If I honestly believed the words entire history, as a reference to native americans, had been one of a derogatory and disparaging fashion I'd be more apt to believe it should be changed. If I honeslty believed the most common use of the word today was as a means of referring to american indians in a slurring fashion I'd be more apt to change the name. If I honestly believed the intent of the team in choosing the name was insulting or belittling in nature i would be more apt to change the name. If I honestly believed that a majority of native americans felt that the name should be changed because it deeply offended them then I would likely be more apt to believe it should be changed. If I honestly believed the name was causing some kind of significant "harm" to Native Americans in this country I would likely be more apt to change the name.
However...
Based on what I've researched and read regarding the history of the word, it has not always been used as a means of derogatorily or disparagingly referring to native americans and is not ALWAYS used in a slurring fashion.
Based on what I've personally experienced, various means of lay research (such as examining internet searches for the use of the word), and talks with others I believe the word is most commonly used in the vast majority of this country as a means of referencing the Football team and not as a derogatory means of referring to native americans.
Based on what I've read and researched with regards to the origins of the name of the team, the steps they've taken over the years with other aspects related to the name (such as their current logo), and common sense as it relates to the naming of sports teams I simply don't believe the name was done with an intent to disparage or insult or degrade or mock or disrespect american indians.
Based on the only polls on the issue I've seen conducted, individuals I've spoken to in my area and when attending the NNALEA conference, interviews and statements made by some native americans in the media and online, input from individuals who have researched and visited reservations gathering opinions, and the presense of predominantly native american schools who themselves use the name I don't believe "native americans", as an all encompassing over all group, feel that the name should change and I do believe the vast majority hover between "don't want it to change" and "don't really care either way".
Based on an understanding of the challenges facing Native Americans on and off the reservations in this country, and the lack of actual tangible evidence of any "harm" being directed towards native americans due to the name other than some peoples opinion that it "Stereotypes" them which inherently "harms" them, I can't honestly say there is any "harm" coming to the american indian community over all due to the name, let alone "harm" that could be considered "significant" when stacked agaisnt the multitude of troubles affecting large portions of the community.
This is all combined with a belief that many, in what I think are a minority, of those offended by the name are, in part, offended based on a spurious and incorrect assertion, propogated by a questionable activist source, that the word means, or is originated from a reference to, "scalped native americans"....an assertion used as the basis for offense often by those who claim offense, including a recent Salon writer and a tribal leader in another story I read recently.
So no...I don't find it offensive. I understand some DO find it offensive, and they're free to do so...but I don't, and I'm not going to change my mind based on a false premise that they constantly attempt to use to justify WHY they feel it's right to tell others, or attempt to guilt others, into being offended.