Jewish World Review

JWR's Pundits
World Editorial
Cartoon Showcase

Mallard Fillmore

Michael Barone
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Greg Crosby
Larry Elder
Don Feder
Suzanne Fields
James Glassman
Paul Greenberg
Bob Greene
Betsy Hart
Nat Hentoff
David Horowitz
Marianne Jennings
Michael Kelly
Mort Kondracke
Ch. Krauthammer
Lawrence Kudlow
Dr. Laura
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Chris Matthews
Michael Medved
MUGGER
Kathleen Parker
Wes Pruden
Sam Schulman
Amity Shlaes
Roger Simon
Tony Snow
Thomas Sowell
Cal Thomas
Jonathan S. Tobin
Ben Wattenberg
George Will
Bruce Williams
Walter Williams
Mort Zuckerman

Consumer Reports


Seminoles OK use of name by Florida teams

http://www.jewishworldreview.com | (UPI) The Seminole Tribe of Florida has once again told Florida State University it is welcome to use "Seminoles" as a nickname of its athletic teams.

Max Osceola, acting chief of the Indian tribe, said members of the tribe don't think it's a problem and are proud of the relationship.

"Members of the Seminole Tribe do not consider it derogatory, demeaning and insulting," Osceola said during a trip to the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee for Florida State University Day.

Osceola presented new Florida State President T.K. Wetherell with a brightly covered jacket.

Many American Indians oppose the practice by many athletic teams of using Indians for team names and mascots. The National Council of American Indians has opposed the practice for years but won't oppose the Seminoles.

"Our position in general is that the tribes have the prerogative to address the mascot issue any way they'd like," said Adam Bailey, a spokesman for the National Council of American Indians.

But he said Thursday the organization's position is that the use of the names and mascots is degrading, and it wants them to be eliminated.

"We don't presume to speak for every tribe or every Indian, but we consider the mascots offensive and would like it to end," Bailey said.

In addition to the nickname, Florida State Seminoles, there are other references to the Seminoles.

Before each football game, a man dressed as the original Chief Osceola from the days of the Indian Wars rides the horse Renegade onto the field and drives a flaming spear into the ground.

"We don't look at it as a mascot, we look at it as a representation of the Seminole Tribe," Osceola said. "They work with us in representing our heritage. This is our tribe, and the tribe that is represented needs to have final say and they need to respect that."

Wetherell said the university is "extremely proud" of the relationship with the Seminoles, who often appear at special events such as homecoming ceremonies.

"We believe in the sovereignty of the Seminole Tribe," Wetherell said.

Appreciate this type of reporting? Why not sign-up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.


Comment by clicking here.

Up

© 2003, UPI