Lawyers for a group of American Indians asked the Supreme Court this week for a ruling that would pave the way for a possible name change for the Washington Redskins.
Mike Wise of the Washington Post spoke to the lead plaintiff, Suzan Harjo, about the case that began in 1992. She says the conversations with the league and the franchise have gone round-and-round.
“The argument has always been the same,” Harjo told Wise. “‘We are honoring you,’ they say. ‘No you’re not,’ we reply. ‘Shut up,’ they say. That’s pretty much been the divide for 17 years.”
According to Wise, the suit was filed in September 1992 before the U.S. Patent & Trademark office. The suit was heard in May 1998. The group is specifically requesting the Supreme Court to review a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that the group waited too long to bring its claim.
Wise points out that the presence of Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., on the Supreme Court could help the group’s case. In 1999, while Alito was a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, he said that these claims can be brought at any time.
The NFL’s No. 1 motivation in keeping the nickname isn’t continuing to somehow honor American Indians. It’s to avoid the cost and controversy that will come with changing a nickname that has been around since 1933.
Of course, lots of things considered acceptable in 1933 we now realize were unconscionably hurtful and demeaning. Restaurant names. Separate drinking fountains. A whole lexicon of words and references. Frankly, Redskins isn’t even borderline offensive. It takes a physical trait ascribed to American Indians and plays off it with a red-faced logo. Sure he looks stern dignified and stoic. That’s not the point. The word ”Redskins” is offensive the same way “Brownskins” would be to black people or “Paleheads” would be to us fair-skinned whiteys.
One can make a case that nicknames like Seminoles, Warriors, Apaches, Celtics or even Indians do pay tribute. They infer that a team would like to possess the best traits of the group for which they’re named.
But Redskins? Not even close. And while we may disagree, no opinions matters as much someone like Harjo’s. It’s her heritage. How does she feel about it?
And for the record? I’m OK with Fightin’ Irish. Drunken Irish? That’d take some convincing.
[Editor's note: Is there a difference? I'll ponder that one while I'm doing my morning grape dance.]
You may want to see a doctor, your vagina appears to be weeping.
You forgot to mention the most prominent team example, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, which has been fighting a name change for years now (and it seems to be a losing battle).
Fighting Sioux is a complement compared to “Redskins”.
I have a much more disgusting, profane, and insulting name:
Washington Senators.
The Washington Whiteskins
Totally agree Mr Curran. All that Washington would have to do is change the name to a less offensive word. They could become the Washington Seminoles, and keep the logo and everything the same….
Sure he looks stern dignified and stoic.
WHAT?
One of two things needs to happen: Either they change the name of the Washington franchise, or they give the future Los Angeles franchise a similar name “honoring” one of the two predominant races of that area. I would actually be okay with the latter for a season or two, just on principle.
Too bad there aren’t enough “redskins” to swing an election. This situation could have been resolved a long time ago.
If you are implying that this same group of plaintiffs would be content with a name change to Washington Indians or such, you are either confused or deceitful. In many areas across the country high schools with nicknames such as Warriors or Indians have been forced to bow at the altar of political correctness and change their nicknames. This is more about flexing in a cultural power play than it is about being offended.
Good Lord,will we ever run out of people who are offended about something??
How much money are they wasteing on this 17 year battle?
How much different will their lives be if the name gets changed?
Hmmmm…..how can we Honor American Indians without offending them ?
Washington Casino Owners ?
Washington Black Jack Dealers ?
let it rest please … this crushing trend toward political correctness is nauseating … as George Carlin (RIP) would proclaim … f ‘em if they can’t take a joke … REDSKINS … it’s just a word! Words can’t hurt you .. only the intent behind them ….
Curren, you’ve finally topped Florio with the dumbest editorializing ever on PFT. ‘Redskins’ is only offensive to people who are looking to make a name for themselves for being offended.
As someone who is a quarter American Indian and half Italian it doesn’t make any difference to me it they’re called the Washington Redskins or the Washington Wops. Neither one demeans me or lifts me up, because in the end it’s just a name. Nothing more, nothing less.
