Washington who?

[badnews]

Language is everything.

Language is what creates our interpretation of reality.

Redskins is a derogatory word for Native Americans (this is not in dispute outside of obscure forums).

When we use derogatory words in a casual manner, we make it normal.

When we make derogatory words part of the normal usage of language we become unconscious of its affect (i.e., the spreading of HATE).

When we are unconscious of the choices that we make through our language we become open to manipulation.

When we are open to manipulation we lose track of our human rights.

When we lose track of our rights, we end up living in a society where 1% of the population owns 50% of global wealth, while 45% of American children grow up in low-income, crap-holes.

Oh wait...

Those who control language control reality.

Now go buy something that will make you feel better about yourself, so you forget what you just read.

I wish I could like this post more than once.

 

[fearsomefour]

Language is everything.

Language is what creates our interpretation of reality.

This is very true and it is what makes PCism so sinister.
This is rooted in 60s radicalism and is absolutely an effort to control thought and society.
As it is now one cannot even have a conversation (ROD aside) about such things.
If you don't like A it means your a bigot. If you don't like B it means your a racist.
This whole movement of political correctness is about crushing debate, about eliminating thought.

 

[Ramhusker]

This is very true and it is what makes PCism so sinister.
This is rooted in 60s radicalism and is absolutely an effort to control thought and society.
As it is now one cannot even have a conversation (ROD aside) about such things.
If you don't like A it means your a bigot. If you don't like B it means your a racist.
This whole movement of political correctness is about crushing debate, about eliminating thought.

BOOM!!!!!!! There it is!!!!!!

 

[beej]

We all need to laugh at ourselves more. There are some things we really need to take seriously. Most things we do not.

 

[Rynie]

Hear hear. I'm about done with a select few being the ones to decide what's offensive and what's not.
BTW, I'm offended by Cowboys. They were ruthless killers of innocent people, and are a fairly crappy football team.
sorry, @Rynie. lol.

I'm offended that you're offended by Cowboys being offensive. Let me go on the offensive and get you off of the fence if I can convince you the Cowboys are reminiscent of the American tradition.

 

[beej]

People talk about wanting freedom a lot and equal rights. Eh rightfully so I guess. To me there is real freedom in allowing people to dislike me, laugh at me or flat out try to humiliate me. By my "not responding" to it in the way they expect, I gain power and they look weak. That's freedom!

 

[Ramhusker]

People talk about wanting freedom a lot and equal rights. Eh rightfully so I guess. To me there is real freedom in allowing people to dislike me, laugh at me or flat out try to humiliate me. By my "not responding" to it in the way they expect, I gain power and they look weak. That's freedom!

In short, grow a pair and try being an adult for a change. The PC crutch is getting pretty old to us grown-ups.

 

[PhillyRam]

It is ironic that those who preach about diversity in our society are same people who do not want to allow diversity of thought. You must think like them or be shouted down or shamed into silence.

My daughter just completed her freshmen year of college and the stories she has told about fellow students who would absolutley not allow just fair debate on subjects like this. It was to the point where she had to keep some of her views to herself or risk being ostracized from her dorm mates.

 

[rdlkgliders]

No, no it's not. You know why? You're saying Redskin. You won't even say the "N word". If you're trying to determine what the worse word is, and you won't even say one of them, that's probably it. It's completely ridiculous to even think about changing a name because a couple people don't like it.

You're probably right that one is worse than the other. But, I don't have any Native American friends to gauge their feelings on the issue. I know what I've read, but don't have anyone to tell me straight up how it makes them feel.

I usually reserve comment or my opinion on these sort of matters but I found this debate particularly interesting.
Obviously both words are offensive and in my opinion one group of offended people certainly does not merit better or less offensive treatment than another.
Not a fan of all the political correctness that seems to have over taken our suddenly righteous country and believe that there are groups out there dying to be offended and these groups usually do not have many if any of the so called offended demographic in their group. But right is right and fair means Equal. Having had a grandmother who was born on a reservation, god bless her. I am not the type that is offended by the name but I do not have the right to speak for an entire community.

 

[Robocop]

You're probably right that one is worse than the other. But, I don't have any Native American friends to gauge their feelings on the issue. I know what I've read, but don't have anyone to tell me straight up how it makes them feel.

http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-navaj...vbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDQjAzOTZfMQRzZWMDc3I-

-there's also a 5 minute video interview of the community in the link, I couldn't embed it)

Arizona Navajo high school emerges as symbol in Redskins debate

As the national debate rages over the Washington Redskins name, an Arizona high school on the nation's largest Native American reservation has emerged as a symbol for those defending the NFL franchise's right to keep it.

The Washington Post reports that teachers and students at Red Mesa High School overwhelmingly support keeping their football team's nickname the Redskins. According to a recent poll conducted by the school, more than 88 percent of the students and 70 percent of the faculty at Red Mesa High School are in favor of keeping their longtime mascot. And most students (60 percent) said they did not agree that "Redskins" is a racial slur. Just 7 percent find the word is offensive, while the rest (33 percent) said they weren’t sure.

