KC Star demands the Chiefs stop the chop

[Hammock Parties]

****ing piece of shit fishwrap

Stop the offensive ‘Arrowhead Chop.’ It’s time for a new Chiefs tradition

link redacted

The image of former Kansas City Chiefs star Derrick Johnson banging the war drum at Arrowhead Stadium provided a stark reminder of the home team’s offensive and outdated tradition.

While Johnson led the prelude to last Sunday’s nationally-televised contest between the Chiefs and Green Bay, fans waved their arms back and forth in unison, banding together for the Tomahawk Chop.

It was a bad look for Kansas City — and an affront to Native Americans.

For years, the Chiefs organization has worked with Native American groups to address concerns about the negative stereotypes that have been on display at our home games. The team no longer promotes face paint or headdresses that disrespect the heritage or customs of Native Americans.

And Native Americans have blessed the use of the Chiefs’ war drum in accordance with their customs and rituals.

But the ever-present “Arrowhead Chop” at home games, along with Chiefs officials’ unwillingness to disavow the cheer, are evidence that the team still has more work to do.

“The Arrowhead Chop is part of the game-day experience that is really important to our fans,” said team President Mark Donovan.

But why? Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest places to play in the NFL, and there’s no doubt that Chiefs fans will bring the noise — with or without the chop.

The divisive chant is racially insensitive and entirely unnecessary.

“The chop itself is the most disgusting thing you can do in sports,” said Amanda Blackhorse of Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots, a national group opposed to the use of Native American images in sports.

The continued use of Native American mascots, nicknames and themes in sports dehumanizes Native Americans, Blackhorse said.

“I disagree with so much of what they are doing,” she said of the Chiefs organization’s continued encouragement of the chop. “At this point, they are ignoring the opposition. Shame on them for allowing racism to happen in that stadium.”

Elizabeth Glynn, the CEO of Travois, which helps create affordable housing and economic development opportunities for American Indians, has spoken to leaders of tribal nations and said most are against the use of any imagery that depicts Native Americans in a bad light. Travois works with more than 100 tribes in 22 states.

“No one wants to take away the enjoyment for fans,” Glynn said. “There are a lot of ways to have fun at games. You can do that without labeling and stereotyping an entire group of people.”

Of course, the Chiefs aren’t the only organization that has clung to this offensive celebration. The Tomahawk Chop came under fire earlier this month during the Major League Baseball playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves.

St. Louis pitcher Ryan Helsley of the Cherokee Nation was asked for his thoughts about the Braves’ game-day tradition. Hensley didn’t mince words, and the Atlanta organization immediately halted its foam tomahawks giveaway.

“I’m trying to use my voice to get awareness out there and try to help people in that way, to help people see another side, help people see our side,” Helsley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

While sports teams have paid lip service to racial sensitivity, the Washington Redskins have shown no inclination to change their distasteful and inappropriate nickname. Cleveland’s baseball team was painfully slow to phase out its mascot, which belittled Native Americans, Chief Wahoo.

The Chiefs have taken steps in the right direction, but their unwavering commitment to the Arrowhead Chop is confounding and disappointing. What purpose does it serve? And why continue the chant if it offends even a single Native American?

Chiefs fans are among the most loyal and enthusiastic in the NFL. And there’s no doubt they would fill any void left by the absence of the chop with a high-decibel celebration of our team.

November is National Native American Heritage Month. The Chiefs plan to celebrate the culture during a game against Oakland on Dec. 1. But the organization could do far more good if it used this month to reevaluate a practice that perpetuates stereotypes and dehumanizes an entire group.

It’s time for a new Chiefs tradition.

[Tribal Warfare]

****in Jeff Rosen, this mother****er needs to be fired

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

****in Jeff Rosen, this mother****er needs to be fired

Rosen isn't a member of the editorial board.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Rosen isn't a member of the editorial board.

He must support it or it wouldn't have gone through such a guise of anonymity since the unapologetic and venomous character assassination wasn't recieved well when Rosen refused to retract his reporters accusations.

