It's The Context That Matters
Last week the NCAA announced that any school with a name or logo that refers to American Indians will be banned from displaying that name or logo during post-season games. Today, NORAD has decided to change names of exercises that use similar words. As an example, the head of NORAD, Adm. Keating, sent a memo to the Pentagon: “Amalgam Fencing Brave will now be known as Amalgam Fencing Dart.” Thanks, that’s useful information.
Why do we insist on seeing offense where none is given? In the case of the Florida State Seminoles, the name, mascot, and costumes were all designed by the Seminole Nation themselves. Despite this, the NCAA seems to think that they know better than the tribe members and that this name is offensive. The majority of athletic team mascots are things like “Giants,” “Bears,” and “Timber Wolves.” These all refer to things which are known for their size, strength, ferocity, or some other aspect we admire and respect, not hate and decry. Names like “Seminoles” or “Braves” are no different. The schools choose the names to honor the American Indians, not deride them.
NORAD presents an odder case. A NORAD spokesman said that the changes were made, not because of any complaints, but rather to avoid offending anyone. Unlike the existence of the Seminoles, I didn’t even know we had an “Operation Amalgam Fencing Brave” let alone know I should be offended by it.
A name cannot be offensive on its own. Rather, it is the context in which it is used that determines if offense is meant. If Discovery Channel does a special on “The Poison Frogs of Madagascar,” no one insists that they change the name of the show in order to avoid offending people of French decent. Out of context, the word “frog” has no morality – it is merely a word.
The case is no different for the name “Seminole” or the word “brave.” Florida State chooses to put the word in a context that honors the natives (oh, sorry – is that an offensive word?) of the area where the school is located. They are not using the mascot to deride the Seminoles; quite to the contrary, the Seminole Nation actively participates in ensuring historical accuracy of the portrayal. This only can be judged a positive context for the word.
One can only guess what NORAD had in mind when they originally came up with the names of the exercises, but it seems reasonable to assume that victory, and not defeat, was the goal. Under that assumption, we must conclude that the word “brave” was used in a positive context.
It’s not rocket science. The morality of a word can only be determined in context with how it is used. Asking a Native American, “Are you a Seminole (or Sioux or Apache or whatever)?” is no more offensive than asking a European American “Are you Irish (or French or German or whatever)?” Calling an athletic team or military exercise the Seminoles or the Braves is exactly the same and equally inoffensive. However, if the NCAA insists on upholding this ridiculous policy, I hereby grant FSU the right to call themselves the Florida State Exsubdrivers. I promise not to be offended.
Why do we insist on seeing offense where none is given? In the case of the Florida State Seminoles, the name, mascot, and costumes were all designed by the Seminole Nation themselves. Despite this, the NCAA seems to think that they know better than the tribe members and that this name is offensive. The majority of athletic team mascots are things like “Giants,” “Bears,” and “Timber Wolves.” These all refer to things which are known for their size, strength, ferocity, or some other aspect we admire and respect, not hate and decry. Names like “Seminoles” or “Braves” are no different. The schools choose the names to honor the American Indians, not deride them.
NORAD presents an odder case. A NORAD spokesman said that the changes were made, not because of any complaints, but rather to avoid offending anyone. Unlike the existence of the Seminoles, I didn’t even know we had an “Operation Amalgam Fencing Brave” let alone know I should be offended by it.
A name cannot be offensive on its own. Rather, it is the context in which it is used that determines if offense is meant. If Discovery Channel does a special on “The Poison Frogs of Madagascar,” no one insists that they change the name of the show in order to avoid offending people of French decent. Out of context, the word “frog” has no morality – it is merely a word.
The case is no different for the name “Seminole” or the word “brave.” Florida State chooses to put the word in a context that honors the natives (oh, sorry – is that an offensive word?) of the area where the school is located. They are not using the mascot to deride the Seminoles; quite to the contrary, the Seminole Nation actively participates in ensuring historical accuracy of the portrayal. This only can be judged a positive context for the word.
One can only guess what NORAD had in mind when they originally came up with the names of the exercises, but it seems reasonable to assume that victory, and not defeat, was the goal. Under that assumption, we must conclude that the word “brave” was used in a positive context.
It’s not rocket science. The morality of a word can only be determined in context with how it is used. Asking a Native American, “Are you a Seminole (or Sioux or Apache or whatever)?” is no more offensive than asking a European American “Are you Irish (or French or German or whatever)?” Calling an athletic team or military exercise the Seminoles or the Braves is exactly the same and equally inoffensive. However, if the NCAA insists on upholding this ridiculous policy, I hereby grant FSU the right to call themselves the Florida State Exsubdrivers. I promise not to be offended.
posted by exsubdriver at 3:07 PM
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