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Redskins = Racism?

Is the team name the "Redskins" racist?

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 13.8%
  • No

    Votes: 25 86.2%

  • Total voters
    29
Forced? Who could force them and why?
The NCAI, for starters, and how about the ACLU? Perhaps any race based coalition, or how about the team owner himself? Abe Pollin changed the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards and many say it's because he didn't want the team name to be associated with gun violence.
 
Acknoweldgement of a physical charateristic, say redheads, pale faces or round eyes, is not racism. The use of the term in a team name is perhaps considered degrading only if you note that it is typically an animal that is used as the team name/mascot. Is the WV use of "Mountaineers" racist? Is ND's use of the "Fighting Irish" implying that the Irish are inherently violent folks? What of the Atlanta "Braves"? Far too much "political correctness" is being read into this simple choice of a unique sports team name, IMHO.

The University of Georgia's marching band was once called the Dixie Redcoat Marching Band. Some people decided to become offended by the word "Dixie" and they pressured the university to remove Dixie from the name. It became the Redcoat Marching Band. I remember a number of students starting a petition saying that they were offended by the term "Redcoat" was offensive as their ancestors had been abused and some shot and some killed by British Redcoats. Another student group started a petition saying that their families had suffered terribly at the hands of Nazis marching through Europe. They proposed to remove the word "Marching" as it evoked horrible thoughts. Finally at the same time a student group began a petition saying that their ancestors had been wounded, raped and some killed by bands of hostile Indians. It was suggested then finally that the Dixie Redcoat Marching Band simply be know as "The". No one was offended by "The", but you can guess how far that went. It is now the "The Redcoat Marching Band".
 
The University of Georgia's marching band was once called the Dixie Redcoat Marching Band. Some people decided to become offended by the word "Dixie" and they pressured the university to remove Dixie from the name. It became the Redcoat Marching Band. I remember a number of students starting a petition saying that they were offended by the term "Redcoat" was offensive as their ancestors had been abused and some shot and some killed by British Redcoats. Another student group started a petition saying that their families had suffered terribly at the hands of Nazis marching through Europe. They proposed to remove the word "Marching" as it evoked horrible thoughts. Finally at the same time a student group began a petition saying that their ancestors had been wounded, raped and some killed by bands of hostile Indians. It was suggested then finally that the Dixie Redcoat Marching Band simply be know as "The". No one was offended by "The", but you can guess how far that went. It is now the "The Redcoat Marching Band".

Yep. The same was done to my girlfriends HS in Houston; it went from Robert E. Lee HS to simply Lee HS (as opposed to windward I guess). :roll:
 
The NCAI, for starters, and how about the ACLU? Perhaps any race based coalition, or how about the team owner himself?
Neither the ACLU or the NCAI have any power over the NFL and if the team owner wants to change the name then he is not being forced since it is a choice.

Abe Pollin changed the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards and many say it's because he didn't want the team name to be associated with gun violence.

I read it was because he finally read Lord of the Rings and thought Gandalf was such a badass...
 
That ****ing does it!

haha. Comedy aside, it is an interesting topic, macro sociologically. I think the micro on it is mostly crap though. I suppose I feel that way about economics as well.
 
No,

No more than the Boston Celtics, or Green Bay Packers.

Even the thought that some may think it is, is one reason this country is in the condition its in.
 
haha. Comedy aside, it is an interesting topic, macro sociologically. I think the micro on it is mostly crap though. I suppose I feel that way about economics as well.

Agreed...
 
No,

No more than the Boston Celtics, or Green Bay Packers.

Even the thought that some may think it is, is one reason this country is in the condition its in.

I agree with your sentiment but not the examples...
 
I agree with your sentiment but not the examples...

ok, to each thier own.

IMO, sometimes the "correctness" political or otherwise has gotten out of hand. How many years has the team been the Redskins? Was not much of an issue back when they were named.
 
Concern that the Redskins team name is racist is as ridiculous as the impression that it's politically incorrect to say black instead of African American.
 
ok, to each thier own.

IMO, sometimes the "correctness" political or otherwise has gotten out of hand. How many years has the team been the Redskins? Was not much of an issue back when they were named.

Agreed. It is argued that back then it was institutionalized racism and it should be changed... I think that is lame.
 
Concern that the Redskins team name is racist is as ridiculous as the impression that it's politically incorrect to say black instead of African American.

Again, agreed with the sentiment but not the example. I know a black guy that if you call him African American gets angry and thinks it borders on racism. He says he is black. He is an American that happens to be black. Others, you call them black and it is racist. What the **** are we supposed to do? Just cal a person a person I guess.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Again, agreed with the sentiment but not the example. I know a black guy that if you call him African American gets angry and thinks it borders on racism. He says he is black. He is an American that happens to be black. Others, you call them black and it is racist. What the **** are we supposed to do? Just cal a person a person I guess.

Tell me about it. That's why I said what I said earlier. Some Native American tribes consider "redskins" to be racist. Does it seem overtly racist to me? Not in the least.

Hell, I was working somewhere and was in a casual conversation with a black dude. Now, I'm born and raised in Michigan, but ALL my family (except my dad) is from the south. Therefore, I pick up some southern vernacular here and there. Down there, they say "boy" often. Apparently, this word is offensive to some black people, as I found out firsthand. Long story short, I was an inch away from fighting.

I really detest how certain words are automatically dubbed as racist. It's one thing for off-color (no pun intended) words that don't come up in normal conversation, but "boy"? Really? I'm waiting for the time when some race deems the word "house" or "tree" as racist, so we can eliminate them from the English language as well.
 
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