Political Correctness and Mascots

In another episode of overly sensitive university political correctness, not all mascots will be present in St. Louis this week at the Final Four. Although Ramses the Ram, Cardinal Bird the Cardinal, and Sparty the Spartan will make the trek, Chief Illiniwek has been forced to stay in Illinois for the games.

"All aspects of the chief and its dance should be eliminated," said Jen Tayabji, a former Illinois student who is a member of the Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative, a group involved in trying to do away with the chief and the "Fighting Illini" moniker.

This is ludicrous - I believe that more Native Americans are honored by the school's symbol than feel insulted by it. If they really want to find out how people feel about it, why not take a poll among Native Americans rather than assume a few individuals speak for them?

But I have complaints of my own - being a fan of ancient Athens, I am quite insulted by Sparty the Spartan, who is a symbol of Athens' longtime nemesis. That is the ultimate insult. While I'm at it, I'm a true animal purist and feel insulted by Cardinal and Ramses. Everyone knows that cardinals aren't really as tall as humans and rams move on four legs rather than two. The mascots are total misrepresentations of these facts and therefore should be abolished.

Now the Penn Quaker - that's just a symbol of peace and goodness. Can't we all be Quakers? {Link to Open Post at Mudville Gazette}