OT: What if the Redskins change their name?

[Kel Varnsen]

Twitter fail! Wow!

http://deadspin.com/harry-reids-office-is-laughing-at-the-sad-redskinsprid-1583394139

 

[Duckjake]

The Washington "Casino Owner Americans" has a nice ring to it.

But I still like the potato on the helmet best.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'm surprised it took this long but I've always said this is what is going to eventually happen. They will reach a point where it's no longer "easy" to be on the side of the offensive name and people will jump off the bandwagon.

I do think it's hilarious the response they're getting on Twitter.

they will eventually change the name and all those fans who say they'll abandon the team if they do will be in the exact same place Alec Baldwin was when he said he'd move to Canada if Bush go re-elected, that is they won't actually do what they said they'd do because they didn't actually mean it when they said it.

 

[CardsFan88]

Personally I'm a person who believes the meaning of words can change. I ask the question why are we trying to re-establish the word as a slur? Because that's what is going on.

While it is a slur, nobody knows it as such..not until the last few years media campaign by dirty congressmen who have 100000 more important things to focus on. The fact congress weighed in on the issue in fact proves they should be thrown out of office. It a NFL team name. I love the NFL, but for this to even be brought up is 100x the travesty of the name itself. Sorry, it simply is, and that's a fact.

I've never, ever, ever heard anyone speak about the name as a slur. It never occurred to me that it was even a slur. Most people grow up thinking it's a positive name for American Indians. As a Cardinal fan for 14 years during our NFC East times, I never once heard our fans using it as a slur.

Obviously some people will have different stories, but I'm sorry I can't compare it to actual racism which really exists. Whatever usage it gets as racism is so ridiculously low that the people claiming it's racist far outnumber the people who actually use it as a racist term. We need to put some perspective on the issue, and that's it.

So who now will join to change the name of the Yankees? Because IT TOO is a slur. A Yankee was the term used to describe dumb Americans who would get drunk and foolishly wander into the the Yankee Club, an old British gay club during that time. So, yes, the New York Yankees is literally a gay slur.

But once again, do we think of it as such? NO. I for one am glad we don't. We took that 'slur' directed to us, and turned it into a point of pride. We are gladly known as Yankees around the world. Should we all be offended? Of course not.

I DO think the Redskins name is along those lines. If no one uses it as a slur.. If no one thinks of it as a slur. Then the meaning of the word changes...and it has.

No matter what the Redskin's name meant a hundred years ago doesn't matter. Today it is a football team, and everybody who says Redskins is referring to the NFL football team. Millions of people root for and love 'Redskins', it is not negative, but positive.

Unfortunately we are being played by politicians, and yes the special groups that they egg on are included in this too, to pretend we do something by changing a freaking sports team name. Most Native Americans, before this situation cropped up, didn't even see it as a negative name. Perhaps after the propaganda that has changed, but five years ago, they didn't see it as such. Even if successful....

We'll still be broke.
We'll still be spying.
We'll still be bombing.
We'll still be doing all the unamerican crap that now defines America as America.

Maybe we should focus on that.

But we'll fool ourselves that we did something, now won't we. We can now go back to forgetting the real issues and watching American Idol.

That's a shame. Personally if we are going to get worked up about something, at least let it mean something.

This whole issue is a joke. Change the name or not, but my god, this nothing issue shouldn't even be registering anywhere. Next up, Chiefs...I don't know why, but some people want it changed just like the Redskins and we haven't wasted enough time already.

We also as a society have to stop lumping everything together. Redskins is not the N-word. It isn't being anti-LGBT. It's a team name, and we aren't growing and evolving by renaming an NFL team. Redskins and those issues have NOTHING in common. But politicians want to pretend there is a link. If we as a country really want to grow, we'd take on our easy to solve problems that are destroying us and quit being distracted by a big heaping helping of nothing.

If we're going to judge society by this issue, put a fork in it, we're done.

 

[Russ Smith]

Personally I'm a person who believes the meaning of words can change. I ask the question why are we trying to re-establish the word as a slur? Because that's what is going on.

While it is a slur, nobody knows it as such..not until the last few years media campaign by dirty congressmen who have 100000 more important things to focus on. The fact congress weighed in on the issue in fact proves they should be thrown out of office. It a NFL team name. I love the NFL, but for this to even be brought up is 100x the travesty of the name itself. Sorry, it simply is, and that's a fact.

I've never, ever, ever heard anyone speak about the name as a slur. It never occurred to me that it was even a slur. Most people grow up thinking it's a positive name for American Indians. As a Cardinal fan for 14 years during our NFC East times, I never once heard our fans using it as a slur.

