Another Stereotype of the Month entry:
Another Stereotype of the Month entry:
A correspondent sent the following letter to the editor:
Sun, 3 Sep 2000
Sioux governments don't want honor
Grand Forks Herald
GRAND FORKS—House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, suggests the controversy over UND's symbol and nickname is nothing more than politically correct "fantasy stuff" ("Armey wants alma mater UND to keep Fighting Sioux nickname," Page 1A, Aug. 31).
The concerns people are raising are "nonsense," he said: "We are honoring a great, proud people, who were, indeed, great warriors."
No mention that almost all "Sioux" tribal governments (governments he should be especially aware of, given their sovereign status) have issued resolutions asking UND to change the name and symbol.
Armey's dismissive stance toward the opinions of the very people he claims to honor illustrates a deeper problem and reveals who is actually living in a fantasy world: to insist that one is "honoring" a people by ridiculing their serious concerns about the name/logo is the height of hypocrisy.
Lucy Ganje
©2000 Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald
Rob's comment
Armey's claim that the Sioux were "great warriors" may be true, but it's also stereotypical. They were also great lovers, healers, and artists, not just great warriors. Portraying them in one way diminishes their complexity, their reality.
Related links
Smashing people: the "honor" of being an athlete
Fighting the Fighting Sioux
Team names and mascots
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