As the Sioux are on the verge of losing their identity and proud tradition, was anyone else struck by the irony surrounding Texas Tech’s “Guns Up” symbol? I read about the symbol last night when I was listening to the football game, and it got me thinking.
From Texas Tech’s web site:
GUNS UP
- The hand sign of Texas Tech is the "Guns Up" which was created in 1972 by a Texas Tech Graduate who was attending law school. The sign is made by extending the index finger outward while extending the thumb upward and tucking in the middle, little and fourth fingers to form a gun. The idea is that the Red Raiders will shoot down their opponents. The Guns Up sign is the widely recognized greeting of one Red Raider to another. It is also the sign of victory displayed by the crowd at every athletic event.
Now, I am all for tradition and, as matter of fact, I think the TTU traditions are very cool, but I guess I don’t understand the NCAA. When it comes to logos that are “hostile and abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots, nicknames, or imagery,” then it’s an issue, but traditions that promote gun violence -- well, that’s ok.
This picture says it all.
