Chiefs Yael T. Abouhalkah: Stop the tomahawk chop - Page 17

Eleazar · 01-12-2016, 06:31 PM

Yael T. Abouhalkah: C’mon, Chiefs fans, knock off the boorish tomahawk chop

BY YAEL T. ABOUHALKAH
abouhalkah@kcstar.com

Too many Kansas City Chiefs fans love to engage in the boorish and insulting tomahawk chop while celebrating before, during and after football games.

Here’s how this silly behavior looked Saturday prior to the Chiefs’ playoff victory against the Houston Texans.

It’s especially embarrassing that the chop is still popular as the nation’s sports fans focus this week on the Chiefs’ playoff game Saturday, when they visit the New England Patriots, the defending National Football League champions.

Now others around the country will just have more legitimate reasons to criticize Chiefs fans. As a USA Today writer aptly noted last week, “The Tomahawk chop is so much more offensive than a nickname as it’s active, not passive.”

Plenty of people have laid out the good reasons over the years for why many Native Americans don’t like the chop, mostly because it really has nothing to do with their history and is a “clear mockery of Indian culture.” The celebration gesture also is infamously used by fans of the Atlanta Braves and Florida State teams.

The Chiefs organization, to their discredit, have refused to actively campaign against the chop. Instead, they encourage it with the music played at Arrowhead Stadium, even as they have engaged with Indian groups on more perfunctory actions, such as blessing the Chiefs’ drum at the stadium.

Yes, this is an age-old debate in Kansas City. Some fans properly see the distasteful practice as something they won’t engage in; others defend it as just good fun.

(And please don’t get me started on the argument that “the Chiefs were named after former Mayor H. Roe Bartle’s nickname.” Team officials going back decades have used Native American signs, etc., to promote the club.)

Plenty of Americans are trying to get the Washington Redskins to change their highly offensive name. One day, they might just succeed.

It would show great progress for Kansas City sports fans to drop the silly tomahawk chop at Chiefs games.

Just don’t hold your breath that this kind of respectable action will be taken.

Yael T. Abouhalkah: 816-234-4887, abouhalkah@kcstar.com, @YaelTAbouhalkah

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/op...#storylink=cpy

**Baby Lee** · 01-13-2016, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Sambos had some good pancakes. Cool jungle scene painted walls. Loved to go there when I was a kid.

For those familiar, when I was a kid Sambo's was the only restaurant remotely near the old Bendix/Allied Signal/Honeywell complex where pops worked and had free birthday kids meals, so sis and I went there every year on our birthday right when dad got off work.

**Donger** · 01-13-2016, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

It's where you're not being 'mean' but you still bum someone out by noticing differences, or even subconsciously maybe playing into them without noticing.

Asking an Asian kid for help with math.
Commenting on a black girls hair.
Asking a minority if they know someone who's the same minority.
Telling a Brit they have nice teeth.

You get the idea.

Sounds like life to me.

**Baby Lee** · 01-13-2016, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Sounds like life to me.

We've moved beyond not being bigoted being enough. A responsible person now measures their [gender neutral pronoun] anti-bigotry.

It creates endlessly amusing contradictions.

In this weeks Adam Savage column, Adam [who, as a gay man, has always beat the drum for sexual attraction not being a choice] was chiding the gay community for being too picky in their 'types' on their Grindr profiles.

Basically, you have no control whatsoever over whether you are attracted to men or women, period. But shame on you for not being attracted to Asians, flamers, bears, or fatties.

vailpass · 01-13-2016, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

For those familiar, when I was a kid Sambo's was the only restaurant remotely near the old Bendix/Allied Signal/Honeywell complex where pops worked and had free birthday kids meals, so sis and I went there every year on our birthday right when dad got off work.

It was a good place for parents to take little kids now that I look back on it.

I take it by the earlier post in this thread that it was determined at some point this restaurant was offensive to middle easterners?

cosmo20002 · 01-13-2016, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

We've moved beyond not being bigoted being enough. A responsible person now measures their [gender neutral pronoun] anti-bigotry.

It creates endlessly amusing contradictions.

In this weeks Adam Savage column, Adam [who, as a gay man, has always beat the drum for sexual attraction not being a choice] was chiding the gay community for being too picky in their 'types' on their Grindr profiles.

