Portland school fears 'Evergreens' mascot tied to lynching

Portland school fears 'Evergreens' mascot tied to lynching

More proof that anything can be racist. Funny or sad?

The board member who is against this touted that Ida B. Wells was a high profile advocate against lynching. This is true. Is it relevant? I don't think it is; especially since it's a freakin evergreen. You can't hang a heavy Christmas ornament on evergreens without the branch sagging.

Sheesh.

After adopting a new namesake earlier this year, the Southwest Portland high school also wants to ditch its Trojan mascot. A committee comprised of students, staff and community members suggested the evergreens as the school's new mascot.

 

ok, that’s just dumb. People can find offense in anything apparently.

 

I don't think it's funny or sad. Part of understanding another person's point of view is recognizing their worldview may not be the same as our own. While it's easy to dismiss this as silly, it is something very real for the people that spoke up about their concerns. To gloss over that is to silence that discussion. At the end of the day, most people just want to be heard, to not be treated as if their contributions aren't worthy of consideration. Yes, it's hard to talk about but it's only through these kinds of discussions that we grow in understanding and empathy.

 

It's almost like they're trying to say trees willingly participated in lynchings. When will this nonsense end?

 

It's a ****ing tree.

It is funny and sad.

 

Well they renamed the school from Woodrow Wilson to an obscure black activist from the 19th century. They got rid of the white Trojan mascot for a new tree mascot. This in a state that had no slaves and precious few blacks throughout it's entire history. This is akin to whites moving to Japan and renaming one of their schools after Bill Gates. (It was the child of Asian immigrants that started this campaign).

The people destroying what our forefathers created are also destroying any memory of our forefathers. They are creating the ruins of a civilization and using the word "empathy" to hide their fascist hatred of white people.

https://www.koin.com/news/education/pps-changes-wilson-hs-name-to-honor-ida-b-wells-barnett/#:~:text=The Portland Public Schools board,including Woodrow Wilson High School.

..

 

Now they are looking to cancel Trojan brand? Is Lifestyles or Astroglide next?

 

In what way does an evergreen tree inspire thoughts of lynching?

 

I don't believe it does inspire thoughts of lynching. The point I was trying to make is that we (collective, not you personally) shouldn't dismiss these types of conversations just because we don't agree with their position.

 

We should absolutely dismiss a conversation about an evergreen tree being a symbol for racism.

 

No, we shouldn't. That person has the right to voice her concerns; however ridiculous they sound to others. Sure, it will be shot down and quietly laughed at but she deserves the right to speak her truth.

 

In this case, it's okay to publicly laugh. Everyone has the right to speak, but everyone also has the right to react.

If people want their genuine cause taken seriously, then the person carrying the torch for said cause should speak seriously. This is not a serious conversation.

 

Do you think she's not serious (just joking around) or the topic isn't serious because her concerns seem silly?

 

I have to wonder if there is something more to this. I wonder if she meant something along the lines of what other teams will say. Like taunting, referring it to lynching. That kind of thing.

 

Maybe. However, somebody will always find a way to taunt the other team no matter what.

 

So now trees are racist!!! Add it to the list of milk, space, math, crayons, Dr. Seuss, and everything else. Since everything is racist nothing really is.

 

Someone looking to be offended will find a way.

For example: Republicans are trying to solve the non problem of voting fraud by claiming that people will willingly change their vote in lieu of a bottle of water.

Silly is silly and should be labeled as such.

 

“We did talk about it, but we were looking at the symbolism more as a tree of life, than a tree of death,” Martin Osborne said.

Osborne, who is black, said the evergreens mascot “had nothing to do with the horrible history of lynching in the United States. Lynching trees typically are not evergreens.”

^This statement is spot on.

Any suggestion there is something "sinister" about Evergreens is PC Run Amok. Period.

 

She "spoke her truth" and now we've moved on to the "laughed at" phase. What's the problem?

 

Maybe you and your ilk can suggest cutting down ALL trees so as not to offend anyone.

 

Will drinking chocolate milk be considered "cultural appropriation" now?

 

Yeah but let's try to discourage taunts on racial grounds.

 

Yes, but to the person, it's a valid concern.

Using your example...Trump and his supporters believe there is a problem with election fraud. Several judges, Election officials, Bill Barr and countless recounts have shown this to be non-existent. Should they be silenced because it's a ridiculous claim? No. They are entitled to voice their concerns.

In the same way, this woman is entitled to voice her concern. For the rest of the people, you, me and anybody reading this thread, it sounds ridiculous. But, to her, it's legit.

P.S. I used to have to attend board meetings for various projects I was involved in. One time, I sat through a six hour meeting which was spent debating what color stationery to use for an upcoming mail campaign. So, maybe I have a high threshold for listening to silliness.

 

Of course! I never taunted the other team when I played sports. It's just not my personality.

 

lol I doubt it was.