Redskins "racial slur"?

[BoSoxGal]

Seems to me a good place to start dealing with real issues actually effecting the lives of people, would be for these "tribal leaders" to examine how they conduct their own affairs in running their reservations, and management of tribal resources. And if they don't want to do it, maybe somebody should do it for them.

Yes, there is corruption on Indian reservations - just like in every government. The US Attorney in Montana has been doing an excellent job of prosecuting said corruption involving federal funds, and the majority of Indian people are grateful for that. To suggest otherwise is patronizing and/or racist - Native Americans are no more corrupt in governance than other races, and probably a good deal less so. It's just one of those stereotypes that gets perpetuated endlessly.

For instance, all the corruption in reservation government is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions in mineral royalties owed to the Indians and 'lost' by the BIA.

[Gob]

Nah, she's over worked and underpaid as ever.

What then is the slur? A bunch of people supporting and praising a group of players who call themselves "redskins"? Funny way to slur a group?

[BoSoxGal]

The term 'redskins' or 'redskin' is generally acknowledged to be disparaging to Native Americans, as has been discussed at length in this now 7 page thread.

I can't imagine that you've ignored that, so I will assume that you are being contrary just for your own amusement.

[dgs49]

Would the people who originally chose the name have used it if they considered it a "slur" or an insult to the aboriginals to which it refers?

Obviously, it was intended to invoke a fighting spirit in which those people would, if they chose to notice it at all, take pride.

The incredible part is that a name that has stood the test of decades of time is now FINALLY RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS! An insult. People have just been too stupid to see it for the past 70 years.

The arrogance of this preposterous claim is simply off the charts.

[BoSoxGal]

Negro was once perfectly acceptable; now it's not. Language evolves.

There is etymological evidence to suggest that Indians may have been first to coin the term 'red skin', to describe themselves in comparison to whites.

However, for many, many years now it's been a term co-opted by the whites to describe Indians in a derogatory fashion. This is generally accepted by linguists, historians, etc.

Many Native Americans have no objection to Indian-themed sports mascots such as 'chief', 'brave', 'warrior' - but many object to 'redskin'. (However, I will add that those who are not offended by, say, the Cleveland Indians ARE offended by the ridiculous logo utilized - it is clearly insulting, even an idiot can figure that out.)

This is pretty simple arithmetic, but clearly beyond the grasp of some.

[dgs49]

Negro is "not acceptable"? It is an insult?

Ever heard of the United Negro College Fund? National Association for the Advantage of Colored People?

Both terms have fallen into dis-use, but neither is unacceptable or insulting.

And my guess that is "Red-skins" was absolutely a derogatory term coined by white settlers to describe the natives in a defamatory way. Just like, "Rag heads" or "Dots" to describe Sikhs today.

This is not an issue that I consider very important. My preference would be to replace the picture in the Redskins' logo with a picture of a new potato, and be done with it. But I think all the outrage and insult is manufactured in order to draw attention to the ones making the claim.

[Sue U]

[Long Run]

Nice to see POTUS paying attention to the things that matter. Not like he has better things to do. Really, better if this is the sort of thing he spends time on given his recent track record.

As for John Oliver, doesn't this fit in with DGs recent post about the recent infatuation with England voices?

[Sue U]

As for John Oliver, doesn't this fit in with DGs recent post about the recent infatuation with England voices?

I don't think it's recent; Americans have gone silly over English accents for decades, if not centuries. I think it's the touch of the exotic foreigner, while still being (almost) understandable. (I am rather fond of the Irish lilt myself, also the South African accent; never cared much for posh English pronunciations, though.)

John Oliver's accent is actually the thing I like least about him.

[rubato]

Nice to see POTUS paying attention to the things that matter. Not like he has better things to do. Really, better if this is the sort of thing he spends time on given his recent track record.

As for John Oliver, doesn't this fit in with DGs recent post about the recent infatuation with England voices?

His recent track record is excellent. Obamacare has been a raging success the Republican shutdown was a disaster for them after he stood up to their bluff and his recent climate policy shows true leadership in the face of the "party of no".

You need to read more than GOP soundbytes.


yrs,
rubato

[Big RR]

Of course, he is sending advisors into Iraq with no real plan for changing hearts and minds...

