I’ve never had much sympathy for Native American groups that complain about sports teams that use various “Indian” themes for their team names. It seems to open a whole can of worms for other, parallel complaints. As if to prove me right (ahem), now comes word that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) thinks Austin HS in Minnesota ought to change its name from the “Packers,” since being named after slaughterhouse workers is “nothing to be proud of.”
They suggest (one can only hope tongue-in-cheek) the “Pickers” might promote a healthier diet.
The story, ironically, is on the pages for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, which refuses to print the names of Native-American-dubbed sports teams. Presumably they are still going to print the name of the nearby Green Bay football franchise.
OpinionJournal suggests that animal rights groups will ultimately demand that teams named after animals be renamed as well (since it’s so inherently demeaning), and that ultimately all we’ll be left with is “those dumb abstractions like the New York Liberty and the Orlando Magic.”
Until, of course, the Fundies start objecting to teams named after “magic,” and people who see American culture as jingoistic object to “liberty” as a team name.
ARGH! And people wonder why I have such little respect for PETA and their activities. You would think they’d channel their energy into something a little more important.
I think PETA has a lot to say of importance in treating animals with a certain measure of respect and compassion. They completely drown out that message, though, by screwball over-the-top messages like this.
That’s my main problem with them (I was going to say beef, but thought better of it) They do a lot of legitimate work and I happen to agree that if you weren’t born with fur, you shouldn’t be wearing it.
However, how can I respect a group that openly and publically states they’re hoping foot-and-mouth (and Mad Cow for that matter) crosses the Atlantic because that would show meat-eaters how wrong they are.
[Shakes head.] Sometimes folks forget that Persuasion and Presentation are as functionally important as Principle.