Defending mascots = attacking Indians

University Of Ill. Investigates Threats Against American IndianThe University of Illinois is investigating online threats made against an American Indian student on a Web page that defended the use of the school's Chief Illiniwek mascot, the university's chancellor said Tuesday.

In a letter sent Tuesday to faculty and others on campus, Chancellor Richard Herman said threats aimed at an American Indian student and American Indians in general were made on the Facebook social-networking Web site and appeared to have been made by students.UI examining racist posts on Facebook siteThe threats were posted last semester and appeared as part of a discussion group on the social networking site Facebook. The page, called "If They Get Rid of the Chief I'm Becoming a Racist," focused on the debate surrounding Chief Illiniwek. More than 100 students joined the group.

Late in November, according to the UI Native American House and opponents of Chief Illiniwek, one UI student reportedly wrote, "there was never a racist problem before ... but now i hate redskins and hope all those drunk, casino owning bums die." (The punctuation and spelling are as reported by the Native American House.)

About two weeks later, another UI student posted, "that's the worst part! apparently the leader of this (anti-chief) movement is of Sioux descent. Which means what, you ask? the Sioux indians are the ones that killed off the Illini indians, so she's just trying to finish what her ancestors started. I say we throw a tomohawk into her face."Comment:  "Becoming" a racist?

Yeah, until Indians protested Chief Illiniwek, students never thought they were redskins or drunk casino owning bums. The mascot protests put these thoughts in the students' heads.

If you believe this, I have a bridge you may want to buy. It's big and shiny and will get you across the swamp land you recently purchased.