Should the Chiefs change their name for more Respect?

[Deberg_1990]

Well....should they?

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/24/4574052/poll-should-chiefs-and-redskins.html




Read more Yael T. Abouhalkah


But what about the Kansas City Chiefs? Should the team alter its name, too?

In a lengthy report released this month, the National Congress of American Indians indicated its displeasure once again with the Redskins name. But it added some pretty tough language about other major league teams in other cities that have long ago adopted Native American names for their squads.

The Chiefs, in fact, were among those singled out for shame.

As the Congress noted:

“Often citing a long-held myth by non-Native people that ‘Indian’ mascots ‘honor Native people,’ American sports businesses such as the NFL’s Washington ‘Redsk*ns’ and Kansas City ‘Chiefs,’ MLB’s Cleveland ‘Indians’ and Atlanta ‘Braves,’ and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, continue to profit from harmful stereotypes originated during a time when white superiority and segregation were common place.”

“Each of these professional sports businesses attempt to establish a story of honoring Native peoples through the names or mascots; however, each one — be it through logos or traditions (e.g., fight songs, mascots, human impersonators and fan culture) — diminishes the place, status and humanity of contemporary Native citizens.

“What is true about many of the brand origin stories is that team owners during the birth of these brands hoped to gain financially from mocking Native identity. As a result, these business perpetuated racial and political inequity. Those who have kept their logos and brands continue to do so.”

The report goes on to note that hundreds of universities and high schools have changed their Indian-related names.

And the Congress pointed out that — since the Chiefs were born in 1963 — “no professional teams have established new mascots that use racial stereotypes in their names and imagery.”

The point: The teams found out long ago this practice was offensive and stopped adding new names with American Indian references.

The further point: The professional teams still using the names — such as the Chiefs — are being offensive to Indians as well.

What do you think?

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/24/4574052/poll-should-chiefs-and-redskins.html#storylink=cpy

[WhitiE]

Nope

[The Franchise]

What is this "Redsk*ns" bullshit?

[MTG#10]

If they didn't want us naming our sports franchises after them the pussies should have fought harder.









Disclaimer: Im 1/4 Blackfoot so I'm allowed to say that.

[Bugeater]

What fucking racial stereotypes are in our name or imagery? Hell I'm offended by the author's last name, he clearly intentionally spelled it that way so no white person could pronounce it.

[Easy 6]

The Kansas City Respect

[Deberg_1990]

What fucking racial stereotypes are in our name or imagery? Hell I'm offended by the author's last name, he clearly intentionally spelled it that way so no white person could pronounce it.

I can't say for certain because I'm not Native American....but the Arrowhead maybe? Warpaint the horse? Do they still have that?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Aries Walker]

The litmus test is to apply it to a different ethnicity and see how it looks. By that standard, "Redskins" (which is roughly analogous to "Darkies" or "Yellows") is atrocious, as is the Cleveland Indians' unbelievably racist Chief Wahoo character. "Indians" is on the fence - some Native Americans don't like it at all, but some (most notably Russell Means) actually prefer it.

"Seminoles" or "Blackhawks" are like "Celtics" or "Spartans" - they should be OK, if treated with cultural sensitivity, and preferably with the backing and support of the tribe for which they are named - as FSU, incidentally, has. "Braves" are a term for a warrior caste within the culture, and is therefore on the same level as "Vikings". And "Chiefs" are no worse than "Kings", "Monarchs", or "Generals".

We could probably do without the tomahawk chop and the giant feathered headdresses, but Native Americans are an important part of our cultural history and identity, and we can't just pretend they're not there, or forbid their representation in our national sports.

[KcMizzou]

The litmus test is to apply it to a different ethnicity and see how it looks. By that standard, "Redskins" (which is roughly analogous to "Darkies" or "Yellows") is atrocious, as is the Cleveland Indians' unbelievably racist Chief Wahoo character. "Indians" is on the fence - some Native Americans don't like it at all, but some (most notably Russell Means) actually prefer it.

