Should the Washington Redskins name be changed?

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RosslynV

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The name has been around for 80 years. Society has been able to function during that time period because of this “offensive” name.

There’s been a recent push to get to get the skins owner to change the name. So far he’s being stubborn. There has also been a recent development at the patents and trademarks office which came out with the decision that the redskins name is disparaging to native Americans. If the decision holds on appeal, this would mean that anyone can sell redskins merchandise.
 
RosslynV said:
The name has been around for 80 years. Society has been able to function during that time period because of this “offensive” name.

There’s been a recent push to get to get the skins owner to change the name. So far he’s being stubborn. There has also been a recent development at the patents and trademarks office which came out with the decision that the redskins name is disparaging to native Americans. If the decision holds on appeal, this would mean that anyone can sell redskins merchandise.
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I recall reading that a similar decision had been made a few years back and that the team won on appeal. Thus, they expect to similarly win the appeal this time around.

This was a big controversy at my college alma mater, too. It’s hard for me to really say since I’m not Native American. I can see how some would be offended. But then the one Native American I knew in college thought the only reason it was made into such a big deal is because kids didn’t have enough homework to do. 🤷

I guess I’ve always thought of it as somewhat similar to the New Orleans Saints. As a Catholic. I’ve never really thought to be offended by that team name. (Maybe I should be. 🤷) But I’d be hard pressed to tell someone they shouldn’t be offended by something that really has no impact on me. That’s not really my place.

I predict the name will be changed eventually, though.
 
Manufactured controversy designed to distract us from the corruption and ineptitude of our federal government. The more airtime it gets, the less scrutiny the pols get. Just like they like it.

American Indians got a brutally raw deal for hundreds of years. The name of a football team, regardless of what that name really is, isn’t even a blip on the registry of harms done. The idea that renaming the team will help to ease that harm is far more offensive than the team name.
 
manualman said:
American Indians got a brutally raw deal for hundreds of years. The name of a football team, regardless of what that name really is, isn’t even a blip on the registry of harms done. The idea that renaming the team will help to ease that harm is far more offensive than the team name.
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Very good point.

I’ve always wondered if the only thing that will end the cries of offense is the complete removal of any public mention of Native Americans. That seems to me to be more offensive.
 
I think it’s best to be sensitive, even if the name “isn’t meant to offend” according to white folks. What if someone came up with the INSERT STATE/CITY NAME “Crackers” and then said to get over it?
 
RosslynV said:
The name has been around for 80 years. Society has been able to function during that time period because of this “offensive” name.

There’s been a recent push to get to get the skins owner to change the name. So far he’s being stubborn. There has also been a recent development at the patents and trademarks office which came out with the decision that the redskins name is disparaging to native Americans. If the decision holds on appeal, this would mean that anyone can sell redskins merchandise.
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Here is something interesting for you to read RosslynV:

helenair.com/news/tribal-leader-rubbed-elbows-with-elite/article_cdd827b1-877b-5c63-b8fb-0a9d91d03383.html

Does the V at the end of your name stand for Victory or the Roman numeral 5? I’m feeling a little offended by both really. Care to change?😉
 
My high school had a similar controversy while I was there, over ten years ago. The name, “Silver Warriors”, could mean anything and was retained but the symbol was something very similar to the Redskins head, and it was changed to something much more bland, just a single capital letter standing for our school’s name.

I sympathize with the fans who are attatched to the old name and have never considered it racist, but we have to recognize the real concerns of the minority it offends. I think the name should be changed, but that the decision should come from within and not be forced by the government or the NFL. I also am not a fan of the college-style righteous protest thing. If you are going to protest stuff there are much more important issues than whether a football team uses an insensitive name.
 
josephback said:
I think it’s best to be sensitive, even if the name “isn’t meant to offend” according to white folks. What if someone came up with the INSERT STATE/CITY NAME “Crackers” and then said to get over it?
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I would laugh. But that’s because we Americans of European descent are still the majority and retain a certain cultural dominance even beyond what numbers alone would give. Not that bigotry against majority ethnicities is a good thing either but it’s hard to compare it to the concerns of a historically persecuted minority.
 
Its a business decision for Snyder. Up to him. He shouldn’t be forced to change the name.
 
If the pressure for change were coming from Native Americans, they would have a point.

But enough with the sensitivity police already.

IMNAAHO.

ICXC NIKA
 
styrgwillidar said:
Its a business decision for Snyder. Up to him. He shouldn’t be forced to change the name.
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If he’s not persuaded now to come into the 21st century, he’ll change the name fast enough when he finds how much his marketing revenue goes down.
 
GEddie said:
If the pressure for change were coming from Native Americans, they would have a point.

But enough with the sensitivity police already.

IMNAAHO.

ICXC NIKA
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The news reports certainly make it seem like they are the main ones raising the issue and pushing for a change in the name. Of course it’s possible this is a media distortion and it’s mostly white people who want to feel like civil rights heros.
 
RosslynV said:
The name has been around for 80 years. Society has been able to function during that time period because of this “offensive” name.

There’s been a recent push to get to get the skins owner to change the name. So far he’s being stubborn. There has also been a recent development at the patents and trademarks office which came out with the decision that the redskins name is disparaging to native Americans. If the decision holds on appeal, this would mean that anyone can sell redskins merchandise.
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How about the University of Notre Dame, “The Fighting Irish”? Do all people of Irish decent fight? No! Keep the Redskins, Indians, Braves, Seminoles, drop the “it will offend someone so we have to change it attitude”.
 
Piwowar said:
How about the University of Notre Dame, “The Fighting Irish”? Do all people of Irish decent fight? No! Keep the Redskins, Indians, Braves, Seminoles, drop the “it will offend someone so we have to change it attitude”.
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The “Fighting Irish” name arose in a university with many Irish students and faculty and probably originally refered to ethnically Irish veterans of the Civil War, including one of the university presidents. Did American Indians good-naturedly come up with the Washington Redskins name? If not there is not much comparison.
 
I can see both sides of this issue, being a native Washingtonian myself who is cognizant of what a big deal the Redskins are in the D.C. area, and how resentful I would feel towards outsiders trying to tamper with something that is in many ways more than a mere football team. I also as a general rule feel that our society spends an unhealthy amount of time dwelling on racial injustices real or perceived, to the point that everyone has become thin-skinned. Also I agree that it appears the movement to change the team’s name seems to be coming less from Native Americans and more from professional busy-bodies.

Furthermore, what would they change the name to? And how could they change the name without altering indelibly the identity of the team (and of the brand) - notwithstanding what Shakespeare said about a rose by any other name?

However I also have to acknowledge that I would never refer to a Native American as a “redskin” to his or her face. Why? I can only conclude that it must be a rude thing to call someone. Therefore it probably isn’t right to have it as the name of a professional sports team.

My emotions lead me in one direction, but cold logic (and courtesy) in another.
 
As a general rule I don’t think anyone should be referred to as a “-skin”.

Blackskins?

Whiteskins?

Yellowskins?

Brownskins?

Purpleskins?

If you wouldn’t actually refer to a person like that why would you accept it as a logo.
 
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