[LUconn]

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom ... ts-imagery

Several Washington Post columnists have called for the name change; the Washington Redskins blog Hog Heaven also supports the name change; the weekly Washington City Paper has already begun calling the team by a different name; and just last week, Washington mayor Vincent Gray pointedly avoided using the team's name in his State of the District address.

I feel like this will never stop until the name is changed, and that the change of name is inevitable. I do, however, find it both pathetic and petty for journalists to refuse to even print the name REDSKINS. That's the name of the team. If you're so offended and appalled by it, maybe you should stop making a living writing about that team.

[adam42381]

I'm a Redskins fan and I don't have a problem with the calls for a name change. If it is offensive to a group of people, it isn't worth keeping, in my opinion. I don't really care one way or the other. Of course, I'm a white guy and don't have any Native American roots.

[jbock13]

I feel like this will never stop until the name is changed, and that the change of name is inevitable. I do, however, find it both pathetic and petty for journalists to refuse to even print the name REDSKINS. That's the name of the team. If you're so offended and appalled by it, maybe you should stop making a living writing about that team.

But that's exactly the point. These writers can run around to all their cocktail parties and talk about how progressive and enlightened they are that they find the term Redskins offensive. Which, by the why, most of these writers happen to be white. Not that it really matters the skin color of who's saying it, but if we're playing by the rules of postmodernist philosophy, well, then that's my point.

[RubberMallet]

are there actual native americans that are angry over this?

[Sly Fox]

RM - Yes. They have protested many times over the years.

Of all the terms used by sports teams, this is the one that has always bothered me. Most of the other Native American-themed names pay tribute to the peoples referenced. What the NCAA did to a number of schools who were supported by the tribes they represented was ridiculous (especially North Dakota). But Redskins has always been a slur. I fully supported Miami University making the switch. The folks in DC could use some creativity and make most everyone feel good about it.

[RubberMallet]

well its never really been all that big of a deal to me to have these changes happen. its sports. I get crap all the time because i fully supported the illini doing away with chief illini mascot thingy. it was some college dope in a headdress jumping around like an idiot. outside of the headdress there was nothing native american about it

[LUconn]

or maybe to some sort of devil mascot


My problem with it is that replacements are always just so lame.

Bullets to Wizards?
Indians to Cardinal/Tree?
Warriors to Golden Eagle? (warrior certainly does not have to be indian specific)
Fighting Sioux to Bison? Ok Bison is cool but Fighting Sioux is way better.
Red Men to Red Storm?
Orangemen to Orange?


Changing classic names to lame replacements just doesn't do it for me. Might as well just change every indian name to Wildcats.

[adam42381]

Think of how this would be handled if it were another color. Blackskins, Yellowskins, Whiteskins. I think the change would have been made long ago. I understand keeping nicknames if they attempt to honor a tribe like the Seminoles, Illini, etc. In this case, I don't see how it can be defended except out of tradition. For the record, I will continue to support the Redskins and wear the logo, but I'll be fine with the change when it comes. I just hope they can come up with a legitimate replacement nickname.

[4everfsu]

I hope they have the guts to keep the name Redskins..

[adam42381]

I hope they have the guts to keep the name Redskins..

Why? I can understand being anti-PC in a lot of instances, but when something has racist connotations it should probably be done away with.

[4everfsu]

If the name offends you, you don't have to watch the team or support it. PC is what is destroying this country. Get over it or move on.

[adam42381]

If the name offends you, you don't have to watch the team or support it. PC is what is destroying this country. Get over it or move on.

[youtube]

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[RubberMallet]

yeah...i'm as anti-pc as most but i think there is a line. if there was a team that had the mascot "aborted fetus's" i don't think i could be like "DONT LIKE IT DONT WATCH IT OR SUPPORT IT"

"redskin" does kind of flirt with the line there. considering it WAS used as a derogatory term.

[jbock13]

The problem is, there are plenty of race vultures trying to procure themselves a paycheck by doing things like this.

It's 2013. We're far past the days of Andrew Jackson, and the Mainfest Destiny. Oh sure there's a few racists, but honestly, who cares? Do we see innocent blacks being flattened with water hoses today? Absolutely not, and it's a disgrace that anyone would say that this country is worse today than it's ever been.

Perhaps it was an offensive term at one time. Most people say yes, but as an objectivist, let's just assume it was. What meaning does it have today? Words change over time. If you were to say, "I'm feeling mighty gay," what would someone say today compared to what they would have said decades ago?

The ultimate truth is that we all need to get over it. We're not the only country in the world who struggled with racial anxieties. We'll never be perfect, but then again, no civilization will ever be. This isn't utopia. And that's why I'm for the name staying the same. When we divide society, we shouldn't be surprised about the consequences. The virtue of America should always be a color-blind society. That's what we've done in this country far more than any other country in the world.

[RubberMallet]

the only reason i say keep it is because it will drive white people completely insane.

[flameshaw]

My heritage on my mothers side is Cherokee Indian. I have enough Indian blood to be considered a qualified minority.
Personally, the Redskin name doesn't bother me a bit. People get their panties in a wad over all kinds of silly stuff. Regardless of what one does or says, it has the possibility of offending someone. People just need to realize that everything is not going to be the way they want it.
Who would name a team something that they are ashamed of, or is derogatory in nature?
Why change it now instead of 25 years ago? The only possible answer is that we are more sensitive over these things now days. Personally, that isn't good enough for me. But if you disagree with my opinion, feel free to do so. We are still a semi-free country, don't know how much longer that will last. THAT is something that bothers me.

[ALUmnus]

It would bother me if the name were changed, as a Redskins fan.

But beyond my own emotional hangup, just look at language and history. When the team was named the "Redskins", it was not as a pejorative. The terms "red man", "blacks", "redskin", etc were descriptive and are only now considered offensive for illogical reasons by people that are typically not even in the group being described by the word. So who is it that's offended by "redskin"? Pretty much, not Indians (gasp! another offensive term!). 91% say, not that they don't care, but that it's NOT an offensive term. http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter. ... -24_pr.pdf
Even the courts have said these offended groups are being stupid, legally speaking.

And today, the word "redskin" has only one meaning, and that's the professional football team that plays for the nation's capital. Apart from that, the word isn't even used.

So what exactly is the reason for wanting the name changed?

[RubberMallet]

psshhh if 91% don't care, screw em!

i'm all for letting a people determine whether or not something is offensive to them and taking it from there. sly made it seem like there was major outrage over this from native american's on this.

[jbock13]

Perfect example. 91% don't care. 9% are looking to get paid, because these are the race baiting groups they work for.

[LUconn]

Did you guys even read that article?

[LUconn]

PS, I was going to use redskins in a derogatory way in my post and I just couldn't do it. So that counts for something. But maybe that's a me problem.

[Blessed1]

I think the Redskins should keep the name. However, if they must change it, then the Cleveland Indians should change theirs too... Truthfully speaking, I prefer the Native-American theme and wouldn't mind if the Redskins were called the 'Washington Warriors' instead.

[RubberMallet]

PS, I was going to use redskins in a derogatory way in my post and I just couldn't do it. So that counts for something. But maybe that's a me problem.

i was goign to call someone an aborted fetus but decided against it too.

and no i didn't read the article. i make all my judgements based off assumptions.

[RubberMallet]

btw, i keep clicking on that megathread thinking that i'm going to see something that is pertinent to my interests and have failed every time. but i keep going back. it HAS to be interesting this time!

[SumItUp]

I think it's time for that team from Dallas to drop their name also. It offends me.