There comes a point where cultural sensitivity stops being a real issue and starts becoming a political weapon. It's fairly easy to see when that line is being crossed, and quite a few of those who want to crap on Thanksgiving, or Columbus Day, or you name it, have crossed it. Do they think that three hundred years later Native Americans would still be here hunting buffalo (without horses) while watching European jet contrails cross the skies?

On the reasonable side of that line, I have sympathy for cultures trying to preserve fading languages and customs, and teaching their children. One of the worst crimes educators committed here and elsewhere was not just educating indiginous children in new ways, but at the same time trying to crush their old ways out of existence. As if the two couldn't be integrated, maybe into something better. As with genetics, cultures usually tend to be improved by mixing, and keeping a culture maniacally monolithic is no different than inbreeding.

If you look closely at "American" culture, it's actually an amazing combination of cultural input from all over the planet, and nine time out of ten, it's been an improvement. Same for American English, which is comprised of more languages than you can shake a stick at.

I have Indians in my book, and tried to be as accurate as possible about portraying modern and educated characters, comfortable in mainstream America, but that still have a love and respect for their old languages, history, and ideas. I got some help on this from some tribal websites and the people who run them.

As for sports teams, I lived in Minnesota, and knew a lot of Vikings fans. I can't remember any Scandinavians getting cranky about the stereotype. All mascots are stereotypical. It's kind of the point.