Insult or Honor?

The article, "Insult or Honor?" talks about the use of Native American names and symbols for school mascots and team names. Some people say that it is an unsult to use the names of Native American tribes as logos for teams because they are disgracing the tribes good name and putting it to shame. But other people think differently. Some people who are members of the tribes being used are honored for the recognition. "I'm a full-blood, and I grew up on the reservation," says Eunice Davidson, 57, of the Sioux tribe, "I have to tell you, I am very, very honored that they would use the name." I have to agree with Eunice. It is an honor not an insult for using Native American names as team mascots because they are honoring them. It's a remembrance of what their tribes have overcome nad where they are today. The recognition of these tribes are an honor to the people who are a part of these tribes. Some people who are a part of these tribes think that it is an insult to use their tribes name. Most Native American people now are thinking that we are insulting them by using their names in acts of violence. It's just competitive and nothing else is violent about it. They are not starting gangs or making a mockery of the tribes names. "We're talking tears and heartbreak here for our students," says Linda Neurburg, assistant director of American Indian Student Services at the university of North Dakota. We all understand the insult that the natives of the tribes are thinking but we are not trying to make them feel the way that they do. We are trying to celebrate the tribes journey to get where they are today by honoring them in sports regognitions. Five colleges had to change their team logos because people thought that it was a discrace to their good tribal names.If we were in that kind of situation and if we had their point of views on the subject than maybe the severity of the situation would be different to us. The schools that use those names are honoring the tribes for their courage and bravery. Using a Native American tribe name for a school representative is a good way to honor our past.