Should the Washington Redskins change their name?

[publicunofficial]

and was a Dallas Cowboys fan which in turn made me very unpopular at my middle school. 

As it should.

[ElectionsGuy]

No.

[Thomas D]

Yes.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

We can start by ruling out the "Washington Generals", the basketball squad that predictably loses to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Considering how the Redskins have been playing of late, are you sure we can rule out the Washington Generals?

[PJ]

Should they change it?

Yes

Should they be forced to change it?

No

[Nutmeg]

Yes, and with the bonus of bothering that team's supporters, who perhaps not coincidentally are this region's worst drivers.

[DINGO Joe]

Yes, though I'm still disappointed that the New Orleans NBA franchise changed their name and didn't go with "Stormin' Mormons".

[tmthforu94]

Not particularly.

Personally, my main reason for opposing a name change is that if it occurs, they'll probably be targeting the Chiefs next, and I would be livid if we had to change. So I sympathize with Redskins' fans.

[Peeperkorn]

Words.

So dangerous.

[The Free North]

I think the onion, once again, perfectly sums up the truth of the situation

http://www.theonion.com/articles/washington-redskins-change-their-name-to-the-dc-re,34161/

[jimrtex]

Yes, to a name befitting their DC heritage and standard of quality- the Senators.

When Jose Cruz was playing for the Astros, it was customary for the fans to yell "Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuzzzz".    One time I was sitting next to a couple of older gentlemen, who apparently didn't follow the team.   They were quite upset at this cheer.  "I'm sure that he is trying to do his best", one said.  Finally, someone leaned over and explained that those weren't boos.

If the Redskins became the Senators, would those be "boos" or "Cruz"?

[pbrower2a]

Yeah, but so should all the other ones like Blackhawks and Cleveland Indians. Washington represents the Gov. If collegiate sports can live w/out it, so should DC.

Is there anything wrong with the "Atlanta Bears Baseball Team"?

The "Cleveland Crocodiles Baseball Team"? (The Detroit Tigers are in their division).

The "Kansas City Cobras" Football Team?


The team formerly known as the Washington Bullets changed their name to the Washington Wizards because they disliked being associated with the tools of the criminal trade.

There really was a Chief Black Hawk, and he was good at what he did. 

[publicunofficial]

Not particularly.

Personally, my main reason for opposing a name change is that if it occurs, they'll probably be targeting the Chiefs next, and I would be livid if we had to change. So I sympathize with Redskins' fans.

Chiefs is less offensive, because "Chief" is an actual title. If I call a Native American chief, "Chief", he won't be offended. It's a title of honor, not a slur.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I don't know how to feel about this.  If people are genuinely offended by it, then they should change their name.

The Washington Olympians!

[Peeperkorn]

I don't know how to feel about this.  If people are genuinely offended by it, then they should change their name.

Native Americans are fine with their casinos and booze, this is just an extreme case of "Liberal" guilt.

[Mr. Morden]

They should change it to the Washington Insiders.

e.g.,

"The Giants have their hands full, battling this powerful team of Washington Insiders."

"Can this outside the beltway team handle the Washington Insiders?"

"Can the Washington Insiders pass their agenda?  Or will they be forced to run again?  They risk being put on the defensive."

[Ban my account ffs!]

I don't know how to feel about this.  If people are genuinely offended by it, then they should change their name.

Native Americans are fine with their casinos and booze, this is just an extreme case of "Liberal" guilt.

My community is roughly 1/4 to 1/3 Native American... and they tend to be sensitive to these kinds of things.  

I've had discussions with native friends and some don't care... but a lot are offended by it.

Native cultures, insofar as they still exist, are treated as very fragile... because many of the traditions are being abandoned.  So they don't appreciate people making light of or mimicking their culture... namely by the people who supplanted their culture in the first place.

[Peeperkorn]

I don't know how to feel about this.  If people are genuinely offended by it, then they should change their name.

Native Americans are fine with their casinos and booze, this is just an extreme case of "Liberal" guilt.

My community is roughly 1/4 to 1/3 Native American... and they tend to be sensitive to these kinds of things.  

I've had discussions with native friends and some don't care... but a lot are offended by it.

Native cultures, insofar as they still exist, are treated as very fragile... because many of the traditions are being abandoned.  So they don't appreciate people making light of or mimicking their culture... namely by the people who supplanted their culture in the first place.

"Casinos and booze" was a joke, man. I understand that they want to preserve their culture and support them, but I believe that the "political correctness" name policy is useless for that purpose. Maybe they should learn from the indigenist movements in Latin America.

[Frodo]

They should seriously consider this suggestion:

The Washington Red Clouds: A team name to honor a great warrior and leader

By Bob Drury and Thomas Clavin, Published: November 1

(Bob Drury and Thomas Clavin are the authors of “The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, an American Legend.”)

In June 1870, the most powerful American Indian leader in the country, Red Cloud, arrived in Washington with a contingent of Oglala and Brule Sioux. He was treated as a head of state, given tours of the Capitol and the Washington Navy Yard — where he witnessed a gunnery demonstration — and was feted at a White House reception hosted by President Ulysses S. Grant. The former commander of the Union armies may have recognized the significance of Red Cloud accomplishing in two years what Robert E. Lee could not in four: defeating the United States in a war.

What is called Red Cloud’s War officially began in 1866 when the Sioux leader could no longer abide the relentless incursions, including the building of U.S. Army forts, into his people’s territory. The high point of the war occurred when he and his field commander Crazy Horse wiped out an Army troop of 81 men. President Andrew Johnson’s stunned administration sued for peace. In November 1868, Red Cloud signed a treaty to end the fighting — only after burning the Army forts to the ground.

Less than two years later, Red Cloud was in the nation’s capital. “He became stunningly famous,” historian R. Eli Paul wrote. “Newspapers recounted his every word and deed, and large crowds of onlookers gathered at every public sighting .”

It is time for Red Cloud to return to Washington — on the professional football team’s jerseys and in its fighting spirit.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Why not name the team the Washington Vo Nguyen Giaps? He whipped the government's ass.

Why not the Washington PGT Beauregards? The Washington Tim McVeighs? They burnt down forts belonging to the government.

Seriously, the idea of naming it the Washington Red Clouds is asinine. Just because Saddam Hussein fought the Ayatollah does not make Saddam Hussein a good leader. Just because an Indian leader fought for his tribe does not make him honorable; the logic here is "“just because.”"

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Obama congratulated the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday.  I wonder if he asked them to change their name? 

[The Free North]

Obama congratulated the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday.  I wonder if he asked them to change their name? 

The politically correct police is ok with it, they deem it not offensive enough to native americans.

[Yank2133]

Obama congratulated the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday.  I wonder if he asked them to change their name? 

Because it isn't a derogatory name, the Blackhawks are named after Chief Blackhawk. Anyway, the Redskins should change their name, but I don't think they should be forced to.

[DINGO Joe]

Should fire their coach, change their name, burn the stadium down.




That's from a Sonic in Belton, Mo that of course is having to apologize for being a bunch of Akins.

[wonderman37]

I am a quarter native American 3 quarters Caucasian  what the new owner would say if an native American called the team white-skins with this said we know the real reason the owner refuses because he does not want to lose the money that already been spent on merchandising the redskin name.