so sioux me

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Dec 09, 2009

The New York Times uneasily reports on the late-dawning revelation that college students do not choose mascots and nicknames meant to disparage themselves. The Fighting Sioux of the University of North Dakota were in line for the usual ethnic cleansing when someone had the poor manners to object:

In a legal standoff that has turned some preconceptions upside down, North Dakota’s top state lawyers will be in court on Wednesday to oppose members of the Spirit Lake Tribe who have sued to preserve the Fighting Sioux name and logo, an image of an Indian in profile, feathers draping down.

In its coy reference to the "preconceptions" that have been turned upside down by the lawsuit, the Times has to tiptoe past the fact that these are preconceptions it shares. They're not ours, at any rate.

[T]hose suing said they were proud of the nickname. “I am full blood and I grew up on this reservation,” said Eunice Davidson, 57, who wore a Fighting Sioux sweatshirt on a recent afternoon. “I have to tell you, I am very, very honored that they would use the name.”

Another Sioux quoted in the Times article said “When you hear them announce the name at the start of a hockey game, it gives you goose bumps. They are putting us up on a pinnacle.”

Poor man. Think of the geese he's offended.