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Do you think the Washington Redskins NFL team should change their name?

Do you think the Washington Redskins NFL team should change their name?

  • Total voters
    48
Hari Seldon said:
I voted yes. I never really thought about it much but I can see how it could be insulting or demeaning. Seems there are those that thinks its not offensive. My question is would you introduce a native Indian friend as a Redskin. Would you use it in normal conversation with a Native Indian. To tell the truth I might have before without thinking about it. I doubt I would do it now. Not of major importance, I'm not going to march on Washington or write my congressman. But I think having the name changed would show a sign of respect. We've kind of screwed them over from the beginning taking their land and all. Might as well make some amends.
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Would you introduce an Irish friend as a Whiteskin? No. Would you use Whiteskin in normal conversation with an Irish person? No. So you're saying you would actually use "Redskin" around a Native American person before this came up? Not buying that at all.
 
Hari Seldon said:
I voted yes. I never really thought about it much but I can see how it could be insulting or demeaning. Seems there are those that thinks its not offensive. My question is would you introduce a native Indian friend as a Redskin. Would you use it in normal conversation with a Native Indian. To tell the truth I might have before without thinking about it. I doubt I would do it now. Not of major importance, I'm not going to march on Washington or write my congressman. But I think having the name changed would show a sign of respect. We've kind of screwed them over from the beginning taking their land and all. Might as well make some amends.
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This argument is annoying to me. People are always talking about we took their land. Every populated part of earth has been taken and retaken and then took again at various points in history. Land is "owned" by the last person to claim it.
 
It doesn't matter what they call the team. As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I'm going to despise them anyway.

They would have a bunch of merch and letterheads to reconfigure. I suppose that that would be rather expensive. On the other hand, Redskins' item would quickly become collectible.

What about the Braves, Chiefs, and Indians? Would Washington become a precedent for all those teams to change their names, or, are those names actually honoring American Indians while Redskins doesn't bestow honor unto American natives?

I voted to change the name. Tennessee bought the Oilers and changed the name to the Titans. Everyone would get used to the new name rather quickly, and our Federal Government seat could be seen as being empathetic towards American natives for the first time ever.
 
Kreton said:
This argument is annoying to me. People are always talking about we took their land. Every populated part of earth has been taken and retaken and then took again at various points in history. Land is "owned" by the last person to claim it.
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I hereby claim ownership of the state formerly known as Colorado. I am changing the name to Maroon. Now, pack up and get out before I send in my army. You won't like them at all.
 
I think the name is fine that way it is. I mean it's been that named since the team entered into the league way go and change it now? Just because some native americans are offended? I don't know why people get all bent out of shape when it comes to skin color. Really bothers me. The next thing we are going to hear is that people are going to want to change the Yankees name because it's offensive. Give me a break.
 
braymoore said:
I think the name is fine that way it is. I mean it's been that named since the team entered into the league way go and change it now? Just because some native americans are offended? I don't know why people get all bent out of shape when it comes to skin color. Really bothers me. The next thing we are going to hear is that people are going to want to change the Yankees name because it's offensive. Give me a break.
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I think more white and black people are offended than native americans. I see more of them complaining about it.
 
PirateMk1 said:
Say these words with me, "It take's two people to communicate". "One to say the words, the other to hear them and accept them." Here's a little nursery rhyme. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will NEVER hurt me." People who get a offended are just puppets. People who are easily manipulated by their betters.
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You don't understand. This has nothing to do with someone being offended. I think it's stupid to believe this issue is about anyone being offended. The issue is stereotyping marginalizes people.

I'm against marginalizing people via racial stereotypes. I don't care who's offended or not.

