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Proposed alternative solution to the Chief |
Current rating: 0 |
by Ed Mandel
Email: frozenthought (nospam) hotmail.com (verified) |
12 Mar 2004
Modified: 03:20:43 AM |
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The local mainstream news media continues to emphasize that there is no solution or sense of compromise in the Chief Illiniwek situation. I will offer my proposal again in the hope that this time it will "catch fire". |
I listened to the WDWS news broadcast yesterday & they emphasized that the only words of compromise that worked toward a solution to the Chief Illiniwek situation came from Roger Huddleston, a long time supporter of the Chief. Once again the major media seems to be tone deaf. I will offer my proposal again in the hope that this time it will "catch fire".
I propose that "Chief Illiniwek" be replaced with the "Fire Chief" & the sports program "Fighting Illini" be replaced with the "Illinois Firefighters". In this way, university students can continue to honor the chief--a representative of real heroes who deserve our praise & standing ovations at halftime. Orange would represent fire & the Blue would represent water. This solution was inspired a couple of years ago by the Tom Paxton song "The Bravest". The song sung from the perspective of a survivor of the WTC collapse told of how "the firefighters were going up the stairs while we were going down".
I took the opportunity to see the film "In Whose Honor" a few weeks ago. There was one aspect mentioned that I had not previously considered. The idea that the Chief Illiniwek heads embroidered on to clothes & that continues to appear on storefronts throughtout Champaign could be interpreted as the decapitated head of a scalped Indian.
I strongly recommend to the UIUC Board of Trustees to vote on this issue & to perhaps consider my suggestion a viable alternative. It would appear to me that this long running theatrical performance should finally come to an end. |
This work is in the public domain |
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Re: Proposed alternative solution to the Chief |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -2
14 Mar 2004
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Dear Ed,
I guess you guys are unwilling to let the students vote on this topic. As for your idea, I am offended by fire.
Jack |
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uh..... |
by Seth
uiuc.edu (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
15 Mar 2004
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i realise that the the Fire Service Institute is on campus, but still... no
no matter where you stand on the chief, you can't replace 100 years of tradition built into songs and cheers with a Tom Paxton song...
QUOTE: "Chief Illiniwek heads embroidered on to clothes & that continues to appear on storefronts throughtout Champaign could be interpreted as the decapitated head of a scalped Indian. "
huh? you people think that there is some vast conspiracy and that the whole "chief" thing is just some huge running joke... as much as i personally don't see the mascot as racist, if the student body doesn't vote to keep it, or if there isn't a strong majority, i am willing to let it go... i am sick and tired of CNN showing up for the chief, and not for what has been accomplished on campus and on the athletic fields... |