You’d be a lot better off if you got over your white liberal guilt and stopped seeing a racist behind every tree.
These group of indians need to GET A JOB. PUT THE BEER DOWN AND GET A JOB YOU LOW LIFES!
It’s a team name, for crying out loud. Who cares? If someone wanted to name their team “The Crackers”, I wouldn’t give a damn. I doubt any of my fair skinned “whitey” brethren would either, except for the ones who would use the “If this were a shot at a minority, people would be raising hell” approach.
I can’t believe we are actually wasting the court’s time with BS like this. Get over it, it isn’t affecting their daily lives in any way, no matter how they might try to argue the contrary. I don’t think any potential employer is going to say, “We were going to offer you this job, but your a ‘redskin’, and we’ve seen what ‘you people’ are like on the helmet of that football team.” Absolutely ridiculous.
How is a mascot of a stereotypical Irish man with his “dukes up” any less offensive than the Redskins? Yet Notre Dame plays games over in Ireland and celebrates their Irish heritage.
I went to see the Skins play in Seattle and sat in the middle of an entire tribe of Native Americans banging on a big drum the entire game who loved the Skins. I asked them about the Redskin mascot and they felt generally honored that somebody had used them as a proud symbol of strength. They added that the alternative was being completely forgotten.
I don’t care if we get rid of all the Native American mascot names. But there is a collateral benefit to it. I bet everyone in the sports watching community know the Seminoles were a proud tribe in Florida. How many people would know about them or what happened to them if Florida State had not chosen them as their mascot?
While we’re on the subject…who needs mascots? English soccer doesn’t have’em and they seem to be doing alright.
The term was slang for scalping Native Americans, Florio. It was a direct reference to the “red skin” that was left over after an Native American was scalped. It isn’t just about skin color.
They wouldn’t call the team the Washington Negroes, and Redskins is pretty comparable to that as an insult. It’s disgraceful that something that offensive has been allowed to remain in existence just because of stupid things like tradition. If tradition was an excuse to keep reprehensible practices alive, slavery would still exist because it’s a tradition that’s lasted millennia.
I’d be alright with the Drunken Irish!!
Nelly Ahearn
HAIL!!!
I am so sick of hearing about this, and yes I am a Redskin fan.
I really don’t care anymore, I just want them to win. The paly calling is PATHETIC! Come on Zorn let”s get with the fricking program!
We live in America. It’s the “Great Melting Pot”. We have all shapes, sizes, flavors and religions. The key is that we are all united as Americans…not…. Asian Americans, African Americans, Mexican American, Irish Americans, Italian Americans, Jewish Americans, Caucasian Americans, Albino Americans, Homosexual Americans, Indian Americans, Black Americans etc etc etc….
We are simply Americans and we are united as such. Once we all start looking for different separate status then we become divided. I see way too much of the ethinic/religious/race emphasis and not enough of the American emphasis.
Why should Redskins be offensive? Are they ashamed of their skin pigmentation? Why should it be offensive? We keep pandering to special interests to the detriment of the unified America. There will always be special interests…interested only in their selfish, self centered special interest. We can not and should not pander to everybody with a narrow self centered goal.
We are all Americans first and foremost. Be proud of THAT…and forget all the divisive petty selfish other stuff. Like I said, this is the “Great Melting Pot” and what makes it work is that everybody that goes into the pot integrates and becomes one. The problem is when some people refuse to melt (integrate into main stream American society). If you refuse to melt then get the hell out and stop trying to foul the stew.
Needless to say, I think the Redskins logo/name should remain. I’m tired of every special interest being “offended”. I get derogatory jokes and such about my ethnicity and you know what??? I don’t give a crap. It would be petty to get upset or “offended” about something so trivial. I’m an American first and foremost…all the other stuff is simply divisive.
Harjo’s heritage isn’t defined by the term “Redskin.”
Follow in the footsteps of Radio Shack and Pizza Hut.
Drop the first word, add “Da”.
“Da Skinz”. Use a Z, because the D.C. population would better relate.
Washington Warriors. It’s an alliteration & they keep the existing logo.