Basically, you have no control whatsoever over whether you are attracted to men or women, period. But shame on you for not being attracted to Asians, flamers, bears, or fatties.

thanks

**007** · 01-13-2016, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Oh. I thought it was an aggressive midget or something.

call the PC police.

HonestChieffan · 01-13-2016, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Carcosa, please post more so i can make fun of you more. Thank you. If you're a chick i'll let it slide, otherwise....goddamn, son.

Carcosa may be the male brother to Cosmo. She hasn't said so but I wonder.

**bevischief** · 01-14-2016, 04:43 AM

Does it still have a job?

FloridaMan88 · 01-14-2016, 10:40 AM

My e-mail to Yael:

Dear Yael,

Enjoy...

Fairplay · 01-14-2016, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Sambos had some good pancakes. Cool jungle scene painted walls. Loved to go there when I was a kid.

This proves you're not racist, good job and rep.

Bambi · 01-14-2016, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |Zach|

The Chiefs history is mediocrity and nothing more. Nobody cares it isn't good or classic.

Pretty much. Hopefully that changes a bit after this year.

Pasta Little Brioni · 01-14-2016, 10:58 AM

Zip it bronco douche

**loochy** · 01-14-2016, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |Zach|

The Chiefs history is mediocrity and nothing more. Nobody cares it isn't good or classic.

But it's OUR history and it matters to us.

**luv** · 01-14-2016, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

My e-mail to Yael:

Dear Yael,

Enjoy...

Isn't that Florida State?

**luv** · 01-14-2016, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Carcosa may be the male brother to Cosmo. She hasn't said so but I wonder.

This is the second time I've seen cosmo referred to as a female. Have I really been on here for that long without a clue?

01-12-2016, 06:31 PM
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Yael T. Abouhalkah: Stop the tomahawk chop Yael T. Abouhalkah: C’mon, Chiefs fans, knock off the boorish tomahawk chop BY YAEL T. ABOUHALKAH abouhalkah@kcstar.com Too many Kansas City Chiefs fans love to engage in the boorish and insulting tomahawk chop while celebrating before, during and after football games. Here’s how this silly behavior looked Saturday prior to the Chiefs’ playoff victory against the Houston Texans. It’s especially embarrassing that the chop is still popular as the nation’s sports fans focus this week on the Chiefs’ playoff game Saturday, when they visit the New England Patriots, the defending National Football League champions. Now others around the country will just have more legitimate reasons to criticize Chiefs fans. As a USA Today writer aptly noted last week, “The Tomahawk chop is so much more offensive than a nickname as it’s active, not passive.” Plenty of people have laid out the good reasons over the years for why many Native Americans don’t like the chop, mostly because it really has nothing to do with their history and is a “clear mockery of Indian culture.” The celebration gesture also is infamously used by fans of the Atlanta Braves and Florida State teams. The Chiefs organization, to their discredit, have refused to actively campaign against the chop. Instead, they encourage it with the music played at Arrowhead Stadium, even as they have engaged with Indian groups on more perfunctory actions, such as blessing the Chiefs’ drum at the stadium. Yes, this is an age-old debate in Kansas City. Some fans properly see the distasteful practice as something they won’t engage in; others defend it as just good fun. (And please don’t get me started on the argument that “the Chiefs were named after former Mayor H. Roe Bartle’s nickname.” Team officials going back decades have used Native American signs, etc., to promote the club.) Plenty of Americans are trying to get the Washington Redskins to change their highly offensive name. One day, they might just succeed. It would show great progress for Kansas City sports fans to drop the silly tomahawk chop at Chiefs games. Just don’t hold your breath that this kind of respectable action will be taken. Yael T. Abouhalkah: 816-234-4887, abouhalkah@kcstar.com, @YaelTAbouhalkah Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/op...#storylink=cpy
Posts: 80,659

01-14-2016, 04:43 AM	#248
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $8659352 VARSITY	Does it still have a job?
Posts: 27,731

01-14-2016, 10:40 AM	#249
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $2782906	My e-mail to Yael: Dear Yael, Enjoy...
Posts: 38,953

01-14-2016, 10:58 AM	#252
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3608880	Zip it bronco douche __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 69,026