Obviously some people will have different stories, but I'm sorry I can't compare it to actual racism which really exists. Whatever usage it gets as racism is so ridiculously low that the people claiming it's racist far outnumber the people who actually use it as a racist term. We need to put some perspective on the issue, and that's it.

So who now will join to change the name of the Yankees? Because IT TOO is a slur. A Yankee was the term used to describe dumb Americans who would get drunk and foolishly wander into the the Yankee Club, an old British gay club during that time. So, yes, the New York Yankees is literally a gay slur.

But once again, do we think of it as such? NO. I for one am glad we don't. We took that 'slur' directed to us, and turned it into a point of pride. We are gladly known as Yankees around the world. Should we all be offended? Of course not.

I DO think the Redskins name is along those lines. If no one uses it as a slur.. If no one thinks of it as a slur. Then the meaning of the word changes...and it has.

No matter what the Redskin's name meant a hundred years ago doesn't matter. Today it is a football team, and everybody who says Redskins is referring to the NFL football team. Millions of people root for and love 'Redskins', it is not negative, but positive.

Unfortunately we are being played by politicians, and yes the special groups that they egg on are included in this too, to pretend we do something by changing a freaking sports team name. Most Native Americans, before this situation cropped up, didn't even see it as a negative name. Perhaps after the propaganda that has changed, but five years ago, they didn't see it as such. Even if successful....

We'll still be broke.
We'll still be spying.
We'll still be bombing.
We'll still be doing all the unamerican crap that now defines America as America.

Maybe we should focus on that.

But we'll fool ourselves that we did something, now won't we. We can now go back to forgetting the real issues and watching American Idol.

That's a shame. Personally if we are going to get worked up about something, at least let it mean something.

This whole issue is a joke. Change the name or not, but my god, this nothing issue shouldn't even be registering anywhere. Next up, Chiefs...I don't know why, but some people want it changed just like the Redskins and we haven't wasted enough time already.

We also as a society have to stop lumping everything together. Redskins is not the N-word. It isn't being anti-LGBT. It's a team name, and we aren't growing and evolving by renaming an NFL team. Redskins and those issues have NOTHING in common. But politicians want to pretend there is a link. If we as a country really want to grow, we'd take on our easy to solve problems that are destroying us and quit being distracted by a big heaping helping of nothing.

If we're going to judge society by this issue, put a fork in it, we're done.

you lost me at the media causing this in the last few years comment. This controversy has been ongoing since the 1970's. Jack Kent Cooke spent years fighting this, he actually went as far as hiring an actress to portray a native american and then trotting her out everytime people complained and she would announce that she was a Native American and she wasn't offended and neither was her tribe. Someone eventually outed her, she wasn't even Native American, just a paid actress.

the controversy dies down then comes back every few years. I agree it's being used for political purposes right now.

As for the media are you aware that there are prominent members of the media who for years now have refused to even say the name on tv? they refer to them as the Washington Football team or something like that, this is not new.

I think the current situation started a couple of years ago when Snyder threatened to sue a Washington area reporter for what he called anti Semitic comments in a story the guy had written suggesting Snyder needed to change the team name. Snyder is Jewish and threatened to sue the guy, who pointed out he didn't even mention that Snyder was Jewish let alone make an anti Semitic comment he just said Snyder was keeping an offensive term as a team name because he didn't personally find it offensive and that given Snyder's background he ought to know better.

That sort of put it back in the public eye and now enough time has passed that it's "safe" to comment on it again without immediately being branded Anti Semitic by Snyder.

 

[Southpaw]

If Snyder bought the Washington Wizards he would change the name back to the Bullets. Still keep wondering how this doesn't in some small way compare to Sterling and the Clippers.

 

[ajcardfan]

Personally I'm a person who believes the meaning of words can change. I ask the question why are we trying to re-establish the word as a slur? Because that's what is going on.

While it is a slur, nobody knows it as such..not until the last few years media campaign by dirty congressmen who have 100000 more important things to focus on. The fact congress weighed in on the issue in fact proves they should be thrown out of office. It a NFL team name. I love the NFL, but for this to even be brought up is 100x the travesty of the name itself. Sorry, it simply is, and that's a fact.

I've never, ever, ever heard anyone speak about the name as a slur. It never occurred to me that it was even a slur. Most people grow up thinking it's a positive name for American Indians. As a Cardinal fan for 14 years during our NFC East times, I never once heard our fans using it as a slur.

Obviously some people will have different stories, but I'm sorry I can't compare it to actual racism which really exists. Whatever usage it gets as racism is so ridiculously low that the people claiming it's racist far outnumber the people who actually use it as a racist term. We need to put some perspective on the issue, and that's it.

So who now will join to change the name of the Yankees? Because IT TOO is a slur. A Yankee was the term used to describe dumb Americans who would get drunk and foolishly wander into the the Yankee Club, an old British gay club during that time. So, yes, the New York Yankees is literally a gay slur.

