[Mick]

Someone on this board (who was it?) put it all in perspective for me regarding Native American team names, whether derogatory or not. He said that if you steal a peoples lands and try to wipe them out entirely, you don't get the right to pay "tribute" to them by making them your mascot. When he posited the idea of a German soccer team named "The Fightin' Jews" that sealed the issue for me.

It's been a few years, but I seem to recall a white paper on human tendencies to venerate their vanquished foes.  There's a guy I know who likes to quote Rommel a lot.  I pointed out that his side lost, but he doesn't stop the admiration.

[Mick]

Someone on this board (who was it?) put it all in perspective for me regarding Native American team names, whether derogatory or not. He said that if you steal a peoples lands and try to wipe them out entirely, you don't get the right to pay "tribute" to them by making them your mascot. When he posited the idea of a German soccer team named "The Fightin' Jews" that sealed the issue for me.

It's been a few years, but I seem to recall a white paper on human tendencies to venerate their vanquished foes.  There's a guy I know who likes to quote Rommel a lot.  I pointed out that his side lost, but he doesn't stop the admiration.