Redskins fans are all a bunch of filthy racists!
Not to be a wise guy…..alright, to be a wise guy, if the Bears changed their name to the Paleheads, I’d go for it. Paleheads is a very funny word. Paleheads. HAHAHAHA.
Yes, and next lets get rid of naming teams after gangs of murders and thieves. Would it be okay to name a sports team the Crips or Bloods? Of course not, yet no one seems to raise an eyebrow to Pirates, Raiders and Buccaneers. So Redskins, go, then Blackhawks, then what?
Then they should have sued in 1933.
Not wait 70 years while the brand and logo accumulate value then suddenly become offended.
The “Drunken’ Irish” would be the greatest name ever…right behind the “Milwaukee Brewers”.
the irony is i have a Private here named Flyinghorse who is an overtly proud Native American, huge Redskins fan who could care less.
“the pussifying of America continues.”
his words, not mine.
But I agree. Life is full of much more important things to fight than a name that at the end of the day has as much impact on her life as the WNBA does to ESPN’s bottomline.
To each his own.
For the record, this whole thing is nonsense. I am not an Indian. I am a white man. I find nothing offensive about the word Redskins as it applys to the Washington Redskins football team. It has been the name of the football team for many, many years. The idea that it might offend somebody, mainly an Indian or if you prefer, native American is balony. Is the world supposed to stop because someone is offended by a word. Get a life. Get over it. If a word bothers you that much then you have a lot more bigger problems. Is every word that someone out there finds offensive going to be stricken from the dictionary. Are we going to be prohibited from ever saying said word? I am not a Redskins football fan. But I would never change the name of the team because some shmucks say the word offends them. Get over it.
P.S. – If they called the team the Washington Whiteys it wouldn’t bother me in the least. You could call them the Washington Honkies and I still wouldn’t care.
Florio, are you referring to the big restaurant chain Sambo’s that was closed in the 70s?
I can’t believe there is any argument on this.
The name is offensive, it needs to go.
It’s like having teams named the Hebes, Wops, Nips, Spicks, Krauts, etc.
Unacceptable.
to be pee cee
is to spew bee ess
Freedom of Speech in America is my vote plus when I get out in the sun too long here in South Georgia, I get “Red Skin.”
Keep in mind, only OBAMA can make changes in Washington D.C. between 2009-2013 — just wait patiently for it to happen for the better.
Washington Savages or
Washington Scalpers
The word “Redskins” is offensive the same way “Brownskins” would be to black people or “Paleheads” would be to us fair-skinned whiteys.
————
Black people seem to throw the word ni***r around like its nothing. Cracker for white people isn’t offensive.
Seriously cut the P.C. crap. Will start with the Redskins and then continue down to every other team.
We beat their a** and took their land. Same thing is happening in other parts of the world. Survival of the fittest.
# Pastabelly says: September 19, 2009 8:32 PM
Florio, are you referring to the big restaurant chain Sambo’s that was closed in the 70s?
Hope not. The name of that restaurant was a combination of the the founders first names. Calling it racially insensitive makes as much sense as calling the word ‘niggardly’ racial.
I guess you cant be surprised at all the ignorant responses when so many of them still dont understand that Florio doesn’t write every article. LOL.
“let it rest please … this crushing trend toward political correctness is nauseating”
Normally I agree with you, but this one’s over the top. It’s no less insulting than calling a team the Washington N**gers, and if you think that would stand for 30 seconds you’re insane.
It’s probably wrong to have a team name that’s a racial epithet. I’d like to think we could all see that one.
I need a better reason than it hurts somebody’s feelings. This is a private business after all. If you don’t like it don’t support the product.
While I find the name to be downright deplorable, I don’t think it’s the Government’s place to tell Snyder he has to change the name. I wish he would want to change the name and see it as the racist name it is, but it shouldn’t be the job of the SCOTUS to legislate ethics in a private enterprise.
Quagmire’s comments hit it on the head.
