http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24027457 More at the link, but I think the interesting this here is: Personally, while I've come to learn form the article that "Redskin" was something Native Americans came up with themselves after the white man came...that doesn't change the fact that it has become a derogatory term since then. It's like naming a baseball team the Coons and having a mascot in blackface. I know Native Americans aren't the most visible minority, but they do still exist. Just my two cents.
I've been thinking about a thread along these lines for some time but haven't gotten around to it so thanks for starting it. I'm no PC person, but the last time I heard a sportscaster talking about the Washington Redskins, it occurred to me the name was pretty offensive. And I got to thinking about how the basketball team used to be the Washington Bullets, but because crime is so endemic in DC and guns are evil, they changed the name to the Wizards. If you can get rid of the Bullets, why not ditch the Redskins?
Owner Daniel Snyder is adamant--almost defiant--about NOT changing the name, so until someone else owns the team, he's the only one that matters. And I support his right to keep the name is he so chooses.
You'd think they'd be able to pay someone off to keep the protests from becoming problematic. But in the end the name is going to change. It's only a question of how much trouble the organization wants to go through before it happens.
Doesn't sound like the team owner is enough of a pussy to be susceptible to the PC police. Better give it fifty or sixty years.
On another note sure to set off a brouha, if other peoples' marriages don't affect you, why does a football team's name?
If an NFL owner was a minority and wanted to name his team the Honkeys or the Crackers, I'd support his right to do so. And then I'd bet against them.
If they do this, they also may as well ban Archie Bunker from playing on reruns, as a lot of the stuff he said was pretty racist too. What's in the past should be remembered so we don't make the same mistakes again. And people should learn to not let these un-PC parts of the past hurt their sensitive little pussies.
There's a little farm town in central Illinois named Pekin, after Peking (Beijing) China. Until 1980 their high school teams were called the Chinks. My own middle school's team name was changed while I was there from the Devils to the Knights because of Christian parents concerned about Satanic influence.
I'm gonna call bullshit on Redskin being a term that's universally recognized as being offensive to Native Americans. There's a team in Canada that uses the name with the blessing of the local Aboriginal community. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...man-rights-complaint-interview-president.html Of course, one guy filed a human rights complaint about it... a guy that's in an Aboriginal-themed band named A Tribe Called Red.
I haven't really noticed any Native American groups at the forefront of the struggle for marriage equality. Perhaps the category "things I disagree with" could use some subdividing.
Apparently the Redskins don't have the permission of the Native American Community here. Contrast this with Osceola and Renegade (Florida State University symbols) which are sanctioned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, who helped design the dress of Osceola and the two year apprenticeship program for students wishing to be Osceola, so that he can be an ambassador for the tribe as well as the university. Too bad FSU are a bunch of pussies and would rather be big fish in a little pond instead of playing in a real league.
"I want to thank my coaches, my parents, and all my supporters for helping me win this MVP award. But most of all I want to thank Satan, without him nothing is possible."
That would actually be funny to hear someone say that on national TV, and see what the reactions are. I bet a bunch of "Freedom of speech gives us the right to talk about Jesus! " people would suddenly change their tune in a big hurry. It would be quite amusing, IMHO.
Out of all the terrible things happening in the world, this Redskins issue has got to be right near the bottom of the list. Does anyone ever actually use it as a derogatory term, other than to compare someone to a lousy sports team?
Nah, the MO is to go on about how Jesus is fundamentally different from Satan so it's OK when they do it.
I get the occasional comment on that topic through FB. Usually claiming that native traditions in general made allowances for same sex partnerships and multiple gender identities. I've seen enough of the cultures to accept that there's some truth to this. I can't say I'm a fan of the stereotypes associated with most of the native themed sports franchises. Redskins is probably a lot lower on the scale of offensiveness than the logo for the Cleveland Indians or Braves fans and the tomahawk chop cheer. At the same time, I think all of them provide an opportunity to present native history, contributions, and influence to a larger number of people, and in a celebratory light.
Way too much is made of the "native heritage". Few of them live the traditional life they posture with. Around here with casinos, gas sales and tobacco shops on the "Rez".. they should be more offended by "The Gamblers" Gas Hogs" Smokers" etc
I'm still pissed that the NCAA made South Dakota State change from the Fighting Sioux! THAT was a cool logo!
Change it. I imagine much butthurt if there were the Washington Negros or the Washington Honkys, why would it be different for Native Americans? Besides, I've yet to see someone with red skin. Just sayin'.