[FloridaMan88]

Probably the best thing would be to counter the KC Star’s real motive with this editorial (click bait/attention) by not giving them the web traffic they so desperately want.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I’m not against the Chop. But it is curious that the Chiefs have been slowly toning down the Native American imagery for awhile now......and then they install the drum deck thing....

I'm not against the chop other than it is not original and makes us look like wannabe florida state fans which I AM hyper sensitive about.

I think the chop should go away but not because it is offensive. It isn't offensive. Most native americans that I interact with have zero problem with the Chiefs name or the chop. They dislike the Redskins and Cleveland Indians though. For good reason Chief Wahoo is a straight up 1940s racist caricature

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

He must support it or it wouldn't have gone through such a guise of anonymity since his unapologetic and venomous character assassination wasn't recieved well when refused to retract his reporters accusations.

This article is dumb, and he might like it, but that doesn't change the fact that he has nothing to do with it. It's like bitching about the door greeter at Walmart because there was a spill in the grocery section he didn't take care of.

[Hammock Parties]

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

I'm not against the chop other than it is not original and makes us look like wannabe florida state fans which I AM hyper sensitive about.

I think the chop should go away but not because it is offensive. It isn't offensive. Most native americans that I interact with have zero problem with the Chiefs name or the chop. They dislike the Redskins and Cleveland Indians though. For good reason Chief Wahoo is a straight up 1940s racist caricature

The controversy is dumb. Nobody should be telling fans how to be a fan or to celebrate.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by SuperChief

It's funny reading all the "outrage culture" blasting while nearly everyone in here is outraged about this take by the Star. Truly hilarious.

Seriously.

"These mother****ing pussy ass bitch ****wad ****s are just teaching all the pussy kids in our pussy liberal schools to be SJW bitches. I'm ****ing outraged by somebody being offended by 70 thousand drunk rich tone-deaf white people chanting in the name of 'honoring' Native Americans." - 90% of CP

[KCBOSS1]

Some of these perpetually offended people groups don't represent all of their kind and are like people who are hyper touchy and offended at every compliment. Indians, Redskins, Chiefs, Vikings are a total compliment to Native Americans and the like... So is the tomahawk chop, war chant, drum beating.... etc. Stop accommodating these folks... there is no end to their offense.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by KCBOSS1

Some of these perpetually offended people groups don't represent all of their kind and are like people who are hyper touchy and offended at every compliment. Indians, Redskins, Chiefs, Vikings are a total compliment to Native Americans and the like... So is the tomahawk chop, war chant, drum beating.... etc. Stop accommodating these folks... there is no end to their offense.

Seriously? You think Chief Wahoo and "Redskins" are compliments?

[srvy]

The chop looks more like a Karate chop to me. Oh shit a whole new race to be offended at Arrowhead.

[notorious]

I don't really give a shit about the chop. **** the bloody twats for being fake offended by it.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The controversy is dumb. Nobody should be telling fans how to be a fan or to celebrate.

You should celebrate by going to the game in blackface

[Giant Octopodes]

Originally Posted by Mama Hip Rockets

Seriously? You think Chief Wahoo and "Redskins" are compliments?

Yes? I mean, mascots are things you are emulating, with desirable characteristics. No one wants to play for the Portland Butterflies, for example. To say that the "Redskins" are a portrayal of anything other than something fierce, strong, terrifying to face in battle, and something whose characteristics are to be strived for, is disingenuous. Now, one might argue it is dehumanizing since so many mascots are animals (real or mythical) but that's only if you believe the athletes are sub human, since again they're trying to emulate the desirable characteristics of the mascot in question.

Is it poorly implemented and clumsy, and potentially disrespectful to a culture who is much more than simply their warrior caste? Of course. But that doesn't change the fact that it's a compliment to the ferocity of their warrior caste.

If another nation, whether China, Russia, North Korea, or whatever, conquered and then genocided the folks of the United States, then later had the "Americans" as a sports team as a recognition of their ferocity in battle, the terrible thing there would be their genocide of the folks of the United States, not the name of their sports team. Do you get that? Do you really think that the Washington Sports Team named themselves after something they felt was to be mocked, as a way to make fun of themselves? It would be like Detroit naming their team the House Cats. Do you really feel that is what has happened here?