Republican State Rep. Steve Nass has a great idea on how to create jobs and improve Wisconsin’s economy: undo the state law enacted by Democrats to eliminate Indian and other race-based team names and logos in Wisconsin public schools:
Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, has drafted legislation to repeal the law, which allows any school district resident to file a complaint with the local school board over the use of offensive nicknames, logos or mascots. The state school superintendent can then order districts to stop using such symbols if they promote discrimination, harassment or stereotyping.
The bill also aims to void all orders issued by State Superintendent Tony Evers under the new law, which was signed by Gov. Jim Doyle in May.
Yeah, this sounds like a great job creation initiative!
… And why does this matter now that they’ve already changed their logos?
I mean, the whole removing the law that is the eliminates all race based team names and logos.
T – my understanding is that the law did not – does not eliminate all the names & logos, it only specified (and made much easier) the process for getting them removed.
To that end – I’ve read plenty on tyranny of the majority and agree that there are any number of issues where 51% of the people shouldn’t be able to force something on the the rest. That said, one single complaint shouldn’t be enough to force a the changes either.
I believe there are uses of Native American (because face it, however this is spun to be “race based, that’s what it’s really about) names & mascots which are offensive, but also a number of them which are respectful and a tribute. Local communities and the groups referred to should determine whether they’re appropriate or not. Not one individual and not the WIAA or DPI.
That or we should just rename them all “Gold.” Yeah, that’s it. 🙂
Most of the settlements up where I live changed it with no problem, back in the 1960s. Besides, it isn’t actually the logos themselves that bother me but when people take it too far. (Aka, ‘skin the indian’ or something. Basically, the logos in themselves are not bad, but what fans do in the name of the sport is when frankly it goes too far.)
While many of the schools might see it out of respect, it’s an issue of how individuals that are made as a logo do not have control over the image. That’s a reason why the “Fighting Irish” is so commonly accepted, because in all actuality those people at the time actually had control over their image. I’m not trying to sound sensitive or anything, but I’ve met a considerable amount of ignorance when I’ve gone several times to business in say like Waukesha County? Aka, a joking war whoop and being called too sensitive. It’s kind of along the lines if I went up to anyone with German ancestor and said “Sieg Heil!”
I mean not going to lie I find the Redskins ( Which is actually a racial slur but a reason why a lot of Native Americans just shrug at it now is because they were so dehumanized to believe they were worthless in the older years. Least to say, the plan succeeded, and that’s why it’s a miracle a lot of tribes came back the way they did. ) and the Cleveland Indians pretty bad. (Though personally, I have to say The Indianapolis Indians makes me laugh because I think they only chose that to be repetitive. Indianapolis Indians in Indiana.)
I honestly wouldn’t ave problems with teams like say – Warriors? If they actually made it a figure that you couldn’t tell what race it was but just a fighter, perhaps even a silhouette or outline of sorts? That in itself, would be neat. Heck, they could even make it a contest to design the logo among the students.
For the most part, I’m in agreement with just about everything you said.
Where the name/logo/mascot is something localized, and approval can be obtained from the group, the WIAA, state, NCAA and/or federal government should mind their own business. For example, from what I recall, Florida State has a good relationship with the Seminole tribe and they’re fine with it. Where it’s a more general term (like Indians) obviously it’s a different story.
As an aside, my kids’ school has been forced to replace their “Fighting Irish” logos. Though we’re just plain Irish, years ago they “borrowed” the Notre Dame logo. Of course trademark infringement is a completely different issue.
Oh yeah, I remember hearing a bit about that a while back. Trademark, copyright, and other things. I’m always careful when designing so I don’t accidentally do that – it’s a pretty stressful job and enough to rip your hair out over because you ave to come up with art and originality constantly without unconsciously copying others.
But back on topic – there’s the other issue to me, despite the logos being repealed is the fact we’re spending money on this so we could just remove this law that really isn’t hurting anyone’s liberties or freedoms at this point since they’re already all organized and changed their mascots. I personally was happy this law passed, because I know the school in itself from Mukwonago don’t mean disrespect but you cannot deny there are many people down there who are racist and blame the Native Americans for everything. When I was down there just the other day on business, a person who was talking to me said “Diamond” Doyle going to be put on a tribal council? Since they all do crooked deals? Not cool. It made me kind of wish that Waukesha County would separate itself from the rest of the state and become the 51st one so they could have the independence they want.