Far be it to have type of intelligent or meaningful conversation in this type of venue but the people screaming “get over it” have to understand one thing: Native Americans were massacred and robbed of everything – their resources, their land, and their lives. The disgusting irony that a team based in the D.C. area chose the name ‘redskins’ is really beyond description seeing how the people in that city were responsible for the demise of Indians.
But, whatever, for as many people who care there are 100 times as many who don’t.
WeMissYouDan says:
It’s a team name, for crying out loud. Who cares? If someone wanted to name their team “The Crackers”
–
There was a team with such a name. The Triple AAA Baseball team in the International League, before the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta. They were called the Atlanta Crackers.
If the team name in any way offended black people, it would have been changed a long time ago. That guy, I forgot his name, got killed for saying “nappy headed hos.” If any of you think that the word “nappy” is more offensive than the word “redskin,” there is something wrong with you.
I also believe the world is getting too PC, but not in this case. These people, native americans, have been made irrelevant in this country. Redskins is offensive, no matter how you slice it. The “n-word” was once acceptable (and still is to some people), and changing that had nothing to do with PC, it had to do with something just being wrong.
I know we are creatures of habit, but just because something has been accepted for so long does not make it acceptable. Anyone who says it is needs to grow up. But, I’m guessing those are the same people that like black face.
The only thing that offends me are people that get offended by everything. And all you writers coming over from the National Barack Channel need to know that us football fans don’t wanna hear your liberal crap spewed all over this site. I would be honored that a football team would consider a group I belonged to ferocious enough to be named after.
I think PETA should bring suit to change the names of the following offended groups: broncos, colts, dolphins, jaguars, panthers, bengals, lions, ravens, eagles, seahawks, falcons, cardinals, bears, and rams.
@bearsrule,
“paleheads” made this whole column, haha.
Curran, Quagmire and the other people who think that the name is offensive either have zero idea of the origin of the name or are completely clueless.
We can go on and on and find non native American nicknames that offend.
Minnesota Vikings: Rapists, murders and pillagers but no one seems to care.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rapists, murdering jerkeymakers. No one cares.
Raiders, Texans, Cowboys. Some over sensitive douche can find fault with those names as well. This crap needs to stop now, before we can’t name sports teams anything but furry herbivores.
To all the ladies here crying about offended:
This is America. If I want to name my team the Washington Negroes/honkies/spics/wops/polaks/whatever, I can. If you don’t like it, don’t buy the tickets/merchandise.
Why does everyone in this country think that because YOU are offended, the name has to go??? It doesn’t work that way. It is freedom for everyone, not freedom for those who are offended, you jagoffs.
Anyone here crying that the name has to go needs to take a serious look at what we are talking about here. It is a privately owned business that can call itself whatever it wants, and there is nothing you sensitive crybabies can do about it.
@Back in the saddle and others,
So, by your logic, I shouldn’t be offended when someone calls me the n-word, because it’s just a word. I’ll be sure to remember that the next time someone says that because words don’t mean anything. I mean, it’s not like fights aren’t started by words or people aren’t killed over words everyday. Nope. Those useless word things have never caused anyone to do anything bad.
Didnt the University of Illinois have to remove all depictions of their Illini Indian chief that they used to have as a mascot a few years ago? If they have to change the name, change it to Washington Liberals, with the mascot being a dollar sign.
washington has a football team?
the name is offensive, but i dont think anything is more offensive than Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland INdians.
How is it a constitutional question what a football team calls itself.
If you don’t like it, you could always not watch the games.
There are plethora of racist names on websites.
Is the supreme court going to step in and police them also?
Something is only offensive if you you let it offend you. Manhole, blackball, etc are all offensive to someone.
It doesnt matter if you care or do not care about this issue. It has nothing to do with you. The people bringing the lawsuit could care less if you are less entertained by a mascot change. The mascot issue is part of a much larger issue regarding power and identity in Indian America. Who gets to decide who is a Native American? Is it the dominate culture? The government? Or the NA’s themselves. If the gov’t use of blood quantum rules the day then Indian America will be dead in a century. I would fight like hell on all levels too — including something that is seemingly docile like the mascot issue — if I felt my identity was slowly being undermined and mainstreamed. You would too…..
