Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
This guy famously said he was an Indian:
So did this gal:
In his book, even this guy said he was Indian:
Oddly, although this guy might actually be Amerindian, the mainstream media loves to call him "white" because they think he may have done something not very cool:
See these people? Half of them are pretending to be Italian, but they are not...
...yet Iron Eyes Cody was Italian...
...as was one of my boyhood favorites, Chief Jay Strongbow:
Tanto was an Irish Guy:
It seems that it has always been thought of as pretty cool in America to be an Indian, even if you aren't. However, pretending to be other ethnicities can get you into trouble. Don't do what Ted Danson did, even if you are dating Whoopi Goldberg:
And don't get caught pretending to be an East Indian like Ashton did:
But if you are as loved as Billy Cyrstal - then blackface is OK:
Oh, and I have no idea what she is trying to accomplish:
The intertwine between sociology and political correctness is fascinating but so complicated that I feel more compelled to observe than analyze. Does anyone really know what the rules are?
We've all heard that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, yet it is often taken for unfair stereotyping. When is imitation flattery and when is it insult? Is the standard by which to judge completely objective or do we give greater weight to the subjective opinion of those being imitated? Is the "laughing with us/laughing at us inquiry" the proper standard?
Indians, it appears, do not like being imitated. It is a stealing of their culture according to the complaints I've read. We've all seen the objections to sport team names and Oregon just this week banned all school mascots from having Indian names. I admit I've never understood the objection. Our athletes are revered because of their strength, speed, fast thinking and abilities. I don't know why that is taken as insult.
How I would love it were there a team called the "New Jersey Italians" but HBO and MTV have already made those teams and they had nothing to do with the virtue of good sportsmanship.
I would imagine if we stopped imitating Indians, stopped naming sports franchises after them and removed their names from our various states, municipalities and streets, we would then be accused of burying their culture.
I'm not even sure if I'm supposed to be calling them Indians. I do believe a man should be called what he wants to be called, so I will use "Native American" if there is an insistence that I do.
So - is it reverence to imitate an Indian, or is it insult? If you are 1/32nd Indian as Elizabeth Warren claims, is it insult to accentuate that?
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
I wonder if I should be offended when people refer to my maternal ancestors as "German", instead of Deutsch. The word "German" comes from an old Roman expression that essentially means "spear-chucker."
Apr '12
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
Ah ha! A field where I am qualified to opine! (not that it really stops me) Triple threat: Indian, Irish AND sailor! (hey, Mariners is a team)
When I signed up for the Navy, in 2000, I was listed as an Indian. I don't look it-- about as generic American as you can get, honestly-- but my dad's dad having Cherokee blood, and his mom being 1/4 Indian (and going to Indian school!) was good enough to check boxes for the local recruiter. We agreed it was BS, but that doesn't change anything for quotas, and better me (who wanted to be a sailor) than someone else (who wanted to be a token). A short time later, the race quotas as a per-station thing was removed. (thank God)
I grew up around real Indians-- including a woman that was born in a traditional lifestyle. Her response to the "noble savage" romantic junk would curl your hair.
Terry Pratchett nailed it with the Campaign for Equal Heights (for dwarves, mostly by humans). And the SADL. (for trolls, mostly by the troll mob) And the Black Ribboners, for no-blood vampires and vampire wannabees......
Sep '10
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
StandAndWait
dogsbody
Stealth Book of the New Sun reference? · 1 hour ago
I've never actually commented on Ricochet before, (still in that lurking phase) but I just had to mention that it warms the cockles of my heart to see another Gene Wolfe fan here. · 4 hours ago
Yes, and Tabula Rasa too. Let's all meet in a graveyard at midnight outside the Citadel sometime.
Apr '12
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
Tommy, great list, especially the sunburn lady which killed me! For your list - the fake Indian called Grey Owl who lived in Canada but was British. "Revelation of his British origins after his death adversely affected his reputation for some time." I should think so. Same with Elizabeth but who bets she still might get votes?
