You have probably head that Cleveland’s baseball franchise is changing its name from the Indians to the Guardians. Progressives are hailing this as an acknowledgement that Native Americans/First Nations peoples are human beings, entitled to dignity, not caricatures to be stitched on a sports uniform. People have been demanding this change for years.
I like the choice of “Guardians” because it is uniquely Cleveland, an homage to the Art Deco Guardians of Traffic on the Hope Memorial Bridge. Other names suggested included the “Rockers” and “Rock” because the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland. “Spiders” was suggested since Cleveland once had a team bearing that name. I would have been happy with any of those, but I’m glad they selected “Guardians.” Besides, there will be inevitable references to the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
Now right-wingers are losing their feces – over a sports mascot. A SPORTS MASCOT, y’all. Who are “snowflakes” now? You howl about knee-jerk liberals, while your conservative knees jerk just as readily, if not even more so. China is threatening war, the global environment is going to hell in a handbasket, and you wig out over a baseball team changing its name. Since when is it bad to realize that reducing certain ethnicities and races to silly team symbols is disrespectful? Do you view this change as wokeness or political correctness run amok? Do you fear a slippery slope that will call for all human-based team names to change? Do you lose bladder control at the thought of the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Blackhawks, and the like having to find new designations?
The Washington Redskins finally agreed to change their appellation; it will be interesting to learn what name Washington’s franchise, which is now going by the dull-as-dishwater “Washington Football Team,” selects after next season. Ideas ranging from Griffins to Firefighters have come from a variety of sources. Whatever the decision is, let us consider just how far we want to go with eliminating offensive mascots. Where do you draw the line?
6 Responses to “SOUND OFF! 7/31/21”
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Good one, Freya! Typically, any change for which the conservatives do not bleed blue, is anathema for them. Change is anathema for them.
Indeed, Freya. And if they did come into power changing the name back would be one of the first things they would do … because “owning the libs” is what the base really cares about (it’s the oligarchs and pols who care about power and money.) Your column sent me back to Beau, because I knew he had said something no one else had (since he does know history), and here it is:
(The Spiders would have come in between the Lakeshores and the Bluebirds, or Blues, as Google has it. But nobody’s perfect.)
Mitch is right that change is anathema for them – but never more so than when the change pleases “the libs.”
I’ve always been a fan of Art Deco architecture, and had never heard of the four Guardian pylons on the Hope Memorial Bridge – but I’m glad you mentioned it! Very cool:
(And you’ll be “relieved” [no pun intended] to know that I would NOT lose bladder control if the Chiefs had to select a new nickname.)
You are also not a right winger, so I wouldn’t expect you to.
Thanks for the bridge photo! That is very impressive indeed. My thing is more Art Nouveau architecture, but I can appreciate Art Deco architecture – even more than other Art Deco forms, actually.
(I REALLY want to see that bridge! Like Joanne, I’m very attracted to Art Nouveau/Art Deco, especially the big public works projects!)
My ”gut” feeling about these former “Indians” is that nobody ever asked any Natives if they wanted their name attached to a sports team. Probably the same process as the Catholic invaders changing the name of the local tribes…without ever asking.
Does anyone besides myself remember the grotesque representation of Stanford’s ”Indians?” It was a cruel caricature with buck teeth…insulting at best. Luckily, Stanford’s students have a lot more fun being “The Trees”….their band is very entertaining.
Overturning those ”imperious White” decisions makes the conservatives all peckish, doesn’t it? Yay!
Thanks Freya. Words do matter indeed.
Perhaps some of the angst for those objecting is it adds to the evidence of the reality that the majority of the country and sports fans do not agree with them and never did, they have always had a shrinking minority viewpoint from long before demographics began changing.