Really now, a person like Harjo’s opinion matters???
Does it matter more then all the American Indians who don’t give a crap about something as meaningless as a football teams name? Does it matter more then all the American Indians who like the name?
Does it matter more then the intention of the thousands, if not millions, of Americans who mean no ill will towards anyone when the refer to the team?
Do you know any more about Harjo then her name and her complaint?
Intention matters. Both the intention of the people using the name Redskins and the intention of the people complaining about its use.
Intention should be the basis of the discussion. Not person ‘A’ claims to be offended and based on her skin color her claim is automatically credible.
Be offended, then get over it. No harm is meant by the Redskins management, its players, or the NFL. Show it is intended THEN complain.
Until Harjo becomes majority owner of the team, it’s none of her business.
Furthermore, how did this article get to at least 50 comments without anyone pointing out that the name of the team has nothing to do with any “group” of people? The team name exists to honor one specific person – “Lone Star” Dietz – and presumably he didn’t object to it.
I like the Sherwin Williams paint company logo. What could better than soaking the entire planet in a coat of paint?
The only reason they are complaining is because they do not want a shitty team named after a once proud people
The way the skins are playing they should be called the Congress
And we miss you dan
Your 100% right this pc bs is why this country is in such piss poor shape right now
What a tired subject. Noboby really cares. It’s just some dumb worn out shit nobody cares about. Find some other stupid shit to worry about.
Any and all of your who think this is such a “Silly argument” are simply ignorant Americans, you dont know anything about…..Anything, The treatment of Native Americans is a big black spot on American history, its the Same thing as calling a team the n*gros, its offensive to a certain group of people, and I have other news for you people who joked we should call them the Blackjacks, Casinos, why dont you losers but down the beer. Your precious little ignorant history put those people on those sorry ass plots of land and set up those Casinos in supposed effort to gorw their economy. Ignorance Ignorance Ignorance. Your the same people who say the President is a terrorist Im sure.
Well now everyone associates the word Redskins with a professional football team and not Indians.
Why are these troublemakers not proud of their people’s heritage?
Why are their embarrassed by their characteristic skin? It is the way it is.
The American Indian was granted citizenship in 1924, nine years before the Redskins name. Any laswsuit should have been filed at that time.
Now there is no reason to take away a corporation’s name and logo after having it so long.
This is as serious as Norwegians filing suit against the vikings,
animals rights whackos filing suit against the Packers,
environmental communist whackos filing suit against the Jets.
How ’bout the Washington Rednecks? Sounds like what their fan base is composed of based on some of these posts!
P.S. the team was origanally named the Boston Braves.
This argument won’t go away. Here’s why it’s crap. Whenever they actually ask the opinion of actual native americans, it turns out large majority either like the names or don’t care at all.
California tried to ban all Indian names and it turned out that many sports teams on reservations actually used names like Redskin and Warrior, etc.
Why do liberals have this need to feel morally superior to others by being offended on behalf of somebody else?
The term was slang for scalping Native Americans, Florio. It was a direct reference to the “red skin” that was left over after an Native American was scalped. It isn’t just about skin color.
False -
http://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~nunberg/redskin.html
“Washington Incompetents” … the name works for the team and the government.
# Kidekk says: September 19, 2009 9:24 PM
@Back in the saddle and others,
So, by your logic, I shouldn’t be offended when someone calls me the n-word, because it’s just a word. I’ll be sure to remember that the next time someone says that because words don’t mean anything. I mean, it’s not like fights aren’t started by words or people aren’t killed over words everyday. Nope. Those useless word things have never caused anyone to do anything bad.
=====================================
Yes, you shouldn’t be offended by a word. You should readjust your tampon and get over it.
Fights aren’t started by words, they are started by people who don’t know how to control themselves. Being offended by a word does not justify any type of physical response. I suppose you think a jodge would see things your way if you beat someone to a pulp because they dropped the n-bomb on you (something that black people do a million times a day to each other).
You really think like a second grader, that much is obvious.
This makes it great to be a Saints fan. Unless, of course, God gets upset. Then we’re in trouble.
