May 30, 2010 @ 12:27
Political correctness really blows. Like a lot things, it starts with good intentions and then the do-gooders get a hold of it and take it over the moon.
Political correctness practiced by the wrong people has put us where we are today. In some cases you can't even compliment someone without being called a racist, and often the person being protected by the PC professional doesn't even want protection.
The most recent example is an article written by Damien Cox in the Toronto Star entitled Offensive Blackhawks logo has got to go.
Believe me, having written this blog for the past four years, I know all about pushing buttons and getting a reaction, so I would hope that was the intention of Cox's column, but if it wasn't, well then consider him just another wannabe hero.
Without going into a lot of detail, I'm sure you get the drift. Cox thinks the Blackhawks logo which features the head of an Indian warrior is insensitive, racist and extremely out of date.
I'll give Cox this much. To choose such a logo in this day and age would be wrong and generally unacceptable, even if it was meant as a complimentary gesture.
But that's political correctness for you.
The problem here is that Damien Cox thinks the Blackhawks should actually change their logo now. A lot of high schools and universities have backtracked he argues, so why not the NHL team?
Here's why, because the Blackhawks have been around for nearly one hundred years and they were given their name with the best of intentions, but most of all because there has never been a mass of "Indians" lined up demanding that it be changed.
And apparently, according to Cox, they're the ones who should be offended.
The original owner of the Blackhawks chose the name and the logo as a tribute to Chief Black Hawk of the Sioux Nation, who fought on the side of the British in the War of 1812.
It was chosen as recognition of strength and bravery.
With today's twisted thinking that still makes it wrong. In a bizarre way, we've painted ourselves into a PC corner that says you can only receive such a tribute if you're a white guy, which actually makes it even more racist.
Ever thought of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?
My question is this? What exactly is wrong with the Blackhawks logo? Is it something that native people should be ashamed of? I don't think so. It was put there for positive reasons, and although the attitude towards such recognition has changed in recent years, does that mean the history of this logo should be wiped away like it never existed?
When it comes to articles like Cox wrote, I'd really like to see some feedback from the people mostly affected.
For years the PC brigade has been trying to eliminate the nicknames of the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves, but its never gotten off the starting blocks because the people who should care the most, don't.
Of course Redskins is an archaic name that would never even be considered today, but it was installed as a tribute just like the name Braves was.
Again, by today's over-reactionary standards it would never happen, even I'm sure, if native people wanted it to. But with the Blackhawks, Redskins, Indians and Braves we're talking about history and definitely not negative history.
If the imaging is questionable, then let's leave it up to those affected to decide whether it should change.
Not someone from the ever-increasing over the top politically correct tribe.
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