Hey everybody

It's been awhile, I have been teaching and commuting weekly to another town to do it.  Hope you have all been well and happy.

Awhile back I blogged some of the NZ anti drink adverts because of their graphic nature.  Well I have a new one to blog and it is the most successful one ever in this country.  Though it has brought some racists out of the woodwork (who don't think Maori could have the vocab in this ad).

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIYvD9DI1ZA

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsFlVWqWHlA&feature=feedu

The makers of the parady are very easy on the eye in this clip.  Enjoy

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nwm6frRyfE&NR=1

My last post on "The Indians" Irish Showband drew some comments that I must respectfully disagree with.

Challenging Native American sports teams/mascots and changing names is not silly and/or absurd.

How is it respectful to tell people you are 'honouring' them whilst ignoring their experiences?  To me this smacks of white privilege, as does the assertion that I am sensitive to Native issues because I live it.  Though I understand the intent of the statement was to be understanding of my position, I have to point out that although my friends and daughter are indigenous (New Zealand, which is not automatically interchangable with other indigenous people), and I see and challenge racism, I also benefit from white privilege.  To to say "I live it" insults Native people in all countries living with the ugly stereotypes and legacy of colonisation.  

My comment regarding searching on google wasn't for finding scholarly articles, because as Flagday rightly suggests, there are scholarly articles for all opinions.  I had hoped that by looking online those interested in social justice would find and listen to the experience of Native American's who find mascots offensive.  I understand that because of the demography of the States it may not always be possible to have Native friends or colleagues.   Here are some good places to start:

http://www.bluecorncomics.com/mascots.htm

http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/

http://iamnotamascot.blogspot.com/

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/

http://mycultureisnotatrend.tumblr.com/

http://www.bluecorncomics.com/stharm.htm

http://newspaperrock.bluecorncomics.com/

Some documentaries that should be essential viewing (not just on stereotypes/mascots but much of the horror of US history which is still largely unknown):

"Reel Injun", "The Canary Effect" (though be aware Ward Churchill is a 'wannabe' and you'll seriously need a box of tissues to watch this) and "A good Die to Day, The Dennis Banks Documentary".  All trailers can be seen on youtube. 

Please look at this issue with an open heart and really listen to what our Native American brothers and sisters are telling us.

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o5A0VGvnXg

Most of you are probably not aware of the "The Indians" as in Ireland's self proclaimed top showband.

A showband that in the early 1970s was looking for a gimmick and decided that misappropriating Native American culture was just the thing.  Not great, but it was the 1970s - there is no excuse for this in today's day and age and yes this showband is still going.   Still dressing up in tassells, feathered headdresses, war paint and singing about wigwams and squaws ('squaw' is a controversial term at best and sexist and racist at worst).

Recently there has been a campaign driven by Native American's for this band to drop the 'gimmick' which has lead to some rather nasty racist comments from both sides of the Atlantic.  As a person of Irish descent I am appalled at the lack of active listening from "The Indians" (the Showband and supporters) - it is not "honouring" or "flattering" someone when one group of people continues a behaviour despite the express wishes of the target group.   Many seem to think this is harmless, as harmless as "The Washington Redskins" and the "Cleveland Indians" complete with racist characture.   Native American mascots and groups that carry on like "The Indians" are not harmless - there is a lot of research written about the damage these stereotypes do.  A simple google search is all that is required to find this information.

As a person of Irish descent I'm not embarrassed by "The Indians" (unfortunately ignorance is everywhere), I'm embarrassed by the apathy and continued denial of Native American experiences displayed by my Irish bretheren, who could pressure this band into losing the Native American "gimmick" but don't.  Seriously - you would think Irish people would be more sensitive about cultural missappriopriation and stereotyping.

I am aware of the pain and suffering Osama has caused and yet I find the celebrations of his murder distasteful.  I will not celebrate murder, not even the murder of a murderer.   I couldn't find the words to explain how I feel and then found a person much better than me had already said them:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"
— Martin Luther King Jr

I hope you are all well - to everybody in Japan, my thoughts are with you.   Thank you so much for your assistance with NZ's earthquake last month.  I wish we could do more for you now.

Sorry I have been awol for so long - I am training to be a Primary School teacher but doing a Graduate Diploma which essentially is a degree squished into 15 months and the work load is stupendous.  I have nearly 3000 feeds so I wont be catching up with those sorry. 

Take care everyone - I finish in April and hope to be on here more after that.