# "Fightin' Whities" School Mascot! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900 "2002-03-12T19:35:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900/21 "2002-03-13T18:26:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asylum \* > \*\* > I have to disagree with you on this. If a group claims that it is not justified to name a team or group after a whole ethnic group (excluding perhaps if the whole team is of that ethnic group) than it is not ethically consistent to do it yourself for any reason. I don’t see “making a point” as a valid exception. It would not be ethical to rob a man to show how wrong it is to rob people: just because the motivations are different that doesn’t change whether or not the actions are wrong. The only way it would be “ethically consistent” is if they specifically excluded themselves from having to follow these rules of behavior, and I’m a bit of a Kantian where that is concerned; roughly: if you don’t think it’s right for people to do it to you, don’t do to them. \*\* I see you’re point. However, _in this case_, I do see “making a point” as a valid exception. So I’ll grant you that they are being ethically inconsistent by using the same behavior they are arguing against, but because of the nature of the case I believe they are justified in doing so. So while I hate to say that we’ll have to agree to disagree. . . Anyway, it was indicated in the article that this specific team, the Eaton Fightin’ Reds, did have people around that community upset. There apparently had been discussion around it for a while before the intramural team took its title, whch they did to satirically punch up the argument. The school has responded by not responding at all, completely closing themselves off from any argument. No doubt all this national attention will have them circling their wagons, so to speak. One of the Fightin’ Whities team members asked “How does it feel to be made fun of?” I’ll agree with the others here that the Eaton school did not pick “Fightin’ Reds” to make fun of Indians. I think the FW team member is asking the wrong question. “How does it feel to be disrespected?” would be more accurate. Now if Eaton had maybe done a little more research into their name choice. Called themselves the Lakotas with the tribes permission, it wouldn’t be seen as disrespectful. But they’re the Fightin’ Reds, a caricature. A racial caricature of real people who still live in the area and find it offensive. The school is being insensitive, and they’re refusal to even discuss the issue tells others that they don’t care. If it was any other racial group being used this behavior wouldn’t fly. So while nationwide there may be a “who really cares” attitude on all sides, there is an actual resentment in this particular community regarding the name. For the record, I think the “Fightin’ Whities” is pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900/22 "2002-03-13T19:26:57Z")
You know, I can just see a bunch of KKK and WPP members ordering these T-shirts and wearing them at their rallies. ---
**Author:** ![Winnowill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900/23 "2002-03-13T19:59:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PatrickM \* > \*\*To answer your questions (1) not many real Indians are actually offended by sports team names > > \ > > Data published in Sports Illustrated’s magazine’s March 4, 2002 issue at pages 64-72 in an article by S.L. Price entitled “The Indian Wars”, with a sidebar story on page 69 by Andrea Woo entitled “Polls Apart”, shows that the anti-Indian-logo-protesters lack wide support among the majority of the Native American community. Seventy five percent of Indians polled say that names and mascots using names such as “Indians”, “Redskins” and “Braves” do not discriminate against them, only 23% of Indians polled found such name objectionable, and 83% of Indians polled said that pro teams should continue using such names. \*\* I can vouch for this from personal experience. I live about a mile away from one of the many tribal areas that surround Phoenix. There are a whole lot of Chief Wahoos out there. (Chief Wahoo is the logo of the Cleveland Indians.) Once when I was getting gas out there, I asked a Native American guy wearing a Chief Wahoo cap if he was an Indians fan (I am) - he said “No, I just like the logo.” Obviously, he didn’t feel it insulted him in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Spider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Barking\_Spider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Spider)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900/24 "2002-03-14T02:02:12Z")
I was reading on Free Republic today that someone is selling "Fighting Whitey T-shirts. Evidently theres a huge market for them. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900/25 "2002-03-14T02:15:59Z")
I think it’s hilarious, myself. Will the mascot be an Archie Bunker-type character? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900/26 "2002-03-14T03:45:53Z")
Is the team name “Reds” common as a reference to Native Americans? When I read it, I think of the Cincinnati Reds, which is shorthand for the original team name “Red Stockings” (referring to that particular part of the team uniform in the late 1800s). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fightin-whities-school-mascot/97900.md?page=1)