WP:Drop ‘Redskins’ name? Time to take a stand. (By Robert McCartney)

[MattFancy]

I'm over it at this point. The team has been named the Washington Redskins for 75 years now. Like stugein said, most people associate the term "Redskins" now a days with the football team and not the Native Americans.

[USS Redskins]

This won't go away until all Native references are dropped. Compromises will not work bc names like Warriors, Braves, etc. will forever be linked to Redskins. Images like the spears, feathers, arrows, headdresses, all have to go as well if we ever want this to end.

Take a stand then.

dont post on a racist teams website and certainly dont cheer for them.

I see your name is RFK FEDEX - the RFK is for the stadium named to HONOR of a fallen Senator.

And I really think real American Indians have ALLOT more to worry about than this silly stuff.

[skinsgirl26]

Fine by me.
It's not like i have to read their paper.
Let them scream til they cry themselves to sleep.

~Bang

Wouldn't that be dandy.

Sigh...this topic has been the basis of so many threads, can we merge this with the other million threads about our racist team name?

We need to get off this merry-go-round.

[Major Harris]

Is there an echo in here?

---------- Post added February-7th-2013 at 09:50 AM ----------

Obama's birth certificate keeps coming up.

That doesn't mean it's a controversy. And it certainly doesn't mean that Obama should do what the Birthers want.

I take it you still are not convinced Obama was born in Kenya?

[Destino]

Doesn't look like anyone clicked the link. Its being brought up again in part because the National Museum of the American Indian is doing a lecture on the topic below. The Post's very own Mike Wise (naturally) will be involved. Perhaps those of you with a dog in this fight should go and tell them that its not offensive and that they should shut up already. What could go wrong?

http://nmai.si.edu/connect/symposia/#/?i=1

Thursday, February 7, 2013, 10:15 AM – 5:45 PM

Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports



Join sports writers, scholars, authors, and representatives from sports organizations for lively panel discussions on racist stereotypes and cultural appropriation in American sports.
Explore the mythology and psychology of sports stereotypes and mascots, and examine the retirement of “Native American” sports references and collegiate efforts to revive them despite the NCAA’s policy against “hostile and abusive” nicknames and symbols.

End the afternoon with a spirited community conversation about the name and logo of the Washington, D.C. professional football team, with sports writers from the Washington Post and USA Today, along with eminent members of the D.C. community. Reception to follow immediately.

I personally don't care if they change the name or not. Still my city, still my team. The switch to "wizards" couldn't chase me away (not to mention the years of fail) from that franchise so I'm not too worried about it. Until then ill still be rockin my beat up redskin hat that I refuse to throw away.

Here is the info on the Redskins discussion:

A Community Conversation About the Washington NFL Team Name
3:45 p.m.
Dr. Philip J. Deloria, Moderator. Author, Playing Indian and Indians in Unexpected Places; Professor, History and American Studies, and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education, College of Literature, Science and the Arts, University of Michigan
Hon. Judith Bartnoff, Esq., Deputy Presiding Judge, Civil Division, District of Columbia Superior Court
Mr. Erik Brady, Sports Reporter, USA Today
Rev. Graylan Hagler, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, and Immediate Past President, Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice
Mr. Robert I. Holden, Deputy Director, National Congress of American Indians
Mr. Mike Wise, Sports Columnist, The Washington Post

If someone decides to go and argue that they should quit their whining let us all know. That's popcorn worthy.

[JimboDaMan]

This won't go away until all Native references are dropped. Compromises will not work bc names like Warriors, Braves, etc. will forever be linked to Redskins. Images like the spears, feathers, arrows, headdresses, all have to go as well if we ever want this to end.

Then we will forever be afflicted by journalists looking for a bump, college students with a cause, and people easily bruised by the world around them. I can live with that.

[KDawg]

KDawg, I am one of the less than 1% of Native Americans in this Country...very few people are actually offended by it. Not one person in my family is offended by the team name Redskins. My baby sister (in her 20's) is a Titans fan, my other sister is a Falcons fan (I think), my brother is a Packers fan, my Mom just goes with the flow and roots against the Cowboys. Hell, my grandparents are Bills fans and live probably pretty close to you.

Yup. I know. But people need something to be up in arms about and this topic is an easy one.

The name is fine. The term "Redskin" might have been derogatory in the past, I can't argue that. However, words evolve. Most kids, if they followed sports... If asked what a Redskin was they'd probably think it was the football team and not anything racist whatsoever. People hang on to it because it used to be offensive.

[Kilmer17]

Maybe we should name the team the "Journalists" and offend everyone.

We are and should continue to fight this forever.

[Riggo#44]

The Indians Logo is far more offensive than the Redskins name (look up how the Nazi caricatures of Jews from WWII -- shockingly similar), yet receives .01% of the press.

All of these articles fail to address the two main counter arguements: The Annenberg study from about 8-9 years ago that found 90% of Native Americans didn't care and the Red Mesa Az. HS that changed it's name TO Redskins b/c they felt it honored Native Americans.

This is getting so old.

[Bang]

Doesn't look like anyone clicked the link. Its being brought up again in part because the National Museum of the American Indian is doing a lecture on the topic below. The Post's very own Mike Wise (naturally) will be involved. Perhaps those of you with a dog in this fight should go and tell them that its not offensive and that they should shut up already. What could go wrong?

http://nmai.si.edu/connect/symposia/#/?i=1


I personally don't care if they change the name or not. Still my city, still my team. The switch to "wizards" couldn't chase me away (not to mention the years of fail) from that franchise so I'm not too worried about it. Until then ill still be rockin my beat up redskin hat that I refuse to throw away.

Here is the info on the Redskins discussion:


If someone decides to go and argue that they should quit their whining let us all know. That's popcorn worthy.

Will they be bringing up the Buffalo Bills?

If they do, let me know,, i will dutifully fall out of my chair from the shock.

~Bang

[JimboDaMan]

Will they be bringing up the Buffalo Bills?

If they do, let me know,, i will dutifully fall out of my chair from the shock.

~Bang

Yeah, that name has always confounded me. Does it honor the American bison, as the team logo implies? Or the man who became famous for slaughtering thousands of them, as the team name implies? Not to mention Buffalo Bill paraded around dozens of actual Native Americans as attractions in his traveling circus show. Might as well name a team the Michael Vick Bulldogs.

[skinsgirl26]

Maybe we should name the team the "Journalists" and offend everyone.

We are and should continue to fight this forever.

I laughed out loud at the Journalists

[Duckus]

The WP seems fixated on this topic recently.

They keep poking, poking, poking and I think they want a fight.

[Henry]

Henry, I don't get why the logo is offensive...more offensive than a black guy rocking a traditional headdress ? He is beloved by everyone that has ever met him ( Love you Zee).

I don't think the logo is offensive.

I suggest removing it so that the team can officially state that the name 'Redskins' does not refer to Native Americans and is just a generic name like the Reds or Browns, and therefore cannot be considered offensive to anyone.

Like putting a potato on the helmet, but not as goofy.

[Bang]

Yeah, that name has always confounded me. Does it honor the American bison, as the team logo implies? Or the man who became famous for slaughtering thousands of them, as the team name implies? Not to mention Buffalo Bill paraded around dozens of actual Native Americans as attractions in his traveling circus show. Might as well name a team the Michael Vick Bulldogs.

The reason it's not an issue is because it takes some actual thought to figure out why it is the most offensive name to Native Americans of any sports team in the nation.
And witch hunts never give a damn about that.
Easier to go for something that causes a visceral reaction amid the mob, whether it's borne of ignornace or not.
Hang that witch. Lynch 'er up good.

~Bang