Hypocrisy in Honoring Native People

[Cliff Krainik]

In the OPEN DISCUSSION - Topic - Re: NFL WASHINGTON REDSKINS-AN INSULT

On October 18th, 2004, 12:15pm Larry Koschkee wrote the following -

"I could not resist forwarding this thread on to a few close Indian friends to show them how quickly this message board fell from a respected educational site to the discussion of a human's skin and its perceived status in society."

If you had been paying attention, Larry, you would have noted that the discussions were about racism, stereotypes, and the trivialization of Native American heritage.

L.K. continued -

"Some of the responses could not be inserted here because of women and children in the audience, however here are two uncensored responses from whom I will call Indian number 1 and Indian number 2."

I showed your comments to a number of women at a cocktail party in Georgetown [inside the beltway] last night. Several of them responded with remarks about your skewed sexist view of the world - they asked me why "Tarzan" felt it necessary to protect the little ladies?

L.K. continued -


"Indian #1 ... Attoney-at-law inside the Washington belt-way

Our land was taken from us and our people have almost been forgotten, now this Krainik and others want to take away some of the only recognition we have left.

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If it were not for sports teams we would probably not occur in the consciousness of the white man. The names, emblems and logos of sports teams are an everlasting testimony to the once fierce, proud spirit of Nations in America."




L.K. continued -

"Indian # 2 Wildlife Specialist - U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Helena, MT

What foolish advocacy is this honky and political friends going to turn to next? Are they going to take away my Red Man tobacco? ... Spit!!"


Providing that your friend's social activities are not injurious to anyone else, I would not dream of denying him/her their right to self destruction - its Nature's magnificent way of thinning the herd. I would suggest however, that your friend refrain from practicing his/her charming habit while on the Ferris Wheel.

We have read the remarks of Larry's close Indian friends expressing their opinions about the appropriateness of using pejorative names and symbols to honor Native Americans.

So, who says otherwise? Who thinks that the appellation REDSKINS is offensive and inappropriate for the name of a sport team?

Here is a List of Organizations Endorsing the Retirement of "Indian" Sports Team Tokens -

Advocates for American Indian Children (California)
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
American Counseling Association
American Indian Language and Culture Education Board
American Indian Mental Health Association (Minnesota)
American Indian Movement
American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center of San Bernardino County
American Indian Student Services at the Ohio State University
American Jewish Committee
Asian American Journalists Association
Associated Students Council of San Diego State University
Association on American Indian Affairs
BRIDGES - Building Roads Into Diverse Groups Empowering Students
Buncombe County Native American Intertribal Association (North Carolina)
Calvert Investment Group
Center for the Study of Sports in Society
Cincinnati Zapitista Coalition
COLOR - Community One Love One Race
Committee to End Cultural Genocide (St. Cloud State University)
Concerned American Indian Parents (Minnesota)
Council for Indigenous North Americans (University of Southern Maine)
Eagle and Condor Indigenous Peoples' Alliance
Governor's Interstate Indian Council
Fontana Native American Indian Center, Inc.
Georgia House of Representatives
Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
HONOR - Honor Our Neighbors Origins and Rights
Hutchinson Human Relations Commission
Illinois State University Student Government Association
Inter-Ethnic Children's Council (Los Angeles)
Inter-Faith Council on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes
(Composed of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muskogee (Creek), Cherokee, and Seminole Nations)
Juaneño Band of Mission Indians
Kansas Association for Native American Education
Latino Children's Action Council (Los Angeles)
Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs
Mascot Abuse San Francisco Bay Area
Medicine Wheel Intertribal Association (Louisiana)
Menominee Tribe of Indians (Wisconsin)
Michigan Civil Rights Commission
State of Michigan, State Board of Education
Minnesota Indian Education Association
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board
Minnesota State Board of Education
Modern Language Association
Morning Star Institute
NAACP
National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media
National Conference of Christians and Jews
National Conference for Community and Justice
National Congress of American Indians
National Education Association
National Indian Education Association
Native American Caucus of the California Democratic Party
Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio
Native American Journalists Association
Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs
New Hampshire State Board of Education
New York State Education Department
North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs
North Dakota Indian Education Association
North Dakota State University Student Senate
Ohio Center for Native American Affairs
Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative
Rainbow Coalition
San Bernardino/Riverside Counties Native American Community Council
Students Making All Races Tolerant (SMART)
Society of Indian Psychologists of the Americas
Southern California Indian Center
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
St. Cloud State University - American Indian Center
Tennessee Chapter of the National Coalition for the Preservation of Indigenous Cultures
Tennessee Native Veterans Society
Unified Coalition for American Indian Concerns, Virginia
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ
The United Indian Nations of Oklahoma
United Methodist Church
United States Commission on Civil Rights
Virginia American Indian Cultural Resource Center
Western North Carolina Citizens for an End to Institutionalized Bigotry
Wisconsin Indian Education Association
WIEA "Indian" Mascot and Logo Taskforce (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin State Human Relations Association
Youth "Indian" Mascot and Logo Taskforce (Wisconsin)

Cliff Krainik

[Larry Koschkee]

Mr. Krainik wrote: If you had been paying attention, Larry, you would have noted that the discussions were about racism, stereotypes, and the trivilizations of Native American heritage.

To the contrary, Mr. Krainik, I have been paying attention and the discussion of the color of human's skin and its perceived status in society is about racism and stereotype.

Mr. Krainik wrote from another thread Open Discussion - Topic - re: NFL Washington Redskins- An Insult: I've sent Larry's posting to a few friends and when I hear from them I'll adress "White Shooter's" remarks.

In this thread Mr. Krainik wrote: I showed your comments to a number of women at a cocktail party in Georgetown [inside the beltway] last night. Several of them responded with remarks about your skewed sexist view of the world - they asked me why "Tarzan" felt it necessary to protect the little ladies.

Why Mr. Krainik that is the gentlemanly thing to do... protect the womenfolk. I was actually waiting to respond to the ladies at the cocktail party until I could consult with same back here in the heartland, but, alas no cocktail party on my immediate social calendar.

I am truly disappointed that your friends have not responded to my Indian friend's comments that were actually germane to your postings.

Mr. Krainik wrote: Providing that your friends social activities are not injurious to anyone else, I would not dream of denying him/her their right to self destruction - its Nature's mangnificent way of thinning the herd, I would suggest however, that your friend refrain from practicing his/her charming habit while on the Ferris Wheel.

I glad to see you would draw the line somewhere when advocating getting rid of Native American symbols. Red Man tobacco... Eh? Any other uses of Native American symbols that you would give your blessings to?

BTW, Indian #2 was speaking metaphorically.


Larry Koschkee - alias "Tarzan"... protect the women and children at all cost.

[Cliff Krainik]

Thanks for your glib reply, Larry. Your rustic sillyness makes my day.

WOMENFOLK ? - WOMENFOLK? - OH PUH-LEEZE!

Cliff