The Washington WarPath.
Solid name. They could keep the logo, and also the theme song with just a minor change.
Thank you, Tom Curran for posting this story. Just because the folks that decided that a racist term was an okey-dokey name back in 1933 because they had the all the decision making power, doesn’t make it right. The term Redskins for a football team is a national reminder that the invaders won and almost completely succeeded in complete genocide of the Native Americans. However,. some of them pesky Native Americans are still around to remind us of the genocide and what the term “Redskins” really means. The folks that say it doesn’t matter, are just plain ignorant or not ashamed whatsoever (i.e. Dan Snyder).
Redskins fan here.
1) The team was named in honor of a respected coach (Coach Dietz). The intent had nothing to do with a racial slur.
2) Having said that…I understand. I get it. Some Native Americans find it offensive. I have had MANY Native American friends in my life, and being a Skins fan, I have asked them about this, and so far not one of them has issues with the name. But, like I said…I get it.
3) The tough thing as a Redskins fan is, that’s the name you’ve grown up knowing. When I see that name, it doesn’t register as a racial slur. It registers as the name of the team I love. That’s how I define the name, and to each their own.
4) I won’t fight a name chance (again…I get it). But, PLEASE, no stupid names like the Sea Dogs.
Final note…yes…some people are too sensitive. But, that doesn’t mean you take a completely insensitive angle. This country has screwed Native Americans. I have a friend who is descended from a Virginia tribe that was all but wiped out…and our government basically acts like their tribe never existed. Plus, most of the successful casinos consist of greedy chiefs that disbanded a majority of their tribe and are backed financially by European fat cats. Spend a lifetime in a Native American’s shoes, and you might have a different view of things.
I am almost amused by the morons who perpetuate even worse sterotypes as an argument to NOT change the name. How long ago did Stanford change their name to Cardinal? Like 20 years ago?
What everyone forgets is that the Redskins were named after their Sioux coach, a man named William “Lone Star” Dietz. He was the first coach to win the modern Rose Bowl and coached the team shortly before their name change.
In his honor, they named the team the Redskins. So, in honesty, it wasn’t a racist name a couple guys dreamed up in the 30′s. The head coach was Sioux!
Sure if you had any compasion towards those that were defeated by will. If the “native americans” wanted respect, they could have fought for it eons ago. It worked when everyone had arrows but then the gun showed up. Indians zero, white man 1. Survival of the strongest, evolution, power in numbers.
Have some respect, change the names of these teams in question. Does it really hurt to do so?
Why don’t they just go back to their 1932 name the Braves? They could even make a buck selling throwback jerseys.
New rule.
All teams with names about native americans must now change their name to something else. That way nobody can bitch.
I’m sure the tiny vocal minority of Indians bitch about this stuff. I’ve known a few Indians and they all liked the sports names.
I am willing to support just about anything to get these kinds of people to STFU.
I can honestly say I have never heard the term “redskin” and though or felt any negatives about it.
Actually, redskins is a crappy name anyway.
Are you serious comparing the “drunken irish” and “redskins”? The “fire water swilling savages” might be more like that term.
Good story Curran. And I agree with sevendollarbologna, it would seem Rednecks would be a better name.
And if words don’t matter then why are so many Americans running around calling Obama a communist-fascist-hitler clone? Other than being too stupid to know the difference between communism and fascism or, for that matter, the difference between communism and socialism actually are. As if Obama’s a socialist anyways, what a joke! Only to conservative Americans would that guy look like a socialist.
To see these Obama references on a FOOTBALL site is truly pathetic. Come on, try to grow up, put on your big boy pants, read a book and think for yourselves for once. Don’t worry, the commies aren’t coming to take your children.
Back to the real topic, seriously, they should have gotten it changed it in 1933??? Why not only can people not read (Curran wrote this post) or pick up a dictionary (see previous big words like “communism”), they don’t know American history either. Yes, yes, of course, those Natives should have brought this up back in the good ol’ days…yes, that really would have worked back then.
