XFL Team Name Angers Mental Health Group
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"Brian Sunderland" brian_sunderl...@bigfoot.com
Tuesday February 6 5:54 PM ET By Suzanne Rostler NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A national medical organization is calling on the Memphis Maniax football team--part of the new XFL (news - web sites) football league--to change its name, charging that the team demeans people with mental health disorders and contributes to cruel stereotypes.
The group is also asking the United States Army to withdraw their advertising support for the league, which is jointly owned by World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. and NBC.
``Taxpayer money should not be used to support discrimination,'' Cynthia Folcarelli, executive vice president for the National Mental Health ***ociation (NMHA), told Reuters Health.
She said the NMHA has sent a letter to the US Department of Defense (news -
web sites) but has not contacted the Memphis, Tennessee-based football team.
The team's logo depicts the face of a man whose hair stands on end while his eyes are two large psychedelic spirals. The team headquarters is called ``The Asylum'' and on their helmet the word ``ax'' is etched in a jagged script.
Folcarelli said that the logo and name call attention to the team by making fun of and creating fear about certain people. Furthermore, the word ``ax'' suggests that people with mental health disorders are violent, she said.
``This sends a very dangerous message to viewers, especially young people, about who people with mental health disorders truly are,'' she explained.
For example, most people who have mental health problems are more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators.
About a year ago, the first US Surgeon General's report on mental health found that 15% of Americans each year are diagnosed with a mental health problem that requires intervention with drugs or counseling.
The report urged Americans to seek treatment and emphasized the importance of bringing the issue of mental health into the open.
But stereotypes that depict these individuals as ``crazed'' or violent could prevent patients from seeking help, Folcarelli said.
``In this day and age, that kind of stereotyping is inexcusable,'' she said.
Reuters Health was unable to reach the Memphis Maniax for comment by deadline.
"Karl and Sandra" ksbl...@usa.net
<95rs28$ae...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk>...
No more likely to change its name before the Washington Redskins change their name and team image..
K
ticktock tickt...@asarian-host.org
is this *serious*? oh for god's sake, my view of the NMHA has plummeted.
really, who is losing more with this name, the XFL team or maniacs?
i'm surprised that she didn't go all out and say that she was "shocked--*shocked*! at the name" uh, why?
because the team was too busy peeing in their pants with laughter over the allegations. which then caused the NMHA to complain that their actions were discriminatory toward bedwetters.
sheesh. this goes in my "people with severe pantywad" file.
Maryb
"Karl and Sandra" ksbl...@usa.net
I get steamed by the blatant use of the term "depression" by meteorologists too.
k not reeley
"C L Who" CL_...@hotmail.com
It leaves me a little foggy.
Maybe it's a high pressure career.
Hey. I tried.
"Kaelwyn" kael...@juno.com
What a sad world we live in when people will waste so much time, energy, and money trying to force their PC morals on another group or organization rather than putting those resources toward doing some good for the people they claim to be looking out for.
Kaelwyn
"Kaelwyn" kael...@juno.com
Here are some more to add to the list...
Cuckoo clocks EvironMENTAList Looney Tunes We must get rid of the hate mongers who can't see how insensitive they are being to us!
Kaewyn
"Dr. Siddhartha Vicious" boko...@ptsi.net
let's not forget a number of foods that need to be renamed: mixed nuts crackers bananas going to the store is quite traumatic!
James
--
"It was when I found out that I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something." Ornette Coleman ...
"Kaelwyn" kael...@juno.com
No doubt. We must find the vicious hate mongers who named these foods and make sure they suffer for the rest of eternity.
Kaelwyn
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