Why aren't all culturally themed mascots considered racist?

Question

Why is the Fighting Illini and their mascot considered racist and offensive while the Fighting Irish and their mascot are not???????

Please do not say that it's because the Irish were never discriminated against because they were.

Okay, if I could edit this question to say ethnicity instead of culture then I would.
For the sake of this question, please consider it changed. Thank You.

I didn't want to lose the answers to this question so I reposted this question with the correct wording. I don't want this to be picked apart just because I chose the wrong wording.

Answer 1

I think the decision to ban the chief is a slap in the face to the native American community. At least to Chief frank fools crow who donated the current costume. He was a Lakota Sioux spiritual leader, and to denigrate his gift as being offensive to his own people is ludicrous

Answer 2

Actually it's not. For example, the Seminole tribe has no problem with FSU using the seminoles as the mascot. I believe it's the same case as the Fighting Illini. It's the people that aren't even the Indians that say that the mascots are considered racist.

Answer 3

The first guy is correct. Most people confuse race with ethnicity.

However, the reason it's offensive to make fun of some minorities and not others has everything to do with social perception.

It really shouldn't be alright to 'make fun' of anyone at their expense.

Today in our society it's not socially acceptable to make fun of minority ethnicity's; however if a person is considered Caucasian then not enough people are generally offended.

The difference is people being able to laugh at themselves and understand that it's meant in good humor, and not in an attacking way. Humor need not be at someone else's expense. Things can be funny in many other ways, but again, if the public fails to see it, than it becomes socially unacceptable.

Answer 4

Obviously because Irish people did not take offense. Or did not do so as forcefully.

I personally don't understand. It seems to me by the U of Ill. is, in a sense, revering them not making fun of or degrading the them.

Answer 5

First off, you are confusing race and ethnicity.

Secondly, its all in how that particular race, ethnic group, or culture chooses to be offended.

I don't see a whole lot of Irishmen standing up and saying boo to the little dude with fists.

Answer 6

i live in illinois and ive never heard of a person of the illini tribe complaing about chief illiniwek. i dont understand why he had to go. everyone loved him and respected him.

Answer 7

Because it just is.