IntenseDebate - staplesalad

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Portland ties for seco... · 0 replies · +1 points

It amazes me what people downvote on here... I made one comment saying racism is bad and I think it's the one that I got the most downvotes on. The culture on this website is weird. Ironically it's like the anti-Portland in attitude lol.

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Portland ties for seco... · 2 replies · +1 points

Could someone please tell me why I keep getting downvoted?

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Portland ties for seco... · 3 replies · -4 points

Please stop giving the people of Lake O a bad name. I grew up there and have to deal with the stereotypes that people with your bad attitude perpetuate. Lake O is a lovely city, please don't drag it down into the mud.

Portland is a beautiful city full of parks and trees and places to enjoy nature. It has some of the best restaurants and outdoors areas, as well as great shopping and a lot of very interesting and kind people. The skyline is beautiful and it's a great hub with an interesting mix of all walks of life, social classes, and out looks.

Please, just worry about Lake O and leave Portland to the Portlanders.

Also: Please, anyone reading this, recognize that Steve does not represent all of Lake O. Many people there like Portland and many people there are kind and generous.

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Compromise sought in N... · 0 replies · -4 points

I'm curious why people are downvoting me? My post is about discouraging racism.

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Compromise sought in N... · 0 replies · -3 points

People are seriously downvoting me for encouraging education on the subject? We need the education more than lack of mascots. There is far too much racism against NAs going on.

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Compromise sought in N... · 0 replies · -2 points

That's not what everyone sees.

Though IMO, a title like "Braves" isn't that offensive (because it somewhat falls under a profession like "warrior", "laker", "cheif" etc.). Not like "Indians", "Cherokees" etc.

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Compromise sought in N... · 1 reply · 0 points

I agree that we should learn about and celebrate our heritages, but how many of the kids going to a school with a native mascot is actually native? And for those who aren't, how many of them know what their ancestors did to their "mascot"? The mascot is worthless as a teaching tool if the lessons aren't being taught.

I agree as well that a mascot should be honorable (especially if people are involved), but that can't happen without the proper education to back it up. And certain sports teams aren't helping (the most racist depiction of a Native I have ever seen in the modern day is the mascot for a sports team).

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Compromise sought in N... · 7 replies · -14 points

Why isn't anyone taking into account what's REALLY going on here? Mascots are often animals, objects, or professions, like Ducks, Beavers, Warriors, Cougars, etc. Placing a human group in that role runs the risk of dehumanization, and this is often the case with Native American mascots. While I would question "warrior" and similar (since that is a generic term that spans cultures), "Indians" or specific tribal names (used without permission) run the risk of dehumanizing the people they refer to (and YES, this is true for "Irish" and other cultures; possible exception being cultures with no real living members left, like "Goths", "Vikings", etc.).

And that's without regarding the legal/copyright laws regarding using a tribal name as a mascot ("Apache" "Cherokee" etc.) without permission.

I think the best compromise possible would be to have schools teach Native American history, genocide, racist laws (which have existed through the 1980's and '90's) and all with lesson plans overseen by local tribes for schools with generic mascot names that pertain to Native Americans (eg "Indians"), AND allow specific tribal names only if the school can reach an agreement with that particular tribe: ONLY if they can reach an agreement (like the Seminoles).

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Compromise sought in N... · 1 reply · -4 points

I agree. Our area is seeped in Native American history and references, yet it is something barely touched on in many of our primary schools. I had to take a college course specifically about Native Americans when I was in university just to get a decent amount of background on N.A. culture, history and attitudes. IMO, it's pretty bad nationally too, I have heard people insist that genocide isn't a bad thing, our ancestors were completely blameless, stealing children is OK, etc. And that's not even the worst I've heard when it comes to racism and cultural appropriation.

14 years ago @ KATU - Portland, OR - Obama\'s health care p... · 0 replies · +4 points

So, you want him to take away tax incentives for companies sending jobs over seas, he does, and somehow him doing is actually him NOT doing it? Darned if he does, darned if he doesn't. Please inform me of where the logic is in your reasoning. Yes, it's an election year, but that doesn't mean that absolutely all legislature "doesn't count". IMO, you come across as someone so intent to hate, that you're not going to accept the facts when they present themselves no matter how hard they stare you in the face.

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