It’s a stupid name. Get over yourselves and change it. Since there seems to be little point in appealing to intelligence, how about a little decency? If the name doesn’t matter, then what’s the harm in changing it? Do you really think dropping the name REDSKIN for one of the reasonable suggestions posted here is going to destroy America? Do you really feel that weak?
New Names for the Skins:
Washington Drunk Wahoos
Washington Ocaca’s
Washington Crack Vials
Washington Needles
Washington Rectum Snatchers
Washington Mighty Douchebags
It has been shown repeatedly that the “I Take Offense” movement is largely propelled by an intellectual elite, and that the general population has little use for this sort of thing. Such “astroturfing” has been shown to be the basis for most political movements like this. To wit, I recall seeing street vendors in Cherokee, North Carolina in the 1990′s who, despite being full-blooded Eastern Band Cherokee, were so offended by the Atlanta Braves’ rise to prominence that they were selling the hell out of knock-off foam tomahawks.
It is overlooked that the American Indians comprised a society that recognized no individual rights prior to the arrival of European settlers. Theirs was a collectivist, mystical tribal system that visited as much grief and violence on the settlers as the settlers did them. The “noble savage” myth has romanticized a culture that, while featuring many impressive qualities, was hardly a model of enlightenment and personal liberty.
It should also be noted that no culture has so honored, and virtually worshipped, a vanquished foe as the USA has the American Indians. The Redskins name is one of myriad examples of honorifics and tributes that exalt American Indians, from product names and currency to place names and team nicknames. It may be true that some modern people don’t like nicknames like “Redskins,” but the idea that the name is not an honor or a tribute is false, whether activists like it or not. They may take it as offensive, as is their right, but it never was meant to be offensive by the team. An athletic team, military unit, or business generally does not choose as a symbol for its values, its mission, and itself an entity that it considers inferior or laughable. Quite the opposite, the symbols chosen are embodiments of admired qualities.
These activists are not building awareness of the Trail of Tears, are not asking why it took until 1924 to pass the Indian Citizenship Act, and are not demanding broken treaties be honored. They are not pointing out the uneven embrace of our Founders’ vision by our young nation, are not demanding recognition for American Indians’ service to the USA, and are not urging all of America to put past disagreements aside and move forward united and indivisible. They certainly are not offering to close the reservations, and are not working to get American Indians off welfare. They are merely, and solely, exploiting the American people (including American Indians) and attempting to secure political advantage for themselves, the fate of cherished national institutions be damned.
If the trademark protection is vacated, there is nothing to prohibit the team, or any other party, from continuing to use the name and logo. Then there is the ill will such a pyrrhic victory would garner. Undermining intellectual property law already weakened by bad judicial decisions will not solve what these activists perceive to be their problem. It may even worsen it.
Why on earth would a team be named after bloody native american scalps? You people believe what you want to believe, if you don’t like the truth you continue to hear only things the benefit your agenda.
The name Redskins is OBVIOUS it means “of redskin” especially when you account the team colors and the native american face on the helmet. Just as other teams are named after american indians they are named in pride just like teams are called cowboys. The helmet variations have been anything from an arrowhead and spear, feathers, even a big ole R.
Other people say it make perfect sense since DC was around where we first landed and started colonizing, killing native americans. Well again here is truth. The Redskins are not originally a DC team, infact go do simple research and you will realize that before new england had the patriots they had the Boston Redskins. The team was bought and moved to DC.
Most of you will believe what you want that supports your feeling, i don’t doubt that one bit. Simple fact is that it makes no sense for the team to be named after bloody indian scalps. Taking into account the team colors, the team logos, and the team fight song it’s pretty easy to see that the name is meant honor a proud people, whether by instilling fear or honor just as any other team. Raiders, Buccaneers, etc are names based on cold blooded murderers who raped and pillaged the innocent but what we all don’t realize is times change and as times change so do the meanings of many things.
What about the Cleveland Browns?
I think it’s funny when white folks tell Native Americans what they should and shouldn’t be offended by.
Yes, you shouldn’t be offended by a word. You should readjust your tampon and get over it.
