And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: (Original message from Mr Strinden below) >Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 13:02:06 -0500 >From: Robert Eurich <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >My reply to Mr. Strinden: > >Dear Mr. Strinden, > >Although I find your contention both disingenuous and specious that a single >man's editorializing somehow represents, "how most of the Native American >citizens in North Dakota feel about UND and the Sioux name," I nevertheless >thank you for sharing your opinion as it provides valuable insights. > >>From what I have been able to gather, the media coverage of this issue in your >area has been blatently biased toward the position you espouse so it does not >surprise me that such a view as Mr. Foughty's would appear or that you would >heartily embrace and use such as something that validates your agenda. > >However, in light of your assertion, I would ask you to explain how your >contention can be true when this past Sunday a tribal council representative >from the Standing Rock reservation of North and South Dakota addressed the >Student Senate just prior to its motion to override the president's veto and >included in his presentation documents from all but one of the "Sioux" tribes >of North and South Dakota that support a nickname change at UND. Moreover, as >this evidence seems to prove, it is my understanding that many, if not most, >of the tribal Councils and Nations of your area are firmly behind the students >working to eliminate UND's antiquated racial nickname. > >In short, while Mr. Foughty is certainly entitled to his opinion, he speaks >only for himself. Conversely, it can scarely be debated that tribal >governments are authorized to represent the general body politic of those >within their jurisdiction. Thus, it seems to me, that any reasonable person >could see your argument is false and based more on a prejudical opinion than >on objective fact. > >If you would care to substantiate your assertion more completely, I welcome >your reply. > >Sincerely, > >Robert Eurich > > > >Ish wrote: > >> From: Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> sigh. >> >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: Earl Strinden [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >> > Sent: Thursday, February 25, 1999 8:53 AM >> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Young, Tricia A; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > Subject: >> > >> > >> > >> > Thank you for your recent email message. We thought you should be >> > informed how most of the Native American citizens in North Dakota feel >> > about UND and the Sioux name. The following article was written by F. E. >> > Foughty from Devils Lake, North Dakota, and appeared in the Fargo Forum on >> > February 17, 1999, and in the Grand Forks Herald on February 21, 1999. >> > >> > "Why do some people of American Indian descent complain about the use of >> > "The Fighting Sioux" name by the University of North Dakota? The Irish >> > are so proud of "The Fighting Irish" name used by Notre Dame. The >> > Scandinavians are so proud and honored that so many athletic teams >> > adopted "The Vikings" name for their team names. The "Vikings" name is >> > almost synonymous with the term Scandinavian. >> > >> > The Sioux Nation with all its separate tribes once dominated the Northern >> > Plains. Presumably the adoption of "The Fighting Sioux" name by UND was >> > with the hope that UND athletic teams would dominate sports. The adoption >> > of "The Fighting Sioux" name by UND was a sign of respect and an attempt >> > to honor the mighty Sioux of the Northern Plains and was in no way a sign >> > of disrespect for the people of Indian descent. >> > >> > The contention that there is a difference in the respect shown by the use >> > of the terms "Fighting Irish," "Fighting Sioux" or "Vikings" is a failure >> > to deal with reality. >> > >> > I am of Indian descent. In the early 1940s I lived in the football >> > stadium at UND and was known as one of "the stadium rats." I came to UND >> > hoping to make the football team after having played six-man football at >> > the Rolette, (N.D.) High School. I didn't tell anyone I had Indian blood >> > in me but it wasn't long before my teammates were calling me "Geronimo." >> > After that I knew I was accepted and respected as a contributing member of >> > the team. I have always been proud that I was a member of "The Fighting >> > Sioux" football team during my college days. >> > >> > I am sure that those fighting Sioux warriors who fought to defeat George >> > Armstrong Custer at the Little Big Horn and in so many other battles in >> > defense of their homeland, if they were able to do so, would express >> > satisfaction that UND was perpetuating their memory by the adoption of the >> > name "Fighting Sioux" for athletic teams. >> > >> > What would be accomplished if the few Indians who feel that the use of >> > "The Fighting Sioux" name is demeaning to them should be successful in >> > changing the name of UND's sports teams? It might inflate