Source: BroBible
Summary
Syracuse University’s lacrosse team will no longer wear warmup shirts with the slogan “Burn the Boats” due to its association with Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, who was racist. The phrase was meant to symbolize a commitment to winning, but two former students complained that it glorified Cortes’ brutal treatment of indigenous peoples. The team will no longer use the slogan or wear the shirts for the remainder of the season.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Syracuse lacrosse’s “Burn the Boats” slogan was meant to be a rallying cry, but it ended up being a misfire. The phrase, which originated with Hernan Cortes, was meant to symbolize a commitment to winning, but it only ended up committing to controversy. The team’s warmup shirts are now a casualty of the cultural wars. The slogan’s demise is a reminder that even the most well-intentioned phrases can get lost in translation. The real question is, what’s next? Will they “burn” their old slogans and start fresh?
Author: Evan Null
