UPDATE: A reader sends this link. Apparently, these statues are everywhere. Maybe I saw the "Silver Creek Indian." If so, I was wrong about the loincloth. He's wearing pants. And that Nazi salute is supposed to be the "how" salute. Really? With the palm completely down and the arm fully outstretched? That's not how I remember it from old TV shows. Is the "how" salute considered respectful to Indian traditions? The linked website says:
The Silver Creek Indian was originally at the Iroquois Brewery in Buffalo, NY where he held bottle of beer in his outstretched hand. In the late 1950s, he was sold and moved to the Seneca Pottery and Gift Shop in East Avon, NY. His owners had the hand and bottle cut off and replaced with a saluting hand. When that business closed in 1998, the giant Indian was sold for $18,250 and moved to the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation where he salutes passing cars on I-90.
I guess my interpretation of what's offensive and what isn't should be affected by the fact that the statue is actually on an Indian reservation. And my reading of the hand gesture ought to be affected by knowing the character originally held a bottle of beer.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Another reader suggests the Indian is part of the Muffler Man tradition. I'd thought of that, but believed the mark of the Muffler Man tradition was that the arms were in a position arranged for holding a muffler. But I guess they could redo the arm. Certainly, the basic Muffler Man statue gives you a big head start.
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9 comments:
Thousands drive past it every day. It's immense. I'm sure someone's written about it somewhere. Anyway, just going and looking at it would not enable you to answer my question! I already looked at it.
Ann, I enjoy your blog. Your world view is informative, humorous and unique. I'll be a regular reader.
If you have a spare moment, check out my blog, "John Left's Field".
http://johnleftfield.blogspot.com
Take care and keep blogging! My best wishes to America's Dairyland.
Bosox: Ah, but is it really ethnically offensive?
Have the Indians in the area been polled and asked if they're offended?
(Last I remember, nationwide polls found that the Indian population was much less offended by things than people seemd to think they should be, such as the Redskins, or being called "Indian" - heck, even hardcore Indian-identity people don't like "Native American" for "Indian".)
Maybe people assume it's a PC issue because the Indians aren't offended?
(I'm not even sure what they're supposed to be offended about. He may be stereotypical, but it doesn't look like a negative stereotype. And non-negative stereotypes (I prefer "icons", myself, as a much less loaded term) of white people don't offend me. I fail to see why a neutral, iconic presentation of an Indian should offend an Indian.
Now, I can see why there might be some offense if he was still holding the beer. That is at least comprehensible, as it comes closer to a negative stereotype/icon.)
Sigivald: I should think they ought to mind the appearance of a Nazi salute.
Sigivald: I should think they ought to mind the appearance of a Nazi salute.
No, what they should mind is the fact that Nazi's have ruined a perfectly good salute, for some.
Seriously though, Ann, it really is generic enough of a gesture that if you hadn't told me it was a Nazi salute it wouldn't have occurred to me---mainly because it is an image of an Indian (er, excuse me, Native American), and not a Nazi!
Heck, I've seen cops that use that gesture to get you to stop when they're controlling traffic at an intersection. I've never rolled down my window and screamed "Nazi", and I don't suggest anyone else does either :)
bos0x, that's not the point. Obviously there are words, acts, images that many Native Americans would be offended by. But when a given tribe gives their blessing to a sports team or college to use them as a mascot, who is anyone to tell them they should be offended?
I think virtually anyone would agree that if the majority of a given population were offended by a given term or image intended to denote or represent them, that considerate persons would refrain from using such.
The key is of course to ask them and not some political group that just claims to have their best interest at heart.
Native Americans, enriched thru casino gambling in many areas, can now muster the clout to speak for themselves when slighted. But what about that poor downtrodden group that has no real say in our society.....The Muffler Men! Who will stand up for them!
I don't know if they're offensive or not, but they really are all over the place. In Maine alone, there are two -- one in Skowhegan, and another in Freeport. The second one is referred to locally as the BFI (which stands, of course, for Big Freeport Indian.)
I remember the Indian standing at the intersection in Avon NY and as a small kid growing up it was a big (NPI) deal driving by it. I was 30 years old when It was sold and i was bummed out knowing it would not be there for my family to see as we drove for Avon's famous root beer float. Anyways never once did we think negative thoughts toward native american's. I thought it was a cool landmark. Now i get to see it off the side of the interstate I-90 when my family goes on road trip's. Never once did i think of Nazis most people know thats a polite symbol of hello or peace. Stop this PC bull crap. I cant believe you see a Nazi party salute and from your misguided twisted mind wish it to be removed. The funny thing here is that a business person on a Indian reservation owns it and proudly uses it as promotion. Use your time on a hobby and stop crusading around for something or people who obviously dont need you. Love the Indian and hope its up for my grand kids to see..
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