Half of the US Senate has called on the NFL to order the owner of the Washington Redskins team to change its name, calling it a "racial slur".
In a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell, the senators said the league can "no longer ignore" calls from Native American groups.
President Barack Obama, an American football fan, has urged the Washington DC team to consider changing it.
But owner Daniel Snyder has refused, saying it honours Native Americans.
And he has cited polling he said suggested the public opposed a name change.
In a letter dated Wednesday, 49 senators - 48 Democrats and one independent - said the recent condemnation by National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver of racist comments from Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling "sent a clear message that racism will not stand in the NBA".
"We urge you and the National Football League to send the same clear message as the NBA did," the senators wrote, adding it was the "opportunity for the NFL to take action to remove the racial slur from the name of one of its marquee franchises".
"What message does it send to punish slurs against African Americans while endorsing slurs against Native Americans?"
The letter said tribal organisations representing more than two million Native Americans across the US have said they want the Redskins name dropped.
Despite federal laws intended to protect tribal culture and identity, "every Sunday during football season, the Washington DC football team mocks their culture."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Maria Cantwell, chairwoman of the Senate Indian affairs committee, led the letter-writing effort. Florida Democrat Bill Nelson wrote separately.
Republicans were not asked to sign the letter, the Associated Press reported.
Mr Reid has said on the Senate floor that Mr Snyder should "do what is morally right" and change the name.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:10 pm
by Joe Guy
They may as well change the name if there really are millions of Native Americans offended by it. That shouldn't mean that the Cleveland Indians or Atlanta Braves should change their team names. Neither Indian or Brave is considered a racial term. At least I've never heard that before. However, I'm sure some people are offended by those team names also because there are always some people who are offended by things that make no sense.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 1:30 pm
by Big RR
Joe--while I agree with you that the owners should change the name because of the offense some take to it (and I reject the neocon reaction that offense is not a sufficient reason to change something), I would leave the ultimate decision up to the owners and stay out of it.
In my town, one of the high school teams (we have 2 public high schools) was called the Redskins and the name was changed to Redhawks; I supported that (and advocated for it) because it was public money involved in creating the offense. But I would think a private team can, and should, be able to do what it wants; if revenues fall off, you can be they'll change the name right away.
Braves and Indians? I don't know; they may not create anymore offense than the name Browns does, or they may be seen as an offense by many, again I'll leave it to the owners.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 1:35 pm
by rubato
The expression of public disapproval is often appropriate in cases where the use of compulsion is not.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 2:37 pm
by Big RR
Indeed; by "stay out of it" I meant the government should stay out of it, people should express their disapproval as they see fit (the same is true for government officials if they make it clear they are acting as private citizens and not in any official capacity). Ditto for the NFL unless there is something in the league agreement that gives them the right to act in a case like this.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 3:24 pm
by Lord Jim
I have been reluctant to reply to this, because it really gets my blood boiling...and strikes me at the heart...
This is the very definition of "manufactured outrage"...
I don't think much of Dan Snyder; he has been a disaster as an owner...(Would that we could bring back the days of Jack Kent Cooke )
The most important thing that a team owner can do is put a winning team on the field....
And he has failed utterly, and completely at that task...
But that having been said, I admire and respect him for his steadfast refusal to bend to the PC "lets see if we can find something else to be offended about" crowd...
But beyond that, for me it's very personal...
I've lived out here in The Altered State for 28 years now....
I've made a good life here, and have a family I love...
But the one thing that ties me back to my " home"; the place where I grew up...
these no good, sanctimonious, self righteous PC bastards want to take away from me?
How dare they...Who do they think they are?
They can kiss my rosy red Redskins Lovin' ass ...
A one and a two:
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 4:00 pm
by Big RR
Jim--you need only do a quick google search to find a variety of products and services that changed their names because the names (which may once have been acceptable) were no longer. From Darkie toothpaste to Niggerhead cigarettes to may others, the names were changed. And so will eventually be the fate of the Redskins (I predict), if economic pressure makes retention of the name unfeasible.