“I don’t find it derogatory," Red Mesa superintendent Tommie Yazzie told the newspaper. "It’s a source of pride.”

Around the country, the NFL team's name has stirred a contentious debate, with lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and sports journalists protesting the name, and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder vowing to never change it.

Snyder offered Red Mesa students free tickets and transportation to the Redskins' Oct. 12 game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.., and more than half (150) of the school's 220 students accepted them.

Inside the stadium, Snyder sat in the visiting owner's box with Ben Shelly, the outgoing president of the Navajo Nation. Outside the stadium, Amanda Blackhorse, who is the lead plaintiff in a case threatening the Washington Redskins’ trademark protection, criticized parents and faculty for allowing the Red Mesa High students to be used as pawns by the NFL team owner in his charm offensive.

“We want to let our children know who are being used today that we are here for them," Blackhorse said. "We are not going to disparage them ... because they don’t know any better. The adults in that school should know better, and they are not informed of this issue — and shame on them for that."

“I don’t know what she means that it’s a racial slur,” Mckenzie Lameman, Red Mesa’s student government president, told the Post. “It’s not a racist slur if it originates from a Native American tribe. ... It’s always used in the context of sports.”

“This protest feels like it’s coming from one person," Red Mesa athletic director Al Begay added.

Wesley Cobb, a government teacher at Red Mesa High, disagrees.

“The Washington Redskins is a profoundly racist name, and I think we as educators need to provide some history and context,” Cobb told the Post

Most parents the paper talked to called it a nonissue.

“We have far more important issues to expend our energy on," Steven Benally, a grandfather of a Red Mesa High School football player, said. “A lot of the buildings here are from the 1970s. Our grandson doesn’t even have a biology teacher. Tell Snyder we want a wellness center.”

In vowing to keep its controversial mascot, the Redskins are not alone.

According to a study conducted by the University of Maryland, there were 62 high schools in 22 states using the Redskins moniker last year, including three Native American schools: Red Mesa, Wellpinit High School in Wellpinit, Wash., and Kingston High School in Oklahoma.

In June, the Wellpinit school board voted to keep the name. Earlier this month, Oklahoma City Public Schools said it was looking into whether the Redskins nickname at Capitol Hill High School should be changed.

“The Oklahoma City Public School District has been researching how other institutions have addressed similar issues and we are also seeking the perspectives of Oklahoma-based Native American tribes,” district spokeswoman Tierney Tinnin told KGOU.

 

[bluecoconuts]

It's doesn't matter. There are polls out there...with results.

Those polls are from 2004 though, correct?

 

[Zaphod]

They should change it to the Washington Whiteys, that way i can join in on the racial persecution that this country is so bloated with these days...

Sick and tired of it. I don't even want to turn on the television or listen to the radio anymore.

I was thinking that they really should rename them the Washington Honkeys, thumb their nose up to the world, keep it moving, and never look back.

Come on, a native American could be no more angry at that name than I am at the fighting Irish with the goofy pugilist Leprechaun icon on their helmet. Heck, I cheered for them because of their name when I was a kid.

 

[Moostache]

I have ZERO problem with teams that are named for specific tribes (Blackhawks, Fighting Sioux, Seminoles, etc.) ... or even generic terms like "Indians" or "Chiefs" or "Warriors" - hell, I don't even think their logo is offensive (at least no where near as bad as the grinning, drunken Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland Indians; but "Redskins" is NOT a tribal name or a generic term; and even if it is "non-offensive" to some or even to most Native Americans or Americans in general, to others (and historically) it is an insulting term of segregation and denigration of native peoples.

The fact that the issue keeps recycling every couple of years would seem to indicate that a significant percentage of people DO find it offensive on some level. I do not understand why this is so difficult to differentiate in people's minds.

As soon as someone is ready to defend a team that would be called the New York Jews or the Los Angeles Wetbacks or the Detroit Porch Monkeys -


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWdVwt2deY4



I will listen to why its OK for teams to be named denigrating terms for a specific people or group of people.
Otherwise, whether people like to admit it or not, want it changed or not, or even feel its a part of some weird plot or not..."Redskin" is a racial slur and should not be the acknowledged name of the team... I like the way some people have simply chosen to simply use "Washington" and ignore the rest. Seems like a reasonable compromise to me.

 

[Stranger]

Personally, I could not be more sick of this kindergarten country we live in.

Yup.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

don't understand why danny boy is against it. this will open up a whole new world of sales for the team. keep the symbol, change the name to something more generic and many, many fans will buy the new merchandise so they have the current team logo. do the right thing and make a stack of money as well.

.

 

[CGI_Ram]

If you really want to go all PC police on sporting teams, we can consider other names offensive. We shouldn't stop at Redskins. I can see the term Patriots being offensive to some. Some think people who consider themselves Patriots are right wing extremists. Why not go after that name?

Cowboys could offend people who aren't white and live in the inner cities. Animal Rights people could consider names with animals to be offensive to them. The animals are being exploited.

What about Vikings, Pirates, Buccaneers or Raiders? Maybe someone's ancestors were killed by them?

