, discusses the debt the Cleveland baseball team owes to the Penobscot Nation of Maine:
Get the Story:While it’s admirable — and I’m completely sarcastic here — that the Cleveland Indians organization sought feedback from its fan base on the controversial issue of its racist mascot, Chief Wahoo, and has started 2014 by implementing a partial end to its use, wouldn’t it finally be considerate of the team to seek the blessing of the Penobscot Nation for even part-time use? This is comparable to a group deciding, “Hey, it’s OK to use the swastika just on the home jerseys and caps and just in the gift shop” to continue making money on merchandise. The simple problem here is that when something is offensive, it’s completely offensive, not just a tad offensive. And, as it happens, this action remains a complete middle-finger-in-the-air to Maine’s Penobscot Nation. Even the newly minted collegiate football champions of 2013, the Florida State Seminoles, have their nickname and mascot somewhat “sanctioned” by the Seminole tribe. So, why should the Cleveland Indians seek out the Penobscots?
Ed Rice: Cleveland Indians Must Retire Wahoo—Or Get Penobscot Blessing (Indian Country Today 1/13)
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