FORUM RULES

[SleazyRider]

Here are websites which provide some interesting factual information about tribal gaming, which is related to topics which we discuss on this forum.
 
 
The National Indian Gaming Commission website is:
 
                                        www.nigc.gov
 
 
The National Indian Gaming Association website is:
 
                                       www.indiangaming.org
 

 
 
 
 
       

[edog743]

The nigc is a u.s government based organization. The niga is run by Ernie stevens jr. a member of the oneida tribe of wisconsin. He has been trying to change indian to native american for quite a while to no avail. just thought you would like know

[Webman]

Ernie Stevens is very credible and I applaud any such efforts if he is undertaking them. If there is to be change, that is the level at which it must occur. However my point remains the same, that the term Indian is so prolific in current vernacular that to take high offense to a few individuals using it on a  message board or demand action against it does not hold weight at this time. I'm very sorry if the word is offensive to you but it is not to a great many other people, nor do people intend it that way.  I understand where you are coming from, and if this is a grassroots effort to change the use of the word, then you are doing your part in some way. Hopefully you have raised awareness that some people do not appreciate the term. But I would not go off the handle and assume that people are using it in a derogatory manner when they are not, or take great offense to their use of it.  Consider that perhaps your reaction is not universal and your feelings towards the word not the same as others, and that perhaps getting angry about the word isn't the best course of action. Before responding, please read this article or search it for the word "Indian."http://www.casinojournal.com/Articles/C ... A-at-25You will find that as Mr Stevens uses the word himself several times, it is not at all in a context similar to black people using the N-wod as you implied in another post. Far from it, or he would lose all credibility. In fact, I think it is a rather accepted term in many ways and that you may want to re-evaluate your reaction.That does not mean the term is appropriate in all contexts and I think people would do well to consider their use of it to not offend. However, I also find that to be the case in the posts so far here... people are not using it to offend, and in fact have considered the use when you brought it up and decided that it would still be appropriate to call Indian Casinos by that name not out of ignorance, but out of acceptance of the term as inoffensive at this time.I can't tell you to not be personally offended by the term, as I know you bring your own history into this discussion and have been impacted throughout your life in your own way. I only ask that you offer the same to others here, who are not coming from the same place and have intended no offense.

[rascal]

A good, thoughtful post, Webman. Thank you.
 
I feel like I am as politically correct and as sensitive to potentially derogatory terms as anyone, having been both instructor and researcher at one of the most culturally diversified universities in the United States. That said, I have never been given any logical reason to consider the word "Indian" to be demeaning. However, if "Indian" is personally demeaning to edog743, then I will make a sincere attempt to avoid it in direct conversation with him, just as I would make such an attempt with anyone that I knew had a hangup with a particular word or phrase. But I do intend to continue to call "Indian Casinos" by the term "Indian Casinos" until such time as those casinos themselves change their identification to "Native American Casinos." And, as several have pointed out in previous postings, a website forum that has been established specifically for discussions about a game hardly seems to be the proper place for a controversy such as this one.

[edog743]

This will be my last post on this subject. webman I thank you for advice, but a little food for thoght. This is not a grassroots effort on my part. The ncaa started making universities change their names because of percieved racial overtones of their nicknames i.e marquette university. States all over the land are making high schools change also i.e the former kewaunne indians  in wisconsin among others if you do not believe me ask one of my biggest critics mammajamma. this probably is not the right place for this argument. But then again if racial slurs are present should they not be pointed out? so I am done for now I know when I am beating a dead horse.

[Webman]

With that, I'll let you have the last word.