But once again, do we think of it as such? NO. I for one am glad we don't. We took that 'slur' directed to us, and turned it into a point of pride. We are gladly known as Yankees around the world. Should we all be offended? Of course not.

I DO think the Redskins name is along those lines. If no one uses it as a slur.. If no one thinks of it as a slur. Then the meaning of the word changes...and it has.

No matter what the Redskin's name meant a hundred years ago doesn't matter. Today it is a football team, and everybody who says Redskins is referring to the NFL football team. Millions of people root for and love 'Redskins', it is not negative, but positive.

Unfortunately we are being played by politicians, and yes the special groups that they egg on are included in this too, to pretend we do something by changing a freaking sports team name. Most Native Americans, before this situation cropped up, didn't even see it as a negative name. Perhaps after the propaganda that has changed, but five years ago, they didn't see it as such. Even if successful....

We'll still be broke.
We'll still be spying.
We'll still be bombing.
We'll still be doing all the unamerican crap that now defines America as America.

Maybe we should focus on that.

But we'll fool ourselves that we did something, now won't we. We can now go back to forgetting the real issues and watching American Idol.

That's a shame. Personally if we are going to get worked up about something, at least let it mean something. [/b[

This whole issue is a joke. Change the name or not, but my god, this nothing issue shouldn't even be registering anywhere. Next up, Chiefs...I don't know why, but some people want it changed just like the Redskins and we haven't wasted enough time already.

We also as a society have to stop lumping everything together. Redskins is not the N-word. It isn't being anti-LGBT. It's a team name, and we aren't growing and evolving by renaming an NFL team. Redskins and those issues have NOTHING in common. But politicians want to pretend there is a link. If we as a country really want to grow, we'd take on our easy to solve problems that are destroying us and quit being distracted by a big heaping helping of nothing.

If we're going to judge society by this issue, put a fork in it, we're done.

If you think this issue is such a joke, why are you spending a 500 to 700 word post on it? Seems like you belie you own point by putting so much energy into a post on a FOOTBALL board, and not using it on the issues you find so much more important.

 

[CardsFan88]

If you think this issue is such a joke, why are you spending a 500 to 700 word post on it? Seems like you belie you own point by putting so much energy into a post on a FOOTBALL board, and not using it on the issues you find so much more important.

Not in my estimation. I think everywhere and everything is a teachable moment, and we live in a world where we prioritize the wrong issue and it is VERY important to point that out. Instead of filling up our populist tank and being satisfied on a pyrrhic victory, I feel the sense of alarm when I look around as nothing issues take center stages and no one wants to even admit that we all gain nothing out of the situation.

It's like busting someone for jaywalking when the bank robbers are also running across the street right next to the jaywalker, someone has to point it out or we lose.

Because if you listen to the cop that caught the regular jaywalker, he is talking about catching public enemy #1. It's the 'big issue'. Not domestic policy. Not foreign policy. Not war crimes. Not high crimes and misdemeanors. Not actual issues that make or break countless lives, which is what gov't is there for. If I want to know or discuss low brow issues such as this, that is exactly what a message board is for.

I don't think pointing that out anywhere is a waste of time, even if no one potentially heeds the words. I'm simply the one pointing out the idiocy of the entire situation, because it's quite obvious we as a society need it.

I'm pointing out that we have the equivalent of a message board topic overtaking everything, and not just in this one case, but consistently. Not by low people, but the people in charge of everything. Gov't, media, and business.

This lack of recognition of our idiotic behavior as a society that this focus proves is far more important then the crime we are supposedly rooting out.

I can completely understand why it might go over people's heads, but I think it's important to still point it out.

Also what you forget is my time is mine and only mine, and I don't think my time on a message board is comparable in worth to the abolition of responsibility Congress, the office of the Presidency, and just about all normal/sports/talk media all engage in by getting caught up into this madness which I, in a futile fashion am trying to overcome.

So not only am I NOT wasting my time, but pointing out all these other people with much more responsibility....ARE!

..and actually I'm sitting on a post much longer that I'm still debating on posting. You know my post M.O., if it's under 3000 words, I'm going lite on the subject.

While I don't think it's inflammatory, not anymore then post you quoted, more another message of reflection and introspection, I also don't feel like it's something I really want to deal with and argue about. But maybe I'll post it.

As always I'm not pushing anyone to make a career or final decision right now. Just sit back absorb it, if you desire, and chew on it over the next 6 months, year, two years and see how the situation plays out.

 

[Cardiac]

Glad to see this blew up in their faces and maybe, just maybe, they realize a change is needed.

Ohhhhhhhh Noooooooo, my offensive team nickname needs to be changed!!!!!!!

