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Tag: insult

  • Christina Fallin: Native American Insult or Art?

    An Oklahoma news station tell us that Christina Fallin, the daughter of Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin, has recently come under fire for an Instagram picture that involves her wearing a Native American headdress. The almost-authentic looking red-and-white headdress was posted on Fallin’s band Facebook on Thursday with the caption “appropriate cultivation.”

    It has since been taken down due to the uproar, but Fallin hasn’t backed down from the picture stating that she “feels a connection to the Native American culture.” She also posted a letter on Facebook stating:

    “we feel that it would not be honest if we did not admit publicly that a woman in a headdress can be a very beautiful thing. You can keep your distance from something your whole life out of fear that you might taint it, or that it might taint you. Or you can embrace it and let it affect you. We chose to live our lives in the latter category.”

    It seems as if Fallin and her band hold ideals that may not mesh with some, and that her status as a governor’s daughter may be causing more scrutiny that it would another indie band such as this one, for instance:

    Still, No Doubt, a major pop band attempted the same thing to be shot down in earlier times. Native Americans, however, are seeming to become more active of the treatment of their culture, and are not letting it fly. The fact that many Native Americans have been misplaced in the state of Oklahoma may also add more insult to the injury. Wado, a writer for NativeAppropiations.com, states the reasoning behind the strong negative reactions:

    But here’s the thing: my tribe is not there by chance or by choice, my tribe, and the vast majority of the other Natives peoples in Oklahoma, are there by force and by trauma. In 1830, the US government and Andrew Jackson passed something called the “Indian Removal Act,” which resulted in the removal of thousands and thousands of Native peoples from their homelands in the southeast. You know where those Native peoples were forced to march? Oklahoma. Though it was referred to as “Indian Territory” then. So all that “Native American culture” you’ve been able to come in contact with? It’s thanks to violence, colonialism, and genocidal policies. It’s not an innocent cultural exchange.

    What do you think? Although musicians such as Afrika Bambaataa and others are known for wearing a Native American headdress for years with no criticism, do you feel as if the treatment of Christina Fallin is unfair?


    Image via Oklahoma News on 6

  • Dexter Manley Takes Jab At Troy Aikman, Issues Apology

    Some things are just better left unsaid. This is the only statement that could apply to Dexter Manley’s loose lips this week. While the former Washington Redskins football player, and current NFL analyst is known for verbally pushing the envelop with his on-air smack talk, this time he may have pushed things a bit too far this time.

    The “Secretary of Defense” recently came under fire for his verbal attack against former Dallas Cowboys’ star quarterback Troy Aikman. For those who are behind on the latest NFL happenings, Manley was a guest on Washington’s only all-news station, WTOP. Now, Manley normally guest stars on the show periodically, however, this particular stunt may have ruined his welcome.

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    Manley was on air Monday morning to talk football in a discuss about the Cowboys’ last-minute loss to the Detroit Lions’ in Sunday’s game. According to the Washington Post, everything as going just fine until a trick question put the ball in Manley’s court. One of the radio commentators asked if Manley thought the Cowboys loss was triggered by Aikman being on of the analyst for the game.

    In a nutshell, they wondered if Manley felt the team was jinxed as a result of such an unorthodox loss. Manley responded with an offensive jab saying, “I think Troy as a queer.”

    Although the WTOP anchors, Bruce Allen and Mike Moss, went into immediate action to have Manley retract the statement, the damage had already been done. However, he did apologize on air by simply saying, “I’m sorry about that. I take that back. … I apologize.”

    Immediately following the segment the WTOP newsroom director, Jim Farley, issued a public statement regarding Manley’s action. “This morning in a live interview former Redskins player Dexter Manley made an offensive and derogatory comment. He was immediately challenged by WTOP news anchors Mike Moss and Bruce Alan. We were shocked and stunned and we apologize to our listeners that this happened on WTOP. WTOP has contacted a representative for Manley and informed her that he will not be returning.”

    Manley also issued a formal apology following the events that occurred on the radio segment. His statement read, “In an interview with WTOP radio Monday, while intending to be funny, I used a slur to refer to Troy Aikman,” said Manley. “It was wrong and insensitive. Anyone that knows me knows that’s not who I am in my heart or mind. I want to apologize to Troy, but I mostly want to apologize to anyone else I offended. Like a lot of people in these times, I have to realize that what I thought was funny years ago doesn’t work now. I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again and hope you will accept my apology.”

     

    Image(s) via Twitter | Dexter Manley   Wikimedia Commons | Troy Aikman