[RayThom]

Old Jemima:



New Jemima:



Gee, I wonder what happened? Is it possible that a minority group felt the inequity, embarrassment, and hurt and finally found a voice and used it to rail against the white man's stereotype of a whole race of people? I'm betting that our exploited and oppressed Native Americans have finally found their voice, too.

Chief "Redflesh"... RIP

[Scooter]

Howls about why the comparison is invalid in 5....4....3.....2...

[Lord Jim]

Okay, if you want to play the offensive image game...

Let's see who can spot the American Indian sports symbol that is dignified, respectful, and clearly not designed to be a fun-poking caricature?

1.

2.

3.


Now let's not always see the same hands...

[BoSoxGal]

A New Name for the Redskins
Ditch the zeroes and get with the hero.

By ANDY SERWER June 25, 2014

Recently, I came up with what I think is a great new name for the Redskins. After mulling it over for a few weeks I called and left a message for Tony Wyllie, head of communications for the team, to see if he would pass on my idea to owner Dan Snyder. I never heard back from Tony. I guess he’s pretty busy helping wage a war of opinion his boss seems to be losing.

But if I can’t tell Snyder or his minions my idea, I can tell you, dear readers, and maybe it will get back to them. Before I reveal my new name, though, I want to give you my bona fides, because you might be asking why some fancy-pants New York magazine editor has any interest or even any right to weigh in here.

I’m not doing this just because I think the name Redskins is wrong and it’s time to change—although I do believe that. I’m making my suggestion because even though I’ve lived in New York for 30 years, I don’t root for the Giants or the Jets, I’m a Redskins—er, insert my new name here—fan and have been ever since my family moved to Bethesda (and soon after Chevy Chase) in 1968 when I was eight years old. I’ve been a diehard fan through “I Love Sonny” v. “I Love Billy,” and Riggo (“Loosen up Sandy baby”) and Monk and the Hogs and Green and Doug Williams and the rest of the glory days and even now in the Snyder era, with the brilliance and heartache of RG3 and the Shanahigans too. I know that all my history does is make me as qualified as any other over-the-hill Skins fan, but I want you to know that I’m long-time lover and not some sort of name-gaming carpetbagger.

Changing the name of the team really comes down to two things: common sense and a great idea. The common-sense part is that the name must be changed because Redskins is a negative stereotype, plain and simple. For years, most of us—including me—didn’t really grasp that. We do now.
But when you drop the old name you also need to pick a really awesome new one, and I think I have it. Are you ready? OK, it’s the….

Washington All-Americans.

Now hold on, because it may not grab you grab you right away, but hear me out.

The name All-Americans works on a number of levels. The most important is as an obvious counterpoint to the Redskins. All-Americans says just that—this team is for all Americans. A team in the nation’s capital should have a name that every race, color and creed can identify with—and this is it. We’d be America’s team. (Remember when the Cowboys used to stake that claim? I never got that.) Of course this new name also means ‘all-American’ as in the essence of America. For instance, a summer barbecue is an all-American meal. And the name suggests the best of America, as when someone is an all-American athlete. (Robert Griffin III, for one, was a consensus All-American college football player at Baylor in 2011.)

This new name might work on entirely different level too, which could be really cool. I did some digging around and discovered that “All-American” used to be an obscure Marvel comic book super hero back in the 1980s. And get this, he was a football player! The All-American character was ‘really’ Giovanni “Jack” Magniconte, star quarterback of the fictional New York Smashers, nicknamed “Mr. Magnificent” by the press.

It appears that since 1988 All-American has been mothballed by Marvel and its now parent company Disney. What if the team worked with Disney to license All-American as the new mascot and co-produced a new All-American superhero movie in conjunction with the name change? And guess who they could cast in the starring role as All-American? RG3 of course! Wouldn’t that be amazing? (And commercially savvy, too, Mr. Snyder.)

So that’s my case for the Washington All-Americans. If you like my idea, let Dan Snyder know by sharing this article far and wide.

Hail to the All-Ams!

Fight for Old D.C.!

Andy Serwer is managing editor of Fortune magazine.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/ ... z35lvbmaQF

[RayThom]

The Washington All-Ams? It will never sell.

[BoSoxGal]

How about the Washington Uncle Sams?

[Joe Guy]

How about the Washington Scarlet Epidermides ?

[BoSoxGal]

[Gob]

They could always switch to proper sport?