Excuse me, but I do believe there are in fact laws that have applied to this very thing. One cannot, for example, assume the name of a celebrity or a corporation, or several other types of entities for one's own without expecting a lawsuit to follow.

I'm not saying this is precisely the case in this particular instance, but your sweeping statement about the wrongfulness of using another's identity without consent as being "ridiculous" is rather off the mark.

And in this particular case, the discussion is about UND using the name "Sioux", when the members of the Sioux Nation are objecting to them so using it. It is their name and identity, after all. It is this case to which my statement was referring.

Now, since you've brought the Washington Redskins into the discussion, I would like to point out that "redskins" is a racial slur no different than "ni**er", and is being fought on the grounds of its being racist and derogatory. One court has already ruled that no trademark protection will be extended to this name because of its derogatory nature.

I realize that the concept of "redskins" as being a racial slur is no doubt absurd to you, seeing as how this country has done such an efficacious job of omitting the history of the cultural genocide that has been practiced against the Native peoples; to the point to which the Natives are all but invisible to the mainstream consciousness except as long-familiar stereotypes.

But lets approach this another way. You are apparently tired of "PC nonsense", so let's make a "PC-free" America completely equal opportunity and multi-cultural. Let's spread the fun around and get some other ethnic groups represented by our sports teams.

We could have the "Seattle Spearchuckers", the "Chigaco Chinks", the "Kansas City Ki*es", the "Denver Dagos" - and how about the "West Texas Wetbacks"? And let's not forget the "Washington Black Bucks" - since after all, the players on that team are really more blackskinned than redskinned.

I trust that if any African-Americans, or Jews, or Asian-Americans, or Italians, or Hispanics, should have the temerity to raise objections to these names that you will be sure to tell them that their objections are merely "PC nonsense" and you will have none of it.

It certainly is heartening to know that enlightened human beings such as yourself are in positions of educating the next generation.

-- Rebekah Morrigan, Indian Country Perspectives forum ~ http://www.delphi.com/NDNviewpoint/start/ (posted 4/24, 10:45 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)

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