"Seminoles" or "Blackhawks" are like "Celtics" or "Spartans" - they should be OK, if treated with cultural sensitivity, and preferably with the backing and support of the tribe for which they are named - as FSU, incidentally, has. "Braves" are a term for a warrior caste within the culture, and is therefore on the same level as "Vikings". And "Chiefs" are no worse than "Kings", "Monarchs", or "Generals".

We could probably do without the tomahawk chop and the giant feathered headdresses, but Native Americans are an important part of our cultural history and identity, and we can't just pretend they're not there, or forbid their representation in our national sports.Exactly. Well said.

[Bob Dole]

What ****ing racial stereotypes are in our name or imagery? Hell I'm offended by the author's last name, he clearly intentionally spelled it that way so no white person could pronounce it.

They should just change the name to "Kansas City" and keep everything else the same.

Except for the moronic tomahawk chop thing in which Bob Dole refuses to participate.

[CrazyPhuD]

WTH is wrong with the KC Chiefs...the team is named after the mayor....there is a WOLF for the mascot and the stadium is named after a bottle of water!

[MotherfuckerJones]

Kansas City TrapGames

[JoeyChuckles]

Kansas City Kings football team it is.

[Sfeihc]

Kudos to you Bob Dole. The Chop has to go. It's been dumb for 20+ years.

[TEX]

If they didn't want us naming our sports franchises after them the pussies should have fought harder.

This all day long.

[Mike in SW-MO]

Well you know arrowheads were invented by the North American aborigines and no other peoples used bows anywhere an the planet.

[CrazyPhuD]

What if Cleveland changes their mascot from Chief Wahoo to Chief Apu, would that make it less offensive?

http://mcgarnagle.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/misc-apu.png

[saphojunkie]

Kansas City TrapGames

I :LOL:'d

[saphojunkie]

Redskins is unbelievably racist and offensive.

Change that shit so people leave the non-offensive Chiefs out of this whole mess.

[Rain Man]

What if Cleveland changes their mascot from Chief Wahoo to Chief Apu, would that make it less offensive?



It would be nice to honor our Asian Indian immigrants by changing all of the Native American names to Indian names.

The Kansas City Rajahs
The Washington Punjabis
The Cleveland, well, Indians
The Atlanta Untouchables


That could work.

[Pablo]

Chiefs isn't fucking offensive. Redskins, yeah. I get it. We don't have a cartoon-y indian mascot or really incorporate anything Native American into our game day experience besides the fucking horse ridden by a WASP.

[Gonzo]

Jesus, fuck off already. Here's a few blankets, assholes.

[Aries Walker]

Just because I'm a historian specializing in just this arena, I have to throw out there that diseases - over which the Europeans had no control, and the Natives had no defense - wiped out about 90% before the Mayflower even landed, so how hard they fought didn't really matter. They actually fought amazingly well.

Also, no Americans ever gave away any smallpoxy blankets. That happened one time, and it was the British.

Okay, I got that off my chest. Carry on.

[Halfcan]

The next person that bitches about the Chiefs name should be Scalped.

[Halfcan]

So Native Americans have no problem exploiting their heritage by putting their names on Casinos- but on Sports teams which they don't make money- they are insulted?

[Brock]

Chiefs has little to do with native americans. The word is french in origin, and native americans didn't invent arrowheads. Don't even lump this team in with the redskins.

[Bugeater]

I can't say for certain because I'm not Native American....but the Arrowhead maybe? Warpaint the horse? Do they still have that?
Posted via Mobile Device
What the hell is stereotypical about an arrowhead?

[Halfcan]

[QUOTE=Brock;10120983]Chiefs has little to do with native americans. The word is french in origin, and native americans didn't invent arrowheads. Don't even lump this team in with the redskins.[/QUOTE

Welcome to Clovis Point stadium and the Kansas City Indigenous Humans.

[Otter]

This is kinda off the wall but I was watching old Bugs Bunny cartoons with my nieces and nephews. One of the skits I saw was where a husband buys his wife a new coat and takes her for a walk in the woods during buck season.

It's dear fur and when she puts the hood up it has antlers. We all know the undertone to that little joke. It's ****ing hilarious, but for some reason it can't be shown on TV anymore.

Quit being so easily offended, get a life.