Jun '10
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
dogsbody
StandAndWait
dogsbody
Stealth Book of the New Sun reference? · 1 hour ago
I've never actually commented on Ricochet before, (still in that lurking phase) but I just had to mention that it warms the cockles of my heart to see another Gene Wolfe fan here. · 4 hours ago
Yes, and Tabula Rasa too. Let's all meet in a graveyard at midnight outside the Citadel sometime. · 1 hour ago
Wow! Gene Wolfe people have come out of the closet on this thread. I'll bring one of my sons to the Wolfe meeting: he's a major league Wolfe guy.
Now a reference to the great Terry Pratchett from Foxfier. Pratchett is second only to P. G. Wodehouse in generating out-loud laughing while quietly reading.
Edited on May 23, 2012 at 3:24amNov '11
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
Tommy De Seno:
* * * *
Does anyone really know what the rules are?
* * * *
I'm not even sure if I'm supposed to be calling them Indians. I do believe a man should be called what he wants to be called, so I will use "Native American" if there is an insistence that I do.
* * * *
I'll probably get into heap big trouble for letting the Pale Face hear about one of our sacred mysteries, but the real reason for all this stuff about Indian/Native American names is to keep you white people as confused as possible, because we noble savages do so much enjoy the hilarity of watching white people fidget and squirm while trying not to accidentally say something that might be considered insensitive or (egads!) racist.
I wish I was allowed to tell you which of the various descriptors we actually do prefer, but that would be giving away just too much.
Nov '11
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
Tommy De Seno:
* * * *
Does anyone really know what the rules are?
* * * *
BTW and along the same lines, Tommy, I believe your use of the word "welching" in your Ricochet profile is also a bit of a no-no, although not as bad as "Indian giver," ooops, I mean "Native American giver."
Apr '12
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
I'm not a mutt, I'm a thoroughbred American. My name means that everyone will know what group of islands my paternal-line ancestors inhabited. But I had ancestors from Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, France, and if one traces back far enough, perhaps even a little tribe from the east coast of the Med. On my father's side, there are a couple of lines who came late to this country in the 1850's, but most arrived in the 17th century. My family was here before there was a Unites States, and some of them fought in the Revolution to create the United States. But there's more.
To create a new breed, one might select for certain criteria from the base stock and keep bringing in individuals who meet those criteria to further the new breed. We've brought in the best of the rugged indivdualists, the dreamers, the con artists, the hardworkers, the freedom-lovers, the cranks, and those on the lam. Like me, you are not mutts. You are thoroughbred American originals, and be proud of it!
Edited on May 23, 2012 at 6:07amMay '10
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
But Tommy, these days it's not cool to be an Indian. It's banned.
Jun '11
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
Sounds like it is time to get rid of the census form's obsession with race and ethnicity.
To make up for it, I have suggested a new quasi-holiday to celebrate Hyphenated-Malcontents' Day every April 1!
Edited on May 23, 2012 at 6:44amJul '11
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
Wow, Terry Pratchett fans abound. Another gratuitous reference to the all time greatest satire writer would be to note his play on character names poking fun at names that have meaning such as Indian names. One of my favorites is the Dwarf name Cherry Littlebottom. It will be a sad day when Sir Terry can no longer poke fun at the absurdities of the world.
Dec '10
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
"a team called the "New Jersey Italians"
I'm Irish. I'm not offended by "The Fighting Irish", or by the Celtics. Any Scandinavians here? What about those Vikings?
May '10
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
My Official Culture Correspondent offers this quote from the late much missed television classic:
From Due South, (straight-arrow RCMP Constable Benton Fraser is Canadian actor Paul Gross, on assignment in Chicago with his pet deaf wolf, Diefenbaker) episode "Easy Money":Constable Benton Fraser: The caribou, the elk the beaver? They too can talk?
Tom Quinn: I've been getting into this native roots thing and it seems to work. Besides, I thought the Tonto act might impress that little jackass.
Oct '10
Re: Pretendians: Why is it So Cool to be an Indian?
See Victor Davis Hanson's pitch-perfect take on this whole topic of The Power of Cool.
HVTs
Like all PC rules, it's deliberately vague so that those the Left dislikes can be violently chastised, while those the Left likes can commit serial offenses with no consequences. It has nothing to do with Native Americans, but a perfect example of this principle is Bill Clinton's serial abuse of women. · May 22 at 11:31a