Should the Washington Redskins Change Their Name?

[fonzob1]

^ You haven't been paying attention, have you? The word is a racial slur because it was originally a reference to Native American scalps being collected and used as bountys, as proof of killing them. This is documented and proven.

Simply claiming that it's a reference to "red skin" as opposed to white people's "white skin" is, as I also just said, imposed on Native American culture after the fact, by European writers. (Native tribes generally did not keep written records, so there is no proof that they ever used the term in such an innocuous manner.)

That is absolutely not the orgin of the name. The Washington Redskins were originally from Boston. The name was inspired by the settlers who threw the "Boston Tea Party" pretending to be Indians by dressing up and painting their skin. You are mistaken.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Washington Redskins were originally from Boston. The name was inspired by the settlers who threw the "Boston Tea Party" pretending to be Indians by dressing up and painting their skin. You are mistaken.

You're right that the team originated in Boston, but it had no relevance to the Boston Tea Party.

 

[fonzob1]

The Washington Redskins were originally from Boston. The name was inspired by the settlers who threw the "Boston Tea Party" pretending to be Indians by dressing up and painting their skin. You are mistaken.

You're right that the team originated in Boston, but it had no relevance to the Boston Tea Party.

You're never going to convince me that's true. And, I am offended by your team name...The New York Yankees. Once upon a time, someone made the word Yankee to mean something derogatory. Patriot or Sentinel would be more politically correct terms (unless of course someone wants to make those words offensive too).

 

[Taylirious]

As a Washington fan I wouldn't mind it. I like the idea of Dragons because 2 other teams have fantasy names; Wizards, Mystics. I also loved the World League Barcelona Dragons.

 

[Mudd]

Yes, of course they should.

There have been so many good reasons for so long to loath the team on its merits, let's get rid of the one easy and obvious one.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

You're never going to convince me that's true.

Fortunately, convincing you is unnecessary.

 

[gblews]

I'm going by memory here so anyone please correct me if I am wrong but I believe the Washington team was the last NFL team to sign a black player back in the day, and I recall reading that they were the last team to integrate hotel roommates on the road.

Seems this team has a longer history than others when it comes to struggling with racial sensitivity.

 

[fonzob1]

You're never going to convince me that's true.

Fortunately, convincing you is unnecessary.

Completely.

I'm going by memory here so anyone please correct me if I am wrong but I believe the Washington team was the last NFL team to sign a black player back in the day, and I recall reading that they were the last team to integrate hotel roommates on the road.

Seems this team has a longer history than others when it comes to struggling with racial sensitivity.

Yes. That is true. They were the last team to integrate in 1962 (over half a century ago).

 

[urbandefault]

I'm not a big fan of the Redskins, but since I have more than a little bit of Native in my family tree I figured I should add my voice to the mix. I chose to let my dollars speak for me and added this to my collection the last time the topic came up.

 

[USS Triumphant]

How about they change to the the Washington Oligarchs, and use Clopsy as a mascot? (Basically, a mascot-ized version of the below.)

 

[IrishNero]

Much as I hate to admit it, I kinda like PETA's suggestion on this one: keep the team name, but change the logo...to a redskin potato.

I've lived in the DC area off and on for about 17 years, and I've been watching this drama play out for most of that time. I'm not a 'skins fan, but just by virtue of being here, you get to know all of the major players in this controversy. I've heard the arguments that the 'skins are akin to the Florida State Seminoles, but that's incorrect. The 'noles are honoring a specific tribe and have the blessing of the Seminole tribal council. When you get down to it, the name points out the skin color of a race, and it's not even an accurate skin color...

I understand the fans who have only known this team by that name their entire life, but the name is a little racist. However, I'm torn between the idea that a racist name is wrong and the idea that it doesn't truly affect anyone's life. -But I'm mostly Caucasian so it's probable that my viewpoint is affected by that.

One thing's for sure; It's going to take a lot more arm twisting to get Dan Snyder to make that change.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It's going to take a lot more arm twisting to get Dan Snyder to make that change.

Kinda looking forward to it, actually.

 

[IrishNero]

It's going to take a lot more arm twisting to get Dan Snyder to make that change.

Kinda looking forward to it, actually.

Me too. This is a great soap, and Snyder needs a good butt-kicking.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

They shouldn't be compelled to, but they should, just as a matter of common courtesy to our fellow man.

And anyway you'd think they'd love the opportunity to change the name to something that is currently more vicious sounding. Redskins doesn't sound as intimidating now as it did in the 1920s. Native Americans in 2015 are stereotyped more as reservationists, environmentalists and casino owners. Wouldn't they rather be something like Tigers or T-Rexes or something that currently inspires fear in the opponent?

Or they could name them the Washington Human Beings and avoid any future stereotyping controversy.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

They shouldn't be compelled to, but they should, just as a matter of common courtesy to our fellow man.

Well? Which is it, then?

And even if the government can't force them to change, public opinion eventually will. Just like what will inevitably happen with the Indians and Chief Wahoo.

 

[Timby]

They shouldn't be compelled to, but they should, just as a matter of common courtesy to our fellow man.

Well? Which is it, then?

"They shouldn't be compelled to change their name, but they should change their name."

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Yeah, I realize that the name 'Redskins' has greater sports mythology and history than the Washington Bullets did, but the case for changing the name because it was associated with violence isn't nearly as strong as as the case for changing a name because it's literally a racial slur.

Colombus Day is a national holiday for Christ's sake. There are only four people who America considers so wonderful that we take their birthday off from work, and one of them is a man who murdered and enslaved Native Americans, forcing them to mine gold under threat of chopping their hands off and making them wear them around their necks.

I'm no PC stickler, but maybe it's time to stop glorifying the most brutal, most genocidal moments of our history.

 

[fonzob1]

One thing's for sure; It's going to take a lot more arm twisting to get Dan Snyder to make that change.

He will never change it. It will have to be a new ownership.

Yeah, I realize that the name 'Redskins' has greater sports mythology and history than the Washington Bullets did, but the case for changing the name because it was associated with violence isn't nearly as strong as as the case for changing a name because it's literally a racial slur.

I thought changing the name of the Bullets was unnecessary. Bullets was supposed to be a reference to speed not violence.

 

[IrishNero]

They shouldn't be compelled to, but they should, just as a matter of common courtesy to our fellow man.

Well? Which is it, then?

"They shouldn't be compelled to change their name, but they should change their name."

I think it probably means "You should be changing the name because it's the right thing to do, and not because we're forcing you to do so."

Again, Snyder doesn't seem like the type to give in to pressure of any sort. For gosh sakes, the guy's been thumbing his nose at the fans for years...

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Yeah, I realize that the name 'Redskins' has greater sports mythology and history than the Washington Bullets did, but the case for changing the name because it was associated with violence isn't nearly as strong as as the case for changing a name because it's literally a racial slur.

Colombus Day is a national holiday for Christ's sake. There are only four people who America considers so wonderful that we take their birthday off from work, and one of them is a man who murdered and enslaved Native Americans, forcing them to mine gold under threat of chopping their hands off and making them wear them around their necks.

I'm no PC stickler, but maybe it's time to stop glorifying the most brutal, most genocidal moments of our history.

Some states/cities have repurposed it as Indigenous Peoples' Day. I'm good with that.