Fights aren’t started by words, they are started by people who don’t know how to control themselves. Being offended by a word does not justify any type of physical response. I suppose you think a jodge would see things your way if you beat someone to a pulp because they dropped the n-bomb on you (something that black people do a million times a day to each other).
You really think like a second grader, that much is obvious.
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Actually, second graders have already learned that words can hurt people, maybe infants haven’t. Your response shows how great of a person you are. Go around dropping the n-bomb to black people because a lot of black people say it (and since a lot of black people say it, every black person must be okay with it because they all think alike) and see how that turns out. Oh wait, that’s right, you wouldn’t because you know what would happen to you. Even if it’s not right, you know you would be in physical danger. Even a second grader knows that. See where your argument falls apart?
“Just as other teams are named after american indians they are named in pride just like teams are called cowboys.”
Just like the Redskins just happened to be the last team to start using black players out of pride?
Indian? Indian? Some white guy from Spain gets lost 517 years ago (Columbus thought he was in India I suppose) and mis-names an entire culture of people.
…and we’re still arguing over…whatever.
Would the term “redman” be offensive?
“Coyle says:
September 20, 2009 5:50 AM
What about the Cleveland Browns?”
Named after Paul Brown.
Oh Boo F’in Hoo…JC these ppl need to unclench their butt cheeks and relax a bit…does it affect the function of their everyday life if they are so offended?
If so, then these a-holes have bigger problems than the name of a football team.
Since 1992 eh? gee these last 17 years musta been hell…Rack the Redskins name…find some other constructive activity to put your time into…like alchoholism amount the nativa american community
The Centurion says:
September 19, 2009 10:01 PM
Any and all of your who think this is such a “Silly argument” are simply ignorant Americans, you dont know anything about…..Anything, The treatment of Native Americans is a big black spot on American history, its the Same thing as calling a team the n*gros, its offensive to a certain group of people, and I have other news for you people who joked we should call them the Blackjacks, Casinos, why dont you losers but down the beer. Your precious little ignorant history put those people on those sorry ass plots of land and set up those Casinos in supposed effort to gorw their economy. Ignorance Ignorance Ignorance. Your the same people who say the President is a terrorist Im sure.
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Yeah, I’m done being offended by and feeling sorry for things that happened in the past. I wasn’t there and neither were you. Neither was anyone you know, so STFU already. And get out of our goddamn country if you don’t like it. We don’t want you here.
They received the rights to literally hundreds of thousands of acres of land. Small potatoes considering what they had, but still pretty generous considering we took land from Mexico (California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas ring a bell?) and never gave it back. They also received sovereignty, which do this day they still enjoy. They don’t pay much, if any taxes on their casino earnings and are given reparations for the acts committed hundreds of years ago. Say that again. Hundreds of years ago.
But do they do anything with it? Nope. You go out to a reservation now and it’s a total dump. You’d think with all that money, they’d find a way to integrate, educate and thrive. Instead it’s squandered and wasted.
So I’m sorry, but I don’t feel bad for the American Indians anymore. While I can understand and appreciate their desire to embrace and remember their heritage, I think it’s high time people get over the past and stop going out of their way to look for reasons to be offended.
‘my morning grape dance”
Oh man, that’s right up there with “paleheads.” Simple, but high-larious.
The value of an honor is determined by the recipient, not the giver.
How honored would you feel if the NFL’s new expansion team was called the Vietnam White Devils, with big pictures of Uncle Sam on their helmets? (http://badexample.mu.nu/archives/try_and_stop_us.jpg)
Here comes the Washington Redstorm.
@ Kidekk:
You’re a complete idiot, really. I never said I go around dropping the n-bomb to anyone. You tried to argue that someone saying something justifies a physical response. It’s a second grade argument. If an altercation occurs over some words, it isn’t the words that caused it, it’s the moron who decided to show his stupidity and inability to verbally express themselves that caused it. By your logic, the second grade excuse, “He called me a poopoohead so I slugged him.” should stand up in court. You are really just showing how you have no clue what maturity is…it certainly isn’t getting physical over some words.
See where your ignorance begins to show through? I do.