Maybe people who are Packers don't like that term? Maybe they'd rather be called product organizers?

Steelers sounds too much like stealers. Lakers are in the land of beaches with oceans, no lakes. Maybe thats offensive.

What the heck does Browns mean? It could be interpreted as something out of a toilet. Thats very offensive.

Maybe teams should only use city names. Cities with multiple teams could be team one, team two and so forth. That way no one gets offended. After all, we are in the Political Correctness era. One can't be too careful.

And don't forget the Giants! They are basically calling YOU fat!

 

[Corbin]

Hear hear. I'm about done with a select few being the ones to decide what's offensive and what's not.
BTW, I'm offended by Cowboys. They were ruthless killers of innocent people, and are a fairly crappy football team.
sorry, @Rynie. lol.

YOU BIGOT!! LOL

 

[Corbin]

Language is everything.

Language is what creates our interpretation of reality.

Redskins is a derogatory word for Native Americans (this is not in dispute outside of obscure forums).

When we use derogatory words in a casual manner, we make it normal.

When we make derogatory words part of the normal usage of language we become unconscious of its affect (i.e., the spreading of HATE).

When we are unconscious of the choices that we make through our language we become open to manipulation.

When we are open to manipulation we lose track of our human rights.

When we lose track of our rights, we end up living in a society where 1% of the population owns 50% of global wealth, while 45% of American children grow up in low-income, crap-holes.

Oh wait...

Those who control language control reality.

Now go buy something that will make you feel better about yourself, so you forget what you just read.

View: https://youtu.be/kFnFr-DOPf8

 

[ChrisW]

http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-navaj...vbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDQjAzOTZfMQRzZWMDc3I-

-there's also a 5 minute video interview of the community in the link, I couldn't embed it)

Arizona Navajo high school emerges as symbol in Redskins debate

As the national debate rages over the Washington Redskins name, an Arizona high school on the nation's largest Native American reservation has emerged as a symbol for those defending the NFL franchise's right to keep it.

The Washington Post reports that teachers and students at Red Mesa High School overwhelmingly support keeping their football team's nickname the Redskins. According to a recent poll conducted by the school, more than 88 percent of the students and 70 percent of the faculty at Red Mesa High School are in favor of keeping their longtime mascot. And most students (60 percent) said they did not agree that "Redskins" is a racial slur. Just 7 percent find the word is offensive, while the rest (33 percent) said they weren’t sure.

“I don’t find it derogatory," Red Mesa superintendent Tommie Yazzie told the newspaper. "It’s a source of pride.”

Around the country, the NFL team's name has stirred a contentious debate, with lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and sports journalists protesting the name, and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder vowing to never change it.

Snyder offered Red Mesa students free tickets and transportation to the Redskins' Oct. 12 game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.., and more than half (150) of the school's 220 students accepted them.

Inside the stadium, Snyder sat in the visiting owner's box with Ben Shelly, the outgoing president of the Navajo Nation. Outside the stadium, Amanda Blackhorse, who is the lead plaintiff in a case threatening the Washington Redskins’ trademark protection, criticized parents and faculty for allowing the Red Mesa High students to be used as pawns by the NFL team owner in his charm offensive.

“We want to let our children know who are being used today that we are here for them," Blackhorse said. "We are not going to disparage them ... because they don’t know any better. The adults in that school should know better, and they are not informed of this issue — and shame on them for that."

“I don’t know what she means that it’s a racial slur,” Mckenzie Lameman, Red Mesa’s student government president, told the Post. “It’s not a racist slur if it originates from a Native American tribe. ... It’s always used in the context of sports.”

“This protest feels like it’s coming from one person," Red Mesa athletic director Al Begay added.

Wesley Cobb, a government teacher at Red Mesa High, disagrees.

“The Washington Redskins is a profoundly racist name, and I think we as educators need to provide some history and context,” Cobb told the Post

Most parents the paper talked to called it a nonissue.

“We have far more important issues to expend our energy on," Steven Benally, a grandfather of a Red Mesa High School football player, said. “A lot of the buildings here are from the 1970s. Our grandson doesn’t even have a biology teacher. Tell Snyder we want a wellness center.”

In vowing to keep its controversial mascot, the Redskins are not alone.

According to a study conducted by the University of Maryland, there were 62 high schools in 22 states using the Redskins moniker last year, including three Native American schools: Red Mesa, Wellpinit High School in Wellpinit, Wash., and Kingston High School in Oklahoma.

In June, the Wellpinit school board voted to keep the name. Earlier this month, Oklahoma City Public Schools said it was looking into whether the Redskins nickname at Capitol Hill High School should be changed.

“The Oklahoma City Public School District has been researching how other institutions have addressed similar issues and we are also seeking the perspectives of Oklahoma-based Native American tribes,” district spokeswoman Tierney Tinnin told KGOU.

So what you're telling me is that only the white man finds it offensive for the Natives?

 

[Athos]

I started calling them the ForeSkins a long time ago.

And will continue to do so long after this matter is settled.