From Fox News: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill Thursday that will make it harder to force public schools to drop tribal nicknames, pushing aside opponents' charges that the measure is racist.
Walker, a Republican, signed the measure privately Thursday afternoon. He released a statement saying he's worried current law infringes on free speech. A person's right to speak doesn't end just because what they say is offensive, he said. The best approach is to educate people about how some phrases and symbols are offensive when used as nicknames and mascots, he added.
"If the state bans speech that is offensive to some, where does it stop?" Walker wrote. "I personally support moving away from nicknames or mascots that groups of our fellow citizens find seriously offensive, but I also believe it should be done with input and involvement at the local level." ...
The bill invalidates all previous DPI orders forcing schools to drop their nicknames. Going forward, people with a complaint would have to submit signatures equal to 10 percent of the school district's student population to trigger a DPI review. If the agency decides a hearing is warranted, the Department of Administration, which is under the governor's control, would preside over it and make the final call on the name. Districts that reach an agreement with a tribe to use an American Indian likeness can't be stripped of the nickname or mascot.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/19/scott-walker-signs-bill-making-it-harder-to-change-racist-school-mascots/
While the focus is on Indians, you can use examples such as Vikings, animals, religious figures etc.
Most of Wisconsin cities are named with Indian names, so it has a rich tradition of using Indian names.
So, good for Scott Walker and the state of Wisconsin.
At the Prairie Café...
6 hours ago
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