Should the Washington Redskins change their name?

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   KROCK1991posted 10 years ago

   
   The way I see this, the push for the Redskins to have a name change is ridiculous. Some senators are relating this to the situation with Donald Sterling and there is no similarities. The Redskins aren't trying to hurt the Native American culture. Not a single Native American group has complained about it. If you change the name of the team, you're taking away the history of the Redskins and what they stood for in the past. That's my opinion on the matter. I might be missing key info. What do you guys think?

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      Stevennix2001posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      As a person who's one quarter native american myself, I can honestly say that I'm not offended by the redskins in the slightest.  But then again, i can only speak for myself.  I can see why some people would be offended by it, but im a bit surprised.  I mean if the government is concerned about pc in sports, then why not force the cleveland indians to change their logo of the buck tooth goofy looking native american to something else?  Granted, I'm not offended by that, but I think that you could argue that indians' logo is way more racist than the washington redskins' name and logo.

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2. 79

   wildernessposted 10 years ago

   Is it necessary for the 'skins to be PC and avoid offending even the 12 people left in the country that try really hard to be offended at the most innocuous things (like "Redskin")?
   
   If not keep it the way it is.  If it is necessary, shut the team down and forget about a name at all; we've gone over the edge and nothing they choose will be inoffensive to all 400,000,000 Americans.

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3. 69

   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   They will change it eventually, like the pother three teams that once had that name, might as well do it now. And um, I have barely paid attention to this story but still know that  plenty of native American groups have complained about it.
   
   Hence the Oneida Indian Nation campaign http://www.changethemascot.org/

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      GA Andersonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I do not think it is, or was intended to be an offensive name. I think it is just another PC effort. With which I disagree. And I hope Snyder fights it to his last dollar.
      
      But that is just my opinion. I am not an Indian, or of Indian heritage - so my perspective, (and opinion), have no legitimacy beyond representing the way I feel about it.
      
      And not as a rebuttal to your statement, but addressing your supplied link; It was interesting to note that the Oneida representative spoke of how one of the most important aspects of the discussion was how hurtful and denigrating it was to Indian youth, Yet, it is not Indian youth groups that seem to be spearheading this movement, or speaking out about how hurtful it is to their self image - it is the older and more politically active folks, like the speaker, Mr. Ray Halbritter, that are leading the charge.
      
      I understand that any Wiki should only be casual reference, but Wikipedia lists 60 high schools with sports teams named Redskins - several in predominately Indian populations, or with significant percentages of Indian populace.
      
      Aren't these the youths Halbritter is saying are being denigrated and harmed - yet these schools do not see it as a problem. And in the non-Indian populations, aren't these high school kids products of the age of Political Correctness - and they still don't have a problem with this issue.
      
      Also attributed to Mr. Halbritter is a letter being sent to Team owners and Congressional leaders that includes this rational for the objections to the name;
      
      "The name does not honor people of color, instead it seeks to conceal a horrible segment of American history and the countless atrocities suffered by Native Americans."
      
      Does he really think this is the perceived purpose or meaning of the name to us "ordinary folks?"
      
      If the Oneida Nation position is such a widely supported perception, and not a Political Correctness initiative, why are there so few co-sponsors to his efforts, or voices joining his? He is supported by the National Congress of American Indians - but why aren't more NCAI members joining this "movement?"
      
      My view... because it is a Political Correctness discussion that no one else sees as important.
      
      GA

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