I can't personally comment on how acceptable or not the name is, but I have seen enough people claiming offense to believe there's something more to it than "self righteous PC". Sometimes things change because society changes, but I'm content to leave it up to the owners. I'm all for tradition, but football is, at its core, a business and the owners are in it to make money, so changes will eventually be made.
And I say this as a decided non-fan of the Redskins since I began watching football. There was a brief flirtation with fandom when Lombardi coached them, but mainly I have never rooted for them or cheered their wins. However, that has nothing to do with the name.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 4:19 pm
by Lord Jim
I'm sorry Big RR, but I don't buy these comparisons to things like "darkie toothpaste"...
This is nothing but a manufactured outrage that came out of nowhere about two years ago, that is being used for fund raising purposes by some groups, and being cheered on by the liberal press...
I sincerely hope that Snyder has the testicular fortitude to stand up to this nonsense (though I have my doubts on that score) until this PC media wind blows over...
Then they can move on to something else to be offended about, and fund raise off of that...
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 4:33 pm
by Big RR
Jim--are you seriously denying that the term "redskins" is a racial slur that may well be offensive to Native Americans in the way "darkie" is offensive to African Americans? Are you seriously denying that it has historically been used as a racial slur against native americans? This is not taking a non-racially charged term like "Indian" (if that's what that term is) and saying it should non longer be used, it's taking a term which was always used in a derogative manner and recognizing it for what it is. I can't see how the offense can be denied.
As for the outrage expressed, whether it is "Manufactured outrage" or not, I don't think that the offense can be denied. Sure some are using it for political or fundraising purposes (so was the outrage against other racial slurs used the same way in the early 20th century), but that does not negate the offense some feel or somehow make the term acceptable for use. Nor does the fact that the "liberal press" (whatever that is defined as) is endorsing this view or cheering it on make the offense any less real.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 4:57 pm
by Lord Jim
Jim--are you seriously denying that the term "redskins" is a racial slur
Yes, I deny it emphatically in reference to The Washington Redskins.
Big RR, I believe you and I are close in age; I suspect you have been familiar with The Washington Redskins for most of your life...
In all those years, until the last couple of years, have you ever thought this team name was offensive?
I don't know for a fact, but my guess would be no...
We're not going to have a "meeting of the minds" here, or find some middle ground we can agree upon on this subject...
I am absolutely, adamant and immovable on this, both intellectually and emotionally...
This is the point where we should just say we agree to disagree, and move on...
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:31 pm
by Joe Guy
I don't think it matters what you or I think of the Redskins name. I've never even associated the name with anything other than a football team.
But times are changing and younger people who seem to be looking for something to be offended about are not always doing that. Sometimes it's just an understanding of what was once acceptable that is no longer acceptable.
(like talking on a cell phone in a restaurant... )
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:46 pm
by Big RR
Jim--have I ever found it offensive (or even thought that it was)? No, but then I'm not Native American. I've never found black face minstrels as offensive either (at least anymore offensive than men dressing up in drag), but then I'm not African American so I might not see it the same way an African American might. I'm fairly sure when the name was coined that no offense was intended, but that doesn't mean the offense isn't there. So I'll defer to those who might be extra sensitive to that sort of offense, the native americans--and I have heard enough say they find it offensive to convince me.
In a away it's like Darkie toothpaste; when it came out, I'm sure Darkie wasn't seen as a particularly derogatory or offensive term--it's the way people spoke (and the black man with gleaming white teeth made a recognizable package. If African Americans were offended at the time (and I'm sure some were) they held their tongues, but eventually they spoke out. That's what I see happening here.
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. But let me ask you, if it could be shown that many Native Americans actually found the name offensive (not because they hopped on the PC bandwagon, but because they found the term offensive) would it change your position?