I understand racism is everywhere, but as much as a bad reputation northern Wisconsin gets, we are not nearly as terrible as what I seen down there. Which in part I think has to deal with natives for years working side by side with many other workers while those down there have probably never met one personally or if they did it was just them causing trouble by ‘infringing their rights’…. whatever that seems to mean.
Wisconsin despite what people think actually has a fairly large Native American Population, the most tribes in one state east of the Mississippi River and I believe it’s important to acknowledge what they have to say. No matter how people look at it, Native Americans still get a pretty raw deal compared to many other races. The ones in Wisconsin are fairly well off compared to many others which breaks my heart to some degree because while the tribes in Wisconsin are lucky and can get ahead if they want to? Other tribes don’t have that privilege.
I know a lot of people always use the arguments of “What should we ban animals next? Do we hurt the wild dogs feelings too?” It’s implying my race and many tribes are something less than human.
I’m glad to know you agree though for the most part, I know many tribes constantly fight against the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians but they’re often pushed aside. So Wisconsin actually making a law like this made me happy and for it to be repealed? Is a kick in the gut and spit in the face, but ultimately, money will be spent on something schools have already changed for.
Was Obama’s repeal of DADT somehow a job creation initiaive, or do you only criticize non-jobs related legislation that you disagree with?
Hmmmm….I believe we were discussing legislators here in Wisconsin, many of whom said time and time again during the 2010 elections that they were going to be focused like a laser on job creation, and I’m just wondering how repealing the indian mascot law is going to create jobs.
Good to know that Obama and federal Democrats are not focused on job creation. Thanks for clearing that up. I don’t think it’s too big of a leap or off topic to wonder how DADT will solve that 10% unemployment problem.
I know it must be a hard concept to grasp, but we’re talking about legislators here in Wisconsin, not President Obama or national Democrats, who recently got passed and signed into law a tax cut extension, along with a payroll tax reduction, unemployment extension, etc., all of which is hoped will continue to spur the economy towards recovery.
I’m waiting for you to explain how repealing a ban on indian mascots is going to create jobs. After all, we haven’t heard any specifics from Wisconsin’s Republican lawmakers on how they’re going to create jobs, but we have heard an awful lot about how they’re going to repeal indian mascot bans, how they’re going to require voter ID, how they’re going to attack public employee unions and the middle class, and how they’re going to deal with all sorts of other non-job related issues, but I guess that stuff is all way more important than talking about how they’re going to create jobs, which after all is the issue they were elected on.
Don’t forget that they don’t even take office until January. They can’t enact anything until then. I think they are also capable of doing more than one thing at a time. Walker can have a jobs package and they will still have time to require voter ID, among other things. I don’t think something like voter ID is going to take up a lot of time. Walker can sign his name in less than 30 seconds I bet!
You realize the reason why Obama met so much problems is because he tried to enact a lot of things at one time instead of focusing on one thing, right?
Furthermore, the cost of money to spend on repealing said laws and reconstructing these things. I thought you said you wanted Wisconsin out of the spending problems but it’s okay for these things? Good to know.
Oops. Double Post. Swear that didn’t send. >:(
You realize the reason why Obama met so much problems is because he tried to enact a lot of things at one time instead of focusing on one thing, right?
Furthermore, the cost of money to spend on repealing said laws and reconstructing these things. We don’t have money to spend, which means we’re going to go further into debt.
But hey, when we’re further in the debt in a year from now? Don’t yell at me, I voted for the guy who was realistic.
Voter Id will create a few jobs in the court system since it is unconstitutional, they will have to fend off many lawsuits until its finally declared so.
You keep repeating that as if doing so will make it true. There is nothing inherently unconstitutional about voter ID. Provided they steer clear of a few sticking points (ie a mechanism for id’s to be provided free of charge where appropriate), and implement it within what’s already been upheld by the courts, any lawsuits filed will be without merit and unsuccessful.
if anyone is charged a cent for a state id then it becomes a poll tax and not only illegal but also immoral. There is no problem in terms of people who should not be voting that are voting. It just does not happen. The absolute only reason we would have voter id is to make sure the lower income and minorities do not ever think they are going to be able to vote.