Answer:
By saying that "a mascot won't take us down", Toni Sanchez believes that it will require more than a mere restriction by the NCAA to stop the influence, integration and acceptance of the Indian heritage and image is not capable of fully removing or restrict it.
Explanation:
The article "Bonding Over A Mascot" by Joe Lapointe talks of how the Seminoles have been integrated into the American culture, and are proud of the Florida State University's act of including Indian imagery into their university sports mascots and other sports items.
But this 'supposedly' united image of the Florida state and the Indian people is only a tiny fraction of what is the reality. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has imposed restrictions on the use of these types of imageries in the sports community, be it mascots, uniforms or even logos etc. Toni Sanchez, a student of Florida University and also from a mix of Hispanic and Seminole parents, regards the edicts of the NCAA as"beyond idiotic" and "offensive". Though this restriction may be in effect in some cases, for Sanchez and others who support the integration of these Indian images into the American culture, it is not enough to stop them from being defeated. She exclaims that she "refuse to believe that a silly mascot will take us down."