Joe--I agree; times and views change. Sometimes it's people looking for something to be pissed about, but I don't think that's the case here.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:33 pm
by Lord Jim
I've never even associated the name with anything other than a football team.
Nor has anyone else, for at least the last 150 years, since The Battle Of The Little Big Horn...
But now all of a sudden it's become an issue, because some folks who make their living by running around finding new things to be offended about, (I don't want to mention any names, Al Sharpton) have now latched on to this, lampry like...
And you're right about the generational thing; even my own daughter a couple of days ago said to me, "why do you root for a team with a racist name?"...(Though in that case, I'm pretty sure she was being sarcastic...I don't know where she gets that from... )
what was once acceptable that is no longer acceptable.
(like talking on a cell phone in a restaurant... )
I think you've got that backwards...
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:38 pm
by TPFKA@W
I read and endorse the suggestion that rather than change the name they change the mascot to the redskin potato.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:56 pm
by Big RR
I've never even associated the name with anything other than a football team.
Nor has anyone else, for at least the last 150 years, since the Battle Of The Little Big Horn...
Except for just about every cowboy and westward ho movie, radio show, and TV show made through the 60s. I even recall Tonto being called "redskin" derogatorily in Lone Ranger TV shows. They didn't mean he played football.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:58 pm
by Joe Guy
Maybe they should change the name to the Washington Sunburns.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 7:22 pm
by Lord Jim
have I ever found it offensive (or even thought that it was)? No, but then I'm not Native American.
Well, if you were born here you're a "Native American" just as I am, (Either everyone who is born here is "native" or no one is; everyone here migrated from some other continent...homo sapiens are not "native" to either North or South America...but let's not quibble over terms...)
Well, let's look at what the American Indians have had to say:
Most American Indians say that calling Washington’s professional football team the “Redskins”
does not bother them, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey
shows. Ninety percent of Indians took that position, while 9 percent said they found the name “offensive.” One percent had no answer. The margin of sampling error for those findings was plus or minus two percentage points.
Now, this poll has been criticized, because it was conducted in 2004, and the outrage manufacturers are complaining that it's out of date, (presumably because it doesn't reflect the success of the efforts of the outrage manufacturers) but I see that as making the poll all the more valid, because it reflects honest opinions expressed before the outrage manufacturing operation got geared up...
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 7:37 pm
by Joe Guy
Just curious.... If the team were named the Washington Chinks should the owner be required to change it? They didn't mean for the name to offend anyone. It was intended to stand for strength, endurance and hard work when they originally named the team.
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 8:00 pm
by Lord Jim
Sorry Joe, but I'm not goin' down that rabbit hole...
I'm not going to be drawn into an exchange about some theoretical team named "The Washington Chinks" or "The Washington Niggers" or "The Washington Wops"...
None of that is relevant. There's no history or back story to any of those nonexistent teams...
Those sorts of "comparisons" are a complete non-issue.
Just another game being played by the outrage manufacturers...
Re: Redskins "racial slur"?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 8:10 pm
by Big RR
From Websters dictionary:
Native--capitalized : of, relating to, or being a member of an aboriginal people of North or South America : Native American
But then, I think you know what Native American means; after all, they're not Indians (of or from the country of India)
As for the poll, the background shows 768 self-identified Native Americans were polled without any explanation on how they were contacted; a poll of random people who might include native americans? A poll of areas where many native americans are known to live? A poll of persons living on tribal lands? I can't comment on the poll without knowing that as I don't think native americans are any more monolithic in opinions than caucasians.
But the point is this--the term is a derogatory term for native americans, and all the arguing (or saying it wasn't used that way since the late 19th century)won't get around that. As I said at the outset, if native americans truly are not upset at this use, then I won't substitute my judgment for theirs. And while I endorse changing the name, I would never force the Redskins to do so, although I think they ultimately will (it's a matter of time).
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