We'll miss you, Chief!

Imagine a soccer match between Persija Jakarta and PSM Makassar. Before the match, there is this opening attraction and all that. From Persija side, there is a parade of ondel-ondel (native clowns of Betawi). From Makassar, they have a guy acting and dancing in a costume resembling Sawerigading (the main character from the I La Galigo epic).

What do you think? I bet many Indonesians, or at least those sitting on the Senayan bench (the stadium, not the House) would enjoy the show.

But in Illinois, this could mean a big thing: racism. It has been years that every time our basketball team is playing, the audience is divided: pros and cons with regard to the using of an Indian chief as the mascot of Fighting Illini (that's the team's proud name). Some think the mascot honors the American Indians, some think it is derogatory. (As for me, I always enjoy the solemn dancing. The first time I watched the game I did not understand why some people with Illini t-shirts were standing and some sitting, with a very high tension between the two groups).

And the tension continues, to the parking lots, to the street, and even to the department halls. Professors are divided. Students hold demonstrations, for and against.

Honestly, I don't know which one is politically (in)-correct. It is just that, whenever I bought a ticket, I expect some fun. And the Chief was fun.

But now, he's leaving.

(Picture from ESPN.com)

Update: A friend from Ole Miss emailed me:

I am sad he is gone. I am against the idea that animals are meant for mascots for which humans are too highly dignified. Why don't we change all college team symbols to some respectful human character and drop the word 'mascot'?

A funny fact...The U of Mississippi mascot is Colonel Reb, an old Southern plantation owner. (Although, he looks more like a confederate leader to me.) You know what plantations represent: the slavery. Now, that's clearly wrong. They have not abolished the mascot, they just decided to keep him off the frontlines of sporting events. But you see the confederate flag all over the campus when there is a game. Confederate flag license plates, confederate flag doormats, etc.

See this: I miss the Chief.

She is right: hypocrisy it is.