The answer is NO!

[LiveSteam]

Yael T. Abouhalkah
aaaaaaaaa huh

[Mr. Laz]

as i told the author of this column ...

The Chiefs are named after Harold Roe Bartle. His nickname was 'The Chief' ... nothing to do with Native Americans

Their mascot isn't Native American related ... KC Wolf

If you want to go after something it would be the Arrowhead in the logo and stadium name. That said, i hardly think the word arrowhead has any negative connotation. You can't control what the fans wear or chant.

I guess you could go after the name 'Warpaint' for the horse but the rider is not dressed in Native American attire or anything.

[Deberg_1990]

What the hell is stereotypical about an arrowhead?

Not sure it's a stereotype....but might have something to do with this paragraph taken from the story above:


“Each of these professional sports businesses attempt to establish a story of honoring Native peoples through the names or mascots; however, each one — be it through logos or traditions (e.g., fight songs, mascots, human impersonators and fan culture) — diminishes the place, status and humanity of contemporary Native citizens. "

[Aries Walker]

What the hell is stereotypical about an arrowhead?Well, in this part of the world, the Europeans didn't use them. Plus, the wavy edges and shape say it's a Native American stone arrowhead. It's not much of a stretch.

And yeah, the word 'chief' is European, but so is almost word we've slapped on them - including, by the way, both 'Native' and 'American', where 'Indian' is from, well, India. There are even plenty of tribal names which are European (Crow, Blackfoot, Nez Perce). It's a thing.

And most Native American casinos don't have the tribal names on them.

[Halfcan]

Well, in this part of the world, the Europeans didn't use them. Plus, the wavy edges and shape say it's a Native American stone arrowhead. It's not much of a stretch.

And yeah, the word 'chief' is European, but so is almost word we've slapped on them - including, by the way, both 'Native' and 'American', where 'Indian' is from, well, India. There are even plenty of tribal names which are European (Crow, Blackfoot, Nez Perce). It's a thing.

And most Native American casinos don't have the tribal names on them.

Drive through Oklahoma-everyone has it. And all the signs for miles as well.

[HonestChieffan]

And people wonder why newspapers can't sell. The guy is a moron.

[Bugeater]

Well, in this part of the world, the Europeans didn't use them. Plus, the wavy edges and shape say it's a Native American stone arrowhead. It's not much of a stretch.
Except for the part where it's not negative or derogatory in any way. It's symbolism and nothing more.

[Aries Walker]

Anyway, I don't think the way to argue this is to deny that the team has anything to do with Native Americans. On the contrary, we should embrace it, but it should be an homage, portrayed with respect, which I think it already is.

If the ownership really wanted to take it to the next level, invite some Kaw or Missouri (or even Osage or Sioux) Indians to put on a cultural show before each game, similar to how the New Zealand All-Blacks have the Maori haka before their matches. Institute some pride. People of all kinds would eat that s*** up.

[Aries Walker]

Except for the part where it's not negative or derogatory in any way. It's symbolism and nothing more.
Total agreement.

[scho63]

The Kansas City Saucy BBQ's
The Kansas City Tornadoes
The Kansas City Cherry Mashers
The Kansas City Hogs
The Kansas City Disappointers
The Kansas City QB Draftdodgers
The Kansas City Fountaineers
The Kansas City Sprinters

None seem very respectful to me!

[Discuss Thrower]

They can stay the chiefs and keep colors if they switch to fireman imagery

[gosampel]

They are going after the name Redskins

[Cheater5]

Yael T. Abouhalkah
aaaaaaaaa huh

Yael T. Abouhalkah should change his name to "He who sniffs Cheater5's nuts".

He most likely writes his editorials on a lined Big Chief Tablet.

[Ace Gunner]

gosh darn idiots FTW

[Garcia Bronco]

Chiefs aren't named after you NCIA. It's named after a man.

[Garcia Bronco]

Native Americans didn't invent the Arrowhead either. Attaching metal to the end of sticks, spears or arrows, goes back into ancient history.

[MMXcalibur]

Rename Kansas City to the "Brave".
That should shut up the pussy who's trying to change the national anthem at Arrowhead.