They're not trying to offend anyone. But if people get offended by their mascot, "The Fighting Whities," then they will know what it feels like for Native Americans to see stereotypical images in sports from high school to the big leagues.

Solomon Little Owl is the director of Native American Student Services at the University of Northern Colorado, and a member of the school's intramural basketball team.

	Aimee set some NOISEmakers straight on March 8: "The only way the whites tried to "help" them was by turning the Native Americans into "whites." They believed that this was helping them." Read more in "Axis of Evil"

Recently, his b-ball team adapted "The Fighting Whites" as their mascot -- a white man in a suit and tie with slicked-back hair, and a slogan that reads: "Every thang's going to be all White!" The team's name has since become more commonly said as "The Fighting Whities."

Little Owl's wife, Kacy Little Owl, resigned her teaching position at Eaton High School, whose name is the Fightin' Reds and their mascot is a caricature of an Indian with a large nose. The Little Owl's, who have a son in the school district, said they no longer felt comfortable mingling with the townspeople at special events -- particularly sporting events, where the mascot was so prominent.

The intramural team, which is made up of Native American, Hispanic and White players, was originally called Native Pride. But when someone approached the team with t-shirts featuring the "Fighting Whites" mascot, they decided to make a point.

Little Owl told The Rocky Mountain News, "The Fighting Whities" issue is "to make people understand what it's like to be on the other side of the fence. If people get offended by it, then they know how I feel, and we've made our point." --By Heather Keets Wright

		For more, see: • "The white man...took our land away." • Be the Solution: Tolerance • Factoids About Hate Crimes • 10 Things I Hate About Intolerant People • Are You Tolerant Enough to Live in America?