Poll: Should the "Redskins" name be changed?

[ExiledInIllinois]

Of all the things... this is what we care about. Sad sad country we live in...

 

I think it is kinda important and a cornerstone of debate. May not seem very "practical". Again, it is the basis of everything... Including trust. I totally think you are wrong for trivializing the debate.

[ChevyVanMiller]

Wow... Thanks... I never looked it up... I was confused with the Native logo. Again, thanks!

 

No worries, but it does make the "Orange" citrus mascot pretty stupid now, don't you think?

Edited January 14, 2013 by ChevyVanMiller

[Marshawn's 20 bucks]

It's a private organization. I don't know if they get public money ala a stadium, if so that can change things. There are rules that govern that stuff.

 

As for the sentiment part, it all depends on how people interpret it. Why would a team intentionally name themselves a derogatory phrase? It wouldn't sell. But they're portraying a fierceness, warrior mentality right? I may take pride in that like I know some Irish guys who took pride in ND. Would it matter if they chose a tribal name like Seminole?

 

Would anyone here be offended if a team was the "Darkies" or "ebonies"? What about "Massai", a warrior people in Africa?

 

"redbeards"? Berserkers? a Scottish warrior.

 

"topknots"? Samurai?

 

Which are offensive, and which aren't? Where's the line?

It's a private organization. I don't know if they get public money ala a stadium, if so that can change things. There are rules that govern that stuff.

 

As for the sentiment part, it all depends on how people interpret it. Why would a team intentionally name themselves a derogatory phrase? It wouldn't sell. But they're portraying a fierceness, warrior mentality right? I may take pride in that like I know some Irish guys who took pride in ND. Would it matter if they chose a tribal name like Seminole?

 

Would anyone here be offended if a team was the "Darkies" or "ebonies"? What about "Massai", a warrior people in Africa?

 

"redbeards"? Berserkers? a Scottish warrior.

 

"topknots"? Samurai?

 

Which are offensive, and which aren't? Where's the line?

 

The line is your nation and mine (Canada) were built upon a genocide. To use a term that is patently offensive to aboriginals and first nations people who are the heirs to this genocide is inappropriate and insensitive. My high school was the Redskins until 1997 and it was renamed to Redhawks. Kids still play hard and proudly for the school. If Washington were to change its name it would show that we aren't using antiquated and racist terms for our fun past time anymore and it really won't make a bit of difference. Ask the Baltimore and Houston fans...

 

I think they should change but I didn't vote because of the dumb second question.

 

To have a team representing our Nation's capital named for a derogatory term for a group of people we took the country from and slaughtered is a little over the top in my view. Even if Native Americans (or whatever the proper term is) aren't offended by it. I don't see that as the whole point.

 

My native friends from Akwesasne take deep offense to this. So I guess it depends on which group of aboriginal people you speak to.

 

i dont think anyones saying place this between national security and the economy on our list of priorities. just a simple "what do you think"

 

of all the things on this site that we are silly for discussing this one is middle of the pack at worst!

 

I think that a multi billion dollar operation like the NFL should take this very seriously why risk offending many people?

The Bullets name was changed to the wizards and does anyone care? Changing the name to something else will take about a week for fans to get used to.

Edited January 14, 2013 by Marshawn's 20 bucks

[NoSaint]

 

I think that a multi billion dollar operation like the NFL should take this very seriously why risk offending many people?

The Bullets name was changed to the wizards and does anyone care? Changing the name to something else will take about a week for fans to get used to.

 

agreed. in the other thread i mentioned a few times that i was amazed this is an issue that the redskins havent addressed at about a dozen different opportunities over the last 50 years.

 

the nfl brand is such an unstoppable freight train of growth, that i just dont see changing the name as a huge marketing hit. some hemming and hawing at first but people quickly will concede that the true history and tradition doesnt lie with the nickname, but with the fans and players.

[EasternOHBillsFan]

The line is your nation and mine (Canada) were built upon a genocide.

 

Are you sure? You are overgeneralizing.

 

The smallpox epidemic that swept through North America killed more native peoples than any musket, knife, or hachet ever did, as well as other diseases. Despite a couple of instances of intentional exposure, it wasn't a calculated program by Europeans.

 

The Iroquois Confederacy chose to side with the British in the French and Indian War, not only for the land but for control of the other tribes in the region covered under the Treaty of Easton. They deliberately sold out their brothers to gain a foothold, and the plan backfired, costing not only the Iroquois, but the Delawares as well. These interests and counter-interests spelled doom for scheming tribal leaders.

 

At first, Indian warriors from Pennsylvania's various Delaware tribes fought for both the French and the British. But soon they abandoned their Covenant Chain with the English colonists and sided with the French because of the Britain's failure to protect their trading and land interests. Realizing that the survival of their peoples required independence from all European powers, as well as unity among themselves, the leaders of the scattered Delaware settlements formed a nation in the Ohio Valley. They began thinking of themselves simply as "Delaware Indians" and looked to their own warriors and leaders for guidance.

 

...

 

Native American abandonment of the French allowed the British to claim title to Canada and all territory east of the Mississippi River, except for New Orleans. After concluding peace with the French, the English government launched a new Indian policy that would separate Native Americans and white colonists by creating a firm boundary. Following the crest line of the Appalachian Mountains from Maine to Georgia, the "Proclamation Line of 1763" forbade any new white settlement on lands west of that line, which the Crown reserved for the Indian nations. Though well-intentioned, the attempt to legislate interracial accord quickly failed.

