Does the Chief Honor Native American Traditions?
Some supporters of the Chief claim that the symbol honors the memory of the Native American Illini tribe who once lived throughout present-day Illinois. Some further argue that modern Native Americans should feel flattered, not offended, by the Chiefs representation of their culture. We should acknowledge that many of those holding this position are sincere in their belief, and hold no real malice toward Native Americans. But we should also admit that the merit of this position depends on its conformity to logic and truth, not simply the intentions of its proponents. We need to clarify the assumptions inherent in this argument before we can determine its validity. To begin with, we can ask why we should expect members of an ethnic group to be automatically flattered by our representations of their culture. Even if the portrayal is accurate (which the Chief, as we will see, is not), why should the culture feel honored by it? This seems to be a rather patronizing attitude toward a minori
