Calif. Bill To Restrict Mascots Fails (there goes all hopes for world peace)

(AP) ^

[Dallas]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. --

State lawmakers defeated a bill Tuesday that would have forced public schools to outlaw American Indian team names and mascots such as Redskins, Chiefs and Apaches.

The measure, rejected 35 to 29 by the Assembly, would have made California the first state to require name changes at elementary, middle and high schools as well as community colleges and state universities. Schools on reservations would have been spared.

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, a Democrat who authored the bill, believes Indian mascots promote a hostile learning environment and racial division.

But critics say decisions are usually made by individual schools and it should stay that way. More than half the nation's 3,000 schools with Indian mascots or nicknames have already changed them over the past 30 years, according to the Morning Star Institute, a nonprofit American Indian civil rights organization.

* __

On the Net:

AB 2115: http://www.assembly.ca.gov

Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press

[Ciexyz]

Let's go a step further and forbid any cars or trucks on the roads with "Indian" names (smile). Also names like "Taurus" (the bull symbology is too masculine and aggressive) and "Ranger" (the US Rangers "massacred" Indians.)

[roylene]

Good - hope that starts sanity in California. Oh what who am I kidding.

[JeepInMazar]

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, a Democrat who authored the bill, believes Indian mascots promote a hostile learning environment and racial division.

She has such a superior belief system. < /sarcasm >

[ARA]

Maybe there is some hope for my state..... LOL

[DennisR]

Heads up everyone!!! The sky is falling!!! The sky is falling!!!

[philetus]

I`m sure many U.S. Rangers feel insulted by being compared to a crappy truck.

[RWCon]

The Japs outsmarted us by using meaningless names for their cars. (Celica, Accord, etc.)

[blackbart.223]

"Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, a Democrat who authored the bill, believes Indian mascots promote a hostile learning environment and racial division."

It's seems Miss Golberg didn't take advantage of her own opportunity to become educated. She probably spent more time carrying protest signs and smoking pot on the ladies room than hitting the books.

[sweetliberty]

That's 1 for freedom over PC.

[tophat9000]

State lawmakers defeated a bill Tuesday that would have forced public schools to outlaw American Indian team names

I was "Hopi"-ing they would

[Dallas]

2 bits....4 bits.....6 bits.....a dollar......all for the Hopis, stand hop up and hollar.

I like it.....let's go with it.

[capitan_refugio]

Stanford Indian bump!

[laredo44]

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, a Democrat who authored the bill, believes Indian mascots promote a hostile learning environment and racial division.

What's truly amazing is that this woman is so willing to introduce legislation on what she believes to be true. Nothing about "Studies show..." to justify the call to action, just her belief. Education achievement continues to wallow, and this is her response? Absolutely amazing.

[Angelique]

I am shocked that this bill failed. There must be a Tom A. Hawk loose.