 

On May 8, 1765, the Ohio and Pennsylvania Delaware Indians signed a formal peace treaty with the English that superseded the 1763 Proclamation. Under the terms of the treaty, the Delaware were forced to accept any general frontier boundary demanded by the Iroquois and the British. Three years later, Iroquois sale of the Susquehanna Valley country to the English left the Delaware without a homeland. The French and Indian War had destroyed the eastern Delaware tribes, who were forced to move north among the Iroquois or west to Ohio.

 

The peace was short-lived. Still bitter over the taking of their Pennsylvania homeland, the Delaware allied with the Iroquois and British during the American Revolution and conducted spontaneous raids on Pennsylvania's frontier settlements until 1779 when Gen. John Sullivan marched his expeditionary force into northern Pennsylvania and upstate New York. Eliminating all but small pockets of resistance, the Sullivan campaign also destroyed remaining Indian settlements and fields. Three years later, in 1782, Col. Daniel Brodhead, who had been part of the Sullivan expedition, led another army, containing many Delawares, into the Ohio Valley, where it destroyed the new Delaware capital at Coshocton and other Indian towns.

 

http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-179

[Mr. WEO]

It's a private organization. I don't know if they get public money ala a stadium, if so that can change things. There are rules that govern that stuff.

 

As for the sentiment part, it all depends on how people interpret it. Why would a team intentionally name themselves a derogatory phrase? It wouldn't sell. But they're portraying a fierceness, warrior mentality right? I may take pride in that like I know some Irish guys who took pride in ND. Would it matter if they chose a tribal name like Seminole?

 

Would anyone here be offended if a team was the "Darkies" or "ebonies"? What about "Massai", a warrior people in Africa?

 

"redbeards"? Berserkers? a Scottish warrior.

 

"topknots"? Samurai?

 

Which are offensive, and which aren't? Where's the line?

 

How about "The Washington Casino Owner/Employees"? Should they even be referred to as "Indian Casinos"?

 

What about people from India? Would these Indians in Cleveland be offended by the "Cleveland Indians" or would they assume it referred to "those other indians" (and be happy with that)?

[papazoid]

absolutely offensive...

 

#1- the word "redskin" is a racial descriptor using skin color.

 

#2- native american indians say it is offensive.

 

#3- this is completely different than using chief(s), indian(s), cowboys, brave(s), warriors,

[boyst]

As a discussion yes this is fine. But we should be more concerned with poor education institutions on tribal land, obese children, etcetc. Worry about now and life. Not past and name calling.

 

In a perfect world we wouldn't have ever had the term Redskins. But its the same as calling a team the Nashville Negroes or NY Crackers. We can change it but it wont remove the term, it wont magically change anything. That's just the world we live in.

[papazoid]

maybe ESPN can bring back Rob Parker so he can question daniel snyders "redness"

[EasternOHBillsFan]

As a discussion yes this is fine. But we should be more concerned with poor education institutions on tribal land, obese children, etcetc. Worry about now and life. Not past and name calling.

 

EXACTLY my view that I told my sister 3 days ago....

[mattsox]

Maybe they could change it to the "Hogs". Isn' t that part of their team history too???

Edited January 14, 2013 by mattsox

[26CornerBlitz]

Maybe they could change it to the "Hogs". Isn' t that part of their team history too???

 

Would go very well with Pork Barrel spending by Congress. Perfection. Tailgate with Pig Roasts on Sunday mornings for home games.

[Heels20X6]

Maybe they could change it to the "Hogs". Isn' t that part of their team history too???

 

Just call them the Pigskins and be done with it. Pigs = Hogs and everyone can keep calling them the Skins.

 

Of course, PETA will be upset but nobody likes them anyways.

[Direhard Fan]

LOVE the poll. Thank you. Always fun to get other opions. Team name. Get over it. It's not your team.

[bladiebla]

Offcourse the name is dated and offensive, if the Saints had been named the New Orleans !@#$s their name would have been changed ages ago. Redskins is just as offensive to Indian natives.

 

Funny how the N word is filtered and redskins isnt...

Edited January 14, 2013 by bladiebla

[billsfan89]

No, its not bothering anyone (I haven't heard any major outcry about it in a long time), I think the term is/was racist but the slur is no longer relevant (Its probably not really been used as a racist slur commonly since the beginning of the 20th century) so why bother. Changing the name is only going to give the term power, leave it alone I don't even know that there is really a big outrage about it anymore.

Edited January 15, 2013 by billsfan89

[truth on hold]

Offcourse the name is dated and offensive, if the Saints had been named the New Orleans !@#$s their name would have been changed ages ago. Redskins is just as offensive to Indian natives.

 

Funny how the N word is filtered and redskins isnt...

Christians should petition to have "Saints" removed as their name. To be replaced with something more fitting like "Bounty Hunters"

[NoSaint]

Was anyone offended when they changed their fight song from "fight for Dixie" to "fight for DC"

 

It's just should've been so easy to change the name at some point....

[BLZFAN4LIFE]

F political correctness.

[ExiledInIllinois]

What about the term "Yankee?" Why don't they name the Carolina Hurricanes the Carolina Carpetbaggers. ??