QUOTE (notevayas @ May 1, 2008 - 05:01 PM) 
I missed this post. I think the new incarnations are fine. As a kid, the only time I thought about it, I found that having an old fashioned pretend Aunt and Uncle on food boxes was cool. The Quaker Oats guy was like Benjamin Franklin, familiar, and good PR for Quakers.
Sports is a different story. Fighting Quakers sounds as provocative as the organization called "Jews for Jesus". Also, if it is wrong to call a team, the "Brownskins", it is wrong to call a team "The Washington Redskins".
I copied this from wikipedia..
In April 2001 the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools, stating, "These references, whether mascots and their performances, logos, or names, are disrespectful and offensive to American Indians and others and are particularly inappropriate and insensitive in light of the long history of forced assimilation that American Indian people have endured in this country." The commission declared that "the stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other group, when promoted by our public educational institutions, teaches all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, which is a dangerous lesson in a diverse society," and noted that "false portrayals encourage biases and prejudices that have a negative effect on contemporary Indian people."
The American Psychological Association adopted a Resolution August 21, 2005, recommending the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams, and organizations. The APA stated that "racism and racial discrimination are attitudes and behavior that are learned and that threaten human development" and resolved to "denounce racism in all its forms, and take proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of intolerant or racist acts."
Sports is a different story. Fighting Quakers sounds as provocative as the organization called "Jews for Jesus". Also, if it is wrong to call a team, the "Brownskins", it is wrong to call a team "The Washington Redskins".
I copied this from wikipedia..
In April 2001 the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools, stating, "These references, whether mascots and their performances, logos, or names, are disrespectful and offensive to American Indians and others and are particularly inappropriate and insensitive in light of the long history of forced assimilation that American Indian people have endured in this country." The commission declared that "the stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other group, when promoted by our public educational institutions, teaches all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, which is a dangerous lesson in a diverse society," and noted that "false portrayals encourage biases and prejudices that have a negative effect on contemporary Indian people."
The American Psychological Association adopted a Resolution August 21, 2005, recommending the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams, and organizations. The APA stated that "racism and racial discrimination are attitudes and behavior that are learned and that threaten human development" and resolved to "denounce racism in all its forms, and take proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of intolerant or racist acts."
Well, there should be no problem with my alma mater as the mascot is a Turtle! (Which is to be Feared!!!!)
My alma had problems... Apparently the wildcat portrait artist signed his paintings with a symbol rather than his given name. The wildcat's tongue was the symbol-signature. It was always a giant pen!s. It went unnoticed and unchallenged for years until the artist let it slip. Lawsuits ensued and the tongue was changed. 
