last time I was in the USA i referred to 'Indians' and was told I shouldn't use that term, but that I should use the term 'native American' instead. Seeing as the lady who said it isn't native American (she is Norwegian-American/Scots-Irish-American, which is a bit of a mouthful) then do you think she was perhaps being a bit too 'PC'? (albeit with the best of intentions.)
Yeah, as I understand it native american is old hat (although granted my experience is more with Canada than the US), it was first nationer for a while, and now aboriginal. The situation with aboriginal rights and privilege in Canada is very odd though. I'm 6'3", blond with blue eyes, and when I bought gas at a stop by a casino I was asked if I had a reservation card
hmm... I haven't heard the term 'aboriginal' applied to Indians/Native Americans (then again I've been in Asia primarily for 15 years now). In all the years I heard my dad speak about it he usually uses the word Indian or Native American. But at times he'll refer to them as 'indigenous'... but the Indians tend to be a pretty layed back lot (except when drinking or settling old scores and holding grudges). So it wouldn't surprise me if there was a white person correcting others to call them Native Americans and they're still using the term Indian. Though we/I always use the term aboriginal for people like the Ainu, the early peoples of Taiwan and of course the most common usage is for the Australian aboriginals. I guess terms are a funny one as seems most white people I ever met figured all Indians got along. But in my family they don't. The Apaches weren't really liked by much of anyone around them owing to the fact that they were hot tempered and not afraid to go to war - Indians it seems have some pretty long memories. There's some fueds that have been simmering for well on 100 years or more. Though to some extent there is some mixing in my family with the Navajo. My old man always had lots of respect for them and my sister adopted a Navajo girl who speaks southern Athabaskan (though we simply call it Navajo) which is essentially what the Jicarilla Apache - my dads tribe- speaks. Not entirely the same but can be pretty much understood. As she's from the rez she speaks it front to back which is interesting - it was the first time in all my years I heard someone speak that fluently. Back east some of the nations had long running wars with each other and in a way pretty different from my old mans people as I heard him say it. The Iriqouis and the Algonquins have a fierce reputation... and many of my Canadian mates keep a wide step from a lot of natives - they don't have much middle ground. Either they were on your side or they smashing your head in was the way my dads dad always put it. Wouldn't surprise me at all if there was plenty of fighting among themselves the Indians. The Apaches all have a common language which in some ways is a central thread - a lot of them still speak it. Other tribes often don't have much of a spoken language left and speak English. The Apaches also have a strong tie to their original religion. But there is also some Catholic influence mostly in my dads generation. I don't speak but a few words of the language or understand much about the religion (aside from plenty of faux paus' when visting family) as I wasn't raised at all inside the culture. But my other family members are more on the inside. Their kids all have proper names and learn the language and go to the pow wows... me... I look like white guy tourist at pow wows. Go figure. Strange the way it all works out.
In Washington DC, there is a pro football team called the Redskins, and the logo on the helmet is an indian.
I saw Cain give an interview on a spanish tv network, last night. Here is what he said about his "Brown Pride" Tattoo: "I got the tattoo to show off my Mexican heritage and my Latino Pride". Nothing wrong with that IMHO.
We also have the Kansas City Chiefs in football and the Cleveland Indians in Baseball + many others in collegiate sports. The Florida Seminoles is one that comes to mind.
The fact they still exist is probably a testament to the political sway and money sports have in the US - it would not be acceptable to be called the "St Louis {N-Bombs}" for example Returning to the original point vis a vis the pride issue, the UFC was big on pushing Velasquez as the first HW champ from Mexico but this wasn't even true - it was just hype designed to sell and the suckers bought it. Cain is a great fighter and doesn;t need cheap theatrics
I think that was the thing that got my back up the most. During the build up for the fight there was a lot of stuff among fans about the brown pride stuff and I just didn't see why it mattered in the slightest. First mexican champ? Feel free, I'll be routing for Bisping if he ever gets a title shot too, it was the choice to express it through colour that I disagreed with.
I remember the UFC trying to make a big deal about Frank Mir, when he wore the Cuban flag on his shorts during one of his bouts. Funny, I didn't like him much before I heard of his Cuban heritage, via his father. Now, I'm a big fan.
I have no problem of people being proud of their heritage, just don't swear allegiance to a foreign country and take advantage of the country you live in.