Would I stop rooting for the Cards if they changed their name to the Scorpions? No I would not. No need to change the Cards name like is the case with the Redskins but most reasonable people see the need for the Skins so go ahead and do the right thing.

 

[Duckjake]

Glad to see this blew up in their faces and maybe, just maybe, they realize a change is needed.

Ohhhhhhhh Noooooooo, my offensive team nickname needs to be changed!!!!!!!

Would I stop rooting for the Cards if they changed their name to the Scorpions? No I would not. No need to change the Cards name like is the case with the Redskins but most reasonable people see the need for the Skins so go ahead and do the right thing.

Interesting because we've had this discussion off and on over the years here on ASFN. If I remember correctly a name change wouldn't impact fan loyalty that much but if the team moved to LA they would lose a lot of the folks who adamantly support them here on this board.

 

[Buckybird]

Sometimes I think peeps take the team mascot names to personal & just wanna bitch about them...perfect example is the changing of the bullets name. You can't call a team the bullets, but peeps are walking all over Texas now with rifles & AKs on their shoulders because they want to act like they're something! Are you freaking kidding me? Unbelievable Gun laws in this country are outta hand but peeps get offended by the literal thing the want 2 have lol

I find nothing wrong with the Skins nickname, in fact isn't it "hail to the Redskins"? What's next all of the animal rights organizations?

 

[40yearfan]

Oklahoma means red people. Are people now going to insist they change the state name? Just how far do we carry this ridiculousness?

 

[mojorizen7]

Personally I'm a person who believes the meaning of words can change. I ask the question why are we trying to re-establish the word as a slur? Because that's what is going on.

While it is a slur, nobody knows it as such..not until the last few years media campaign by dirty congressmen who have 100000 more important things to focus on. The fact congress weighed in on the issue in fact proves they should be thrown out of office. It a NFL team name. I love the NFL, but for this to even be brought up is 100x the travesty of the name itself. Sorry, it simply is, and that's a fact.

I've never, ever, ever heard anyone speak about the name as a slur. It never occurred to me that it was even a slur. Most people grow up thinking it's a positive name for American Indians. As a Cardinal fan for 14 years during our NFC East times, I never once heard our fans using it as a slur.

Obviously some people will have different stories, but I'm sorry I can't compare it to actual racism which really exists. Whatever usage it gets as racism is so ridiculously low that the people claiming it's racist far outnumber the people who actually use it as a racist term. We need to put some perspective on the issue, and that's it.

So who now will join to change the name of the Yankees? Because IT TOO is a slur. A Yankee was the term used to describe dumb Americans who would get drunk and foolishly wander into the the Yankee Club, an old British gay club during that time. So, yes, the New York Yankees is literally a gay slur.

But once again, do we think of it as such? NO. I for one am glad we don't. We took that 'slur' directed to us, and turned it into a point of pride. We are gladly known as Yankees around the world. Should we all be offended? Of course not.

I DO think the Redskins name is along those lines. If no one uses it as a slur.. If no one thinks of it as a slur. Then the meaning of the word changes...and it has.

No matter what the Redskin's name meant a hundred years ago doesn't matter. Today it is a football team, and everybody who says Redskins is referring to the NFL football team. Millions of people root for and love 'Redskins', it is not negative, but positive.

Unfortunately we are being played by politicians, and yes the special groups that they egg on are included in this too, to pretend we do something by changing a freaking sports team name. Most Native Americans, before this situation cropped up, didn't even see it as a negative name. Perhaps after the propaganda that has changed, but five years ago, they didn't see it as such. Even if successful....

We'll still be broke.
We'll still be spying.
We'll still be bombing.
We'll still be doing all the unamerican crap that now defines America as America.

Maybe we should focus on that.

But we'll fool ourselves that we did something, now won't we. We can now go back to forgetting the real issues and watching American Idol.

That's a shame. Personally if we are going to get worked up about something, at least let it mean something.

This whole issue is a joke. Change the name or not, but my god, this nothing issue shouldn't even be registering anywhere. Next up, Chiefs...I don't know why, but some people want it changed just like the Redskins and we haven't wasted enough time already.

We also as a society have to stop lumping everything together. Redskins is not the N-word. It isn't being anti-LGBT. It's a team name, and we aren't growing and evolving by renaming an NFL team. Redskins and those issues have NOTHING in common. But politicians want to pretend there is a link. If we as a country really want to grow, we'd take on our easy to solve problems that are destroying us and quit being distracted by a big heaping helping of nothing.

If we're going to judge society by this issue, put a fork in it, we're done.

Good post. Especially that last dose of truth.

Watch TV, be told whats important, pick a side, trash the other side, blog about it. Ignore what is important.
[rinse, repeat]

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Please stop polluting the football forum with this P&R trash.