Apparently, you support marginalizing people via stereotypes. I think that's your problem and not mine. Perhaps you need to look at the issue for what it's really about and stop with the "who's offended" crap, which I believe we all agree should not be the basis of law or rules.
 
braymoore said:
I think the name is fine that way it is. I mean it's been that named since the team entered into the league way go and change it now? Just because some native americans are offended? I don't know why people get all bent out of shape when it comes to skin color. Really bothers me. The next thing we are going to hear is that people are going to want to change the Yankees name because it's offensive. Give me a break.
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Being a good old Georgia boy, I think they ought to change the name, the New York Yankees I mean. Change it to at least New York Damn Yankees or New York Northern Agressors. ;) :lamo

Personally, I really do not care one iota what a sports team calls themselves. Down here Atlanta had a minor league baseball team many, many moons ago called the Atlanta Crackers, a AA Southern League team. To top that off when we had a Negro League team they adopted the white minor league teams name and became known as the Atlanta Black Crackers.
 
tres borrachos said:
Would you introduce an Irish friend as a Whiteskin? No. Would you use Whiteskin in normal conversation with an Irish person? No. So you're saying you would actually use "Redskin" around a Native American person before this came up? Not buying that at all.
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You are right I probably wouldn't, at least not as an introduction but that is my point. Its used as a pejorative that you wouldn't use in public. Why is it okay to use as a team name?
 
Hari Seldon said:
You are right I probably wouldn't, at least not as an introduction but that is my point. Its used as a pejorative that you wouldn't use in public. Why is it okay to use as a team name?
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It being previously used as a pejorative is not substantive but supporting. The main issue is racial stereotyping.
 
Kreton said:
This argument is annoying to me. People are always talking about we took their land. Every populated part of earth has been taken and retaken and then took again at various points in history. Land is "owned" by the last person to claim it.
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d0gbreath beat me to it. So I guess its okay for the current Indians to claim Colorado Springs.
 
d0gbreath said:
It doesn't matter what they call the team. As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I'm going to despise them anyway.
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Respect there...the despising of us, not being a Cowboys fan. That just deserves mocking and ruckus laughter.

What about the Braves, Chiefs, and Indians? Would Washington become a precedent for all those teams to change their names, or, are those names actually honoring American Indians while Redskins doesn't bestow honor unto American natives?
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One of the primary opponents of the name that has been pushing this since the 80's has directly claimed that the hope is if the Redskins fall then going after those other groups will then be easier.
 
And a wonderful example of what I meant when I said so much of the media has in no way attempted to be fair or unbiased in the reporting of this and are clearly driving an agenda aimed at either 1) converting or 2) fatiguing anyone whose not directly on their side...

One of the big "media firestorms" surrounding the name issue happened back in the middle of the season last year on a Sunday Night Game with the Redskins, where Bob Costas went on a diatribe about the name during half time. This fact, and the resulting media coverage of it, was part of what many proponents of the name change pointed to towards the end of last year as "proof" that "the issue isn't going away" and it's starting to resonate with people and get attention.

However, interesting bit of information that seemingly no national media outlet felt big about carrying:

When noted NBC sportscaster Bob Costas took to the air at halftime of the Washington-Dallas NFL football last month to ask Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Redskin fans to come clean about the insulting, “racist” nature of the team’s name, he wasn’t exactly coming clean about his own network’s financial interest in the controversy.

Even as Mr. Costas was giving his on-air editorial, NBC Sports Network was quietly putting the final touches on a deal with the Oneida Indian Nation to stage the network’s “Fight Night” boxing event at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort, a central New York resort owned and operated by the Indian tribe.

The deal and Mr. Costas‘ commentary have raised ethical and transparency questions because Oneida national representative Ray Halbritter has emerged as the spokesman and most visible face of the “Change the Mascot” campaign to force the Redskins to drop what Mr. Halbritter calls the Washington team’s “racially derogatory” name.
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(SOURCE)

Note, ever since the announcement of the Redskins "Original Redskins Foundation" earlier this year the national media has had multiple stories suggesting, if not directly focused on, claims that Snyder was trying to "bribe" native americans and that any statements from tribes aided by the foundation is a "conflict of interest"...and yet such a comment is barren regarding NBC, whose ProFootballTalk is one of the leading football media sites that has been keeping the issue in the news for the past year.

Indeed, on outside the lines last night Costas even ADMITTED that NBC specifically came to him prior to the game "suggesting" he talk about this very issue on the game broadcast. A day after they finalized a deal with the group that was the current loudest voice against the name.

