Should the Washington Redskins change their name?

[Oldiesfreak1854]

What about the Minnesota Vikings?  Their name and logo could be construed as offensive to Scandinavians.

EDIT: What about the Kansas City Chiefs, for that matter?

[Brittain33]

What about the Minnesota Vikings?  Their name and logo could be construed as offensive to Scandinavians.

The difference between the Vikings and the Celtics on the one hand, and the Redskins on the other, is that the Vikings and Celtics are home teams of large Scandinavian and Irish communities, so were chosen to represent those communities with pride.

In the case of the Redskins, it was plucking a completely different nation's identity, choosing an offensive term, and using it as a mascot.

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That's problematic as well.

[Sbane]

Ok, you people keep bringing up random ethnically named team names but none are an actual slur. Braves or Indians (though that logo is even more racist than the name redskins) is not a racist slur. Fighting Irish is not an ethnic slur. Vikings especially is not an ethnic slur.

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

[Brittain33]

Sbane, I agree there's a difference between an ethnic slur and terms like Braves and Chiefs, and Redskins is undoubtedly worse, but there's still something creepy and inconsiderate about commandeering Native American identity for sports teams given the history of the country. It reminds me a lot of that creepy Amsterdam football team whose fans call them the Jews, and whose opponents pick it up and make hissing sounds to suggest gassing the Jews. It's similar because 80% of the Jews in the Netherlands were killed in WWII, so all you have left is a crude mascot/stereotype, the real people are gone.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

[bullmoose88]

Oh noes. I shouldn't use the r-word. What a great injustice to me. Rabble rabble. Haaaaaaaarrrrrummmph.

[Paul Kemp]

I really couldn't care less if they change the name or not but it's pretty silly not to see why some may be offended by the term and what the reasoning is behind wanting the name changed. Not that I think something being offensive is grounds to change that something but it's important to look at it in context. Trying to compare other teams names to the term "redskins" is pretty silly because there is no other name off the top of my head that is comparable. Certainly not "chiefs" or "vikings."

Also, media outlet or personalities refusing to call the team by its name while it is still the name of the team is self-righteous nonsense.

I guess I'm kinda Moderate Hero on this issue.

[Badger]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

Their football tradition won't end by a long-overdue name change. If anything, the name taints that tradition.

If they'd been founded in 32 as the Washington N*****s (or some other equally racist ethnic slur), their 80+ years of many great players wouldn't warrant keeping the name a day longer.

The only difference is there are relatively few Native Americans in DC or nationally who can bring sufficient political or economic clout to bare.

[Sbane]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

I am not saying that the organization itself is using it as a slur, or even used it to offend Native Americans in 1932 (many wouldn't have found the n-word offensive back then either). Still, you don't deny that this is a slur that was used against Native Americans in the past, do you?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

I am not saying that the organization itself is using it as a slur, or even used it to offend Native Americans in 1932 (many wouldn't have found the n-word offensive back then either). Still, you don't deny that this is a slur that was used against Native Americans in the past, do you?

I can stipulate to that, but I don't see it as being on the same scale of "n" like some have stated.

[Badger]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

I am not saying that the organization itself is using it as a slur, or even used it to offend Native Americans in 1932 (many wouldn't have found the n-word offensive back then either). Still, you don't deny that this is a slur that was used against Native Americans in the past, do you?

I can stipulate to that, but I don't see it as being on the same scale of "n" like some have stated.

On that we firmly disagree.

[DINGO Joe]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

I am not saying that the organization itself is using it as a slur, or even used it to offend Native Americans in 1932 (many wouldn't have found the n-word offensive back then either). Still, you don't deny that this is a slur that was used against Native Americans in the past, do you?

I can stipulate to that, but I don't see it as being on the same scale of "n" like some have stated.

  I think of Redskins as roughly the equivalent of "darkies", which of course would be a no-go.

[Mechaman]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

Their football tradition won't end by a long-overdue name change. If anything, the name taints that tradition.

If they'd been founded in 32 as the Washington N*****s (or some other equally racist ethnic slur), their 80+ years of many great players wouldn't warrant keeping the name a day longer.

The only difference is there are relatively few Native Americans in DC or nationally who can bring sufficient political or economic clout to bare.

Here are some other suggestions:

The Dallas Dagoes
The Denver Kikes
The Mighty Micks of Minneapolis

How'd you like them apples, whitey?

[Donerail]

So perhaps the real question is, do you guys not think "redskins" is a racist slur on par with calling an Asian person "yellow" or even the N word? That is what separates this name from the others.

