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The mascot debate/fandom thread
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<blockquote data-quote="Fighter of the Nightman" data-source="post: 1932674" data-attributes="member: 590800"><p>1. I don't mean to be too critical of a debatably minor thing, but it is distracting when a spelling error and grammatical error are front and center within the first two paragraphs ... lol, it might have made me a bit biased from the start.</p><p></p><p>2. I do not think it is comparable to say that we never changed our name to "the Fighting Chiefs" when we had the Chief, so no one should worry about getting rid of the nickname, "Fighting Illini." For one, the Chief and the Fighting Illini were arguably very connected ... the Kingfisher would be in effect starting over, and it's a totally rationale concern that some people who don't say anything about the name Illini now would eventually view the nickname as archaic, somehow offensive and worthy of being ditched at a future time. The War Chant was in no danger of ever being removed in 2007 when the Chief was because "it was just a song," and here we are. This isn't a political comment as it can apply to those on the left and the right, but most activists do not rest easy when they achieve their stated goals ... they check it off the list and move on to something new. To effectively gaslight people concerned about losing the Fighting Illini nickname and tell them they have nothing to worry about indefinitely is very disingenuous, IMO.</p><p></p><p>3. On that note, I think any new mascot (and I do NOT think we need one!) has to be unique to our identity as Illinoisans and/or people associated with Illinois' state flagship school (i.e., mostly alumni). I will give the Kingfisher that it at least tries in this regard, but very few will draw any kind of connection. A World War II/military reference is the most direct way to pivot toward some type of continuity with the broadest of meanings for "Fighting Illini," but I understand that many (rightly or wrongly) will find some issue with this. So, if we MUST have a mascot, I am all aboard the Abe Lincoln train. He is arguably the most famous person to ever come from this state, ESPECIALLY Downstate Illinois. I'm sure someone somewhere would find a reason to be offended by using Honest Abe, but at some point we have to not really give a crap.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fighter of the Nightman, post: 1932674, member: 590800"] 1. I don't mean to be too critical of a debatably minor thing, but it is distracting when a spelling error and grammatical error are front and center within the first two paragraphs ... lol, it might have made me a bit biased from the start. 2. I do not think it is comparable to say that we never changed our name to "the Fighting Chiefs" when we had the Chief, so no one should worry about getting rid of the nickname, "Fighting Illini." For one, the Chief and the Fighting Illini were arguably very connected ... the Kingfisher would be in effect starting over, and it's a totally rationale concern that some people who don't say anything about the name Illini now would eventually view the nickname as archaic, somehow offensive and worthy of being ditched at a future time. The War Chant was in no danger of ever being removed in 2007 when the Chief was because "it was just a song," and here we are. This isn't a political comment as it can apply to those on the left and the right, but most activists do not rest easy when they achieve their stated goals ... they check it off the list and move on to something new. To effectively gaslight people concerned about losing the Fighting Illini nickname and tell them they have nothing to worry about indefinitely is very disingenuous, IMO. 3. On that note, I think any new mascot (and I do NOT think we need one!) has to be unique to our identity as Illinoisans and/or people associated with Illinois' state flagship school (i.e., mostly alumni). I will give the Kingfisher that it at least tries in this regard, but very few will draw any kind of connection. A World War II/military reference is the most direct way to pivot toward some type of continuity with the broadest of meanings for "Fighting Illini," but I understand that many (rightly or wrongly) will find some issue with this. So, if we MUST have a mascot, I am all aboard the Abe Lincoln train. He is arguably the most famous person to ever come from this state, ESPECIALLY Downstate Illinois. I'm sure someone somewhere would find a reason to be offended by using Honest Abe, but at some point we have to not really give a crap. [/QUOTE]
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