But that kind of thing isn't of concern to the media because it's not reporting news, it's pushing the agenda.
 
ecofarm said:
You don't understand. This has nothing to do with someone being offended. I think it's stupid to believe this issue is about anyone being offended. The issue is stereotyping marginalizes people.

I'm against marginalizing people via racial stereotypes. I don't care who's offended or not.

Apparently, you support marginalizing people via stereotypes. I think that's your problem and not mine. Perhaps you need to look at the issue for what it's really about and stop with the "who's offended" crap, which I believe we all agree should not be the basis of law or rules.
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This is about marginalization? What's that supposed to mean? The way I see this issue, it comes down to two types of twits. The thin skinned easily offended types who are offended about life in general. And those who are attempting to exercise power to make somebody they don't particularly care for tow THEIR line.

For the former I have this little ditti


The latter, they just need what they are getting plenty of right now, good old fashioned American defiance. That and a bulbous hairy middle finger.
 
PirateMk1 said:
This is about marginalization? What's that supposed to mean?
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Racial stereotyping marginalizes those left out, no matter if it is a "positive" or "negative" stereotype. Negative or positive, in regard to racial stereotyping, is not meaning good or bad for society, it's meaning the characteristic portrayed (that in itself being subjective).

A positive stereotype does not mean 'stereotype that is good for society'. There are no stereotypes that are good for society. Why? Because all stereotypes marginalize the contributions of those excluded.

Regardless of a stereotype being positive or negative (which is subjective), stereotypes are inherently bad for society (objectively so).
 
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ecofarm said:
Racial stereotyping marginalizes those left out, no matter if it is a "positive" or "negative" stereotype. Negative or positive, in regard to racial stereotyping, is not meaning good or bad for society, it's meaning the characteristic portrayed (that in itself being subjective).

A positive stereotype does not mean 'stereotype that is good for society'. There are no stereotypes that are good for society. Why? Because all stereotypes marginalize the contributions of those excluded.

Regardless of a stereotype being positive or negative (which is subjective), stereotypes are inherently bad for society (objectively so).
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Do you even know what a stereotyping is? Its calling people names at its basest. Generalizing groups of people. Bottom line. You and I get stereotyped everyday of our lives and as long at there are human beings there will continue to be stereotyping. I could careless if I get stereotyped because end the end I know it doesn't mean a damn thing to my success, and me living my life as I see fit. People are too busy worrying about what other people they don't know think to realize in the end the only opinions that matter are those YOU value. For me that is my family and my close friends. What others think, why should I, bloody well care?
 
PirateMk1 said:
Do you even know what a stereotyping is? Its calling people names
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Social ignorance. Lack of ability to assimilate social context.

Do you know what marginalizing is?
 
ecofarm said:
Social ignorance. Lack of ability to assimilate social context.

Do you know what marginalizing is?
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Lots of people call me socially ignorant. They are right. I just don't care, I am not interested in most peoples feelings.

Didn't you just tell me marginalizing people is positive and negative stereotyping or some such? Like I said I get stereotyped and marginalized all the bloody time. I don't care. I don't worry about others opinions of me, they don't matter. Its what I DO that does. Action always speak louder than words. My actions speak for me and about me. Stereotypes be damned. If I want respect I earn it.
 
PirateMk1 said:
Lots of people call me socially ignorant. They are right. I just don't care,
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Ok, well, stereotyping is bad for society. It's doesn't matter who is or is not offended, that crap about offense is for stupid people.
 
ecofarm said:
Ok, well, stereotyping is bad for society. It's doesn't matter who is or is not offended, that crap about offense is for stupid people.
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Stereotyping is part of the human condition. Get over it, cause it aint going away, not by a long shot. Your just pissing in the wind trying to make human nature go away.
 
PirateMk1 said:
Stereotyping is part of the human condition. Get over it, cause it aint going away, not by a long shot. Your just pissing in the wind trying to make human nature go away.
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Why are you against understanding stereotypes and their impact on society?
 
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