No. I think it's been the name of a football team since 1932, and a team who has seen some of the finest in the game pass through their facilities thoughout the years,  nothing more.

Their football tradition won't end by a long-overdue name change. If anything, the name taints that tradition.

If they'd been founded in 32 as the Washington N*****s (or some other equally racist ethnic slur), their 80+ years of many great players wouldn't warrant keeping the name a day longer.

The only difference is there are relatively few Native Americans in DC or nationally who can bring sufficient political or economic clout to bare.

Here are some other suggestions:

The Dallas Dagoes
The Denver Kikes
The Mighty Micks of Minneapolis

How'd you like them apples, whitey?

[CountryClassSF]

Why the leftist outrage on steroids over this all of a sudden? The team has been around for ages.

We can change the team name to the "Washington Tea Party."

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Why the leftist outrage on steroids over this all of a sudden? The team has been around for ages.

My understanding is that American Indians have been unhappy about it for a while now, and leftists and liberals of other races are just now starting to notice. That, and there's been some recent legal goings-on about whether it's possible to keep trademarked.

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But that makes no sense. That would make sense if the team were in Boston.

[Хahar 🤔]

Perhaps the team could move back to Boston.

[Reaganfan]

Why the leftist outrage on steroids over this all of a sudden? The team has been around for ages.

We can change the team name to the "Washington Tea Party."

Because it never stops for them. 10 years from now they'll be called conservatives backwards for not wanting public nudity.

These people need to be stopped because if they go too far, they'll begin hurting our country and those who hurt our country get punished.

I don't take these people seriously because they're cowards. They spew hatred even more than the worst on the right, and yet what would they fight with? Granola? They're harmless but their rhetoric is dangerous.

[The Dowager Mod]

Why the leftist outrage on steroids over this all of a sudden? The team has been around for ages.

We can change the team name to the "Washington Tea Party."

Because it never stops for them. 10 years from now they'll be called conservatives backwards for not wanting public nudity.

These people need to be stopped because if they go too far, they'll begin hurting our country and those who hurt our country get punished.

I don't take these people seriously because they're cowards. They spew hatred even more than the worst on the right, and yet what would they fight with? Granola? They're harmless but their rhetoric is dangerous.

LOL! Good old Reaganfan the gift that keeps on giving.

[Reaganfan]

Why the leftist outrage on steroids over this all of a sudden? The team has been around for ages.

We can change the team name to the "Washington Tea Party."

Because it never stops for them. 10 years from now they'll be called conservatives backwards for not wanting public nudity.

These people need to be stopped because if they go too far, they'll begin hurting our country and those who hurt our country get punished.

I don't take these people seriously because they're cowards. They spew hatred even more than the worst on the right, and yet what would they fight with? Granola? They're harmless but their rhetoric is dangerous.

LOL! Good old Reaganfan the gift that keeps on giving.

I'm tired of liberals wanting to punish many to please a select few.

[The Dowager Mod]

How does it punish you to rename a football team?

[Reaganfan]

How does it punish you to rename a football team?

Because it would be giving into the politically correct lovers.

[The Dowager Mod]

How does it punish you to rename a football team?

Because it would be giving into the politically correct lovers.

So if Donald Sterling tried to change the name of the Clippers to the N*ggers that would be o.k. because it's anti pc. gotcha.

[Reaganfan]

How does it punish you to rename a football team?

Because it would be giving into the politically correct lovers.

So if Donald Sterling tried to change the name of the Clippers to the N*ggers that would be o.k. because it's anti pc. gotcha.

I think there's the line you don't cross, obviously. Redskins isn't nearly as offensive as the 'N' word.

I think once you begin crossing the line though, you do more harm than good. I don't want a child to grow up 20 years from now in a world reading about how the most free country in the world is just like Europe because we changed what made us unique to please a select few.

[7,052,770]

How does it punish you to rename a football team?

Because it would be giving into the politically correct lovers.

So if Donald Sterling tried to change the name of the Clippers to the N*ggers that would be o.k. because it's anti pc. gotcha.

I think there's the line you don't cross, obviously. Redskins isn't nearly as offensive as the 'N' word.

I think once you begin crossing the line though, you do more harm than good. I don't want a child to grow up 20 years from now in a world reading about how the most free country in the world is just like Europe because we changed what made us unique to please a select few.

What's wrong with Europe? Most of the Western European/Scandinavian countries have higher standards of living and higher levels of happiness than we do.