Redskins: an improper name... now what?

[KenM]

How about a NFL team called "The Gamers". I bet that would help change streotypes.

 

[Ranger REG]

How about a NFL team called "The Gamers". I bet that would help change streotypes.

With frankthedm avatar as the team logo. Hmm. Where do I vote?

 

[KenM]

With frankthedm avatar as the team logo. Hmm. Where do I vote?

I'd watch that team.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Case in point, how many people know what it actually means? I honestly thought it ment woman. Does it make me a racist because I used the word? Will I continue to use the word now that I know what it means? No I wouldn't (not like I use it alot now.)

It actually does mean "woman", there was an activist who appeared on Oprah in 1992 who started the meme that squaw had a horrible meaning. Linguists have been fighting it ever since, but when Oprah puts on someone with an agenda... that agenda quickly becomes the default. A lot of "journalists" haven't bothered to investigate the matter to learn how the controversy started, and whether it was a fact, they just keep on repeating the error.

But that's just it. People are told something is offensive to someone in another culture, or are told they should be offended, and most people just go along and agree. The NCAA was told by a few activists that all use of Indian names is "hostile and abusive" to the all Indian cultures, and the NCAA administrators feel obliged to go right along.

 

[Vigilance]

If something is done without the intent to humiliate, belittle, look down upon, etc. any racial group I don't see how it would be considered racist. Can it be considered bad taste? Yes of course. Would I be considered a racist if I dress up as an Indian for Halloween? Would I be a sexist if I dressed up as a woman? What about everyone who gets dressed up for a Renaissance fair? After all aren't they acting in a racially stereotypical way?

You're throwing up some nice strawmen, trying to make this about intent (which is impossible to prove).

Fact is, using equivalent words for other race groups would not fly in modern American society. If they wanted to call the team the Washington Blackies, the Washington N-word or the Washington K-word, I don't think anyone would go to the trouble to parse their intent before they decided it was inappropriate.

 

[Crothian]

I hope they don't change it. America is getting way to PC over things like this.

 

[Ranger REG]

I hope they don't change it. America is getting way to PC over things like this.

Too PC. Too puritannical. I mean honestly, what's wrong with showing boobs in their natural glories on over-the-air TV?

 

[Vigilance]

I hope they don't change it. America is getting way to PC over things like this.

So if a team had a name from one of my previous examples, that would be ok Crothian? I think not.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I can't say for certain but I am pretty sure that someone would get offended if there was a team called the "Black Sox". And although the name the Red Skins may be in poor taste does that make it racist? What if the current owner was a Native American?

FYI, the term "Black Sox" was used to describe a game-fixing scandal that involved the White Sox of the "Shoeless" Joe Jackson era, which also gave us the phrase "Say it ain't so, Joe" when that pitcher was implicated (and he denied guilt) - alluded to by the Boomtown Rats in the 1980's.

So it DOES have a negative connotation...just not the one you'd expect.

I hope they don't change it. America is getting way to PC over things like this.

This isn't about being PC. "Redskin" is no different, no less racist to Native Americans than the "N-word" is to black Americans- I'm telling you this as a member of both ethnicities.

Simply put, the ONLY positive connotation the word has IS the football team...meaning it has had less rehabilitation of it than the "N-word" can claim in popular rap lyrics.

Which to some of us, just means less than zero.

 

[Crothian]

So if a team had a name from one of my previous examples, that would be ok Crothian? I think not.

I don't hear the word redskin being used today like the words you mentioned. So, I think it is different and an analogy using a racist term that has fallen out of use would be more fitting.

It should be noted I have zero investment in this either way. I'd perfer it if the name stayed the same, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be asked by those that make that decision. To me Redskin has always meant a football team as grew up neverI hearing it used any other way.