the ego of >> > those few Indians and non-Indians who presently are complaining about the >> > use of "The Fighting Sioux" name, but it would be at a cost of tremendous >> >> > damage to Indian and non-Indian relations. Thousands upon thousands of >> > former athletes of UND who gave everything they had to win for UND and >> > their supporting alumni would be stunned with disappointment. >> > >> > I am very proud of my Indian heritage. It is painful to me to read in the >> > newspapers that some Indian students who have the good fortune of >> > attending UND are directing their energy and drive to change "The Fighting >> > Sioux" name which in no way can benefit American Indians. >> > >> > I admire the UND Indian students who are advancing the beauties of the >> > Indian culture and the quality of life for all Indians by their actions >> > and example. I cannot approve of those people who are attempting to >> > change "The Fighting Sioux" name. These people are doing a great >> > disservice to American Indians. >> > >> > The vast majority of Indian people that I have had contact with do not >> > approve of changing "The Fighting Sioux" name. They are proud of their >> > ancestors and appreciate the respect, honor and memory that is being paid >> > to them by UND's use of "The Fighting Sioux" name for sports teams. In >> > fact the highest award given by UND to people who have contributed support >> > to the university is known as the "Sioux Award." >> > >> > The complaints by a few American Indians about the use of the name tends >> > to isolate the Indian people from the rest of society. This fact is >> > detrimental to Indian society as well as non-Indian society. >> > >> > Indian culture has many dynamics that have and will enhance society as a >> > whole: >> > Generosity to your neighbors. >> > Appreciation of leisure time. >> > Respect for advice from elders. >> > Humor in the face of adversity. >> > >> > Education and jobs for American Indians are what is needed to improve the >> > quality of life. With 42 percent of American Indians dropping out of >> > school in North Dakota before they finish is a serious problem. Training >> > to handle and be promoted in your job is extremely important. These are >> > the things that the Indian leadership should be working to promote, not >> > the changing of "The Fighting Sioux" name. >> > >> > Changing "The Fighting Sioux" name will not create one job. This change >> > will not give any help to gain a good education nor will the change of >> > name do one thing to promote the beauties and desirable dynamics of the >> > Indian culture which would help our society to be a better society. >> > >> > I wish that the Indian leaders who are complaining about "The Fighting >> > Sioux" name would discontinue this shooting of all American Indians in the >> > foot. This type of complaint gives the impression that American Indians >> > are ashamed of their native ancestors; this is not the case. The Indian >> > people are proud of their Indian heritage. >> > >> > If some people of Indian descent through their sensitivity or lack of >> > self-esteem feel hurt by remarks that are made in connection with "The >> > Fighting Sioux" name, let us work on building up the self-esteem of >> > American Indians so that he can deal with inappropriate behavior by a few >> > unthinking individuals. >> > >> >> > All American Indians want to perpetuate the memory of those brave and >> > mighty warriors who defeated Custer at Little Big Horn. One way to do >> > this is to support the continuation of the "Fighting Sioux" name at UND >> > for their sports teams. Please recognize that the "Fighting Sioux" name >> > is an expression of respect for the Sioux warriors that once occupied the >> > Great Plains." >> > >> > Sincerely, >> > >> > >> > Earl S. Strinden >> > Executive Vice President >> > UND Alumni Association and Foundation >> >> ________________________________________________________________________ >> Wish to Leave? See <http://www.dickshovel.com/mailinglist.html>. >> >> &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& >> Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) >> Unenh onhwa' Awayaton >> http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ >> &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Start a new hobby. Meet a new friend. >> http://www.onelist.com >> Onelist: The leading provider of free email list services >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> You are on the anti racism list to sub/unsub go to: >> http://www.onelist.com/isregistered.cgi?userinfo > >-- >American Indian Sports Team Mascots >http://www.geocities.com/~earnestman/1indexpage.htm > >"Little drops of rain wear away the greatest of stones." > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >New hobbies? New curiousities? New enthusiasms? >http://www.onelist.com >Sign up for a new email list today >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >You are on the anti racism list to sub/unsub go to: >http://www.onelist.com/isregistered.cgi?userinfo > &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
