HOW ABOUT YOU FOCUS SOME OF YOUR STUPID ENERGY ON BRINGING SOME JOBS INTO THE STATE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CHANGE SOMETHING THAT 90% OF THIS TOWNS PEOPLE ARE FINE WITH.  EVEN IF YOU DO CHANGE THE MASCOT AND LOGO, I WILL ALWAYS BE A CLINTON REDSKIN ALUMNI!