Should the Washington Redskins change their mascot?

[Cosmic]

The Oneida Indian Nation is calling on the NFL commissioner to denounce the Redskins team name and mascot, calling it a racial slur.

http://www.changethemascot.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/nfl_game_spot.mp3

http://abcnews.go.com/US/sports-mascots-stir-controversy/story?id=20194389

"We do not deserve to be called redskins," Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter says in the ad. "We deserve to be treated as what we are -- Americans."

The Redskins owner says he will never change the name.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Considering that they've been known as the Redskins since 1933, I think that the name is never, ever going to change. The name has been around for so long that they can essentially get away with it. If they tried it today...not so much.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Maybe they could compromise and come up with a less offensive name?

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I understand why some tribes are offended. It's not like you could get away with calling a team ”the white skins”, the ”black skins” or the ”yellow skins”.

If they changed the name I'd still support the team but you have to wonder how many fans would abandon ship feeling somehow betrayed.

Keeping the Redskin name is probably a basic business decision.

The owner should consider it though. Who knows? Maybe the right name would broaden the fanbase.

I like the name ”the tribesmen”, myself.

 

[Czar Colossus]

I'm not a Redskin fan, but I know plenty. They look at the team and the name with pride. The name and mascot's connotation is intended to represent warrior pride, strength, fortitude; all positive things. It is unfortunate that it would be taken another way. Sure there are names we may find to be not to our particular liking, but I believe that they are chosen to represent all things positive and to give fans something to rally around. My town's teams are known as the Sachems and there is a feeling of pride for it among our residents.
It's like changing Captain Marvel's name to SHAZAM.

 

[bunk]

Change the name. There are others teams that reference American Indian cultures without using racial slurs; I'm sure they can find an alternative, or just go with something completely different. The owner is a moron, but the blame is really with the fans at this point. If they wanted the change, it would happen.

 

[Destructus86]

Some people have waaaaaay too much time on their hands to even be sitting around thinking about what makes them offended.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I don't know. If i was a Native American I'd be pretty pissed.

Granted, that would be pretty low on the totem pole of things to be upset about, given what all else the white man did to me.

 

[Feenix]

I don't know. If i was a Native American I'd be pretty pissed.

Granted, that would be pretty low on the totem pole of things to be upset about, given what all else the white man did to me.

Native Americans aren't the only ones in this world that have had a crap time. They just don't seem to be dealing with it very well (the reserves in Canada are saturated with drugs, alcohol, and violence). The chiefs who claim to want money and resources to help their people just use the funds to buy themselves massive houses and live in luxury. Nothing will change until the leadership on these reserves change...so never. Corruption is hard to fight.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Change the name. There are others teams that reference American Indian cultures without using racial slurs; I'm sure they can find an alternative, or just go with something completely different.

The Cleveland Indians say different

 

[MrMaooz]

No.

 

[SV Fan]

The Cleveland Indians say different

Redskins can be a derogatory name(sort of like the n-word), Indians not so much so I think their is a slight difference

 

[hippie_hunter]

But look at how blatantly offensive that ****ing thing is!

 

[SV Fan]

But look at how blatantly offensive that ****ing thing is!

Alot of sporting logos are overly cartoonish, although I could see how some might find it a lil offensive

 

[Tanin]

Alot of sporting logos are overly cartoonish, although I could see how some might find it a lil offensive

A little? That's worse then the song in Peter Pan!

 

[Czar Colossus]

Some people have waaaaaay too much time on their hands to even be sitting around thinking about what makes them offended.

There are a lot of people who feel that being offended by something validates them in some way. I'm offended by people that are always offended.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

But look at how blatantly offensive that ****ing thing is!

Plus it literally has "red skin".

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

But look at how blatantly offensive that ****ing thing is!

At least he's happy! You should see what they have representing my heritage.

 

[bunk]

The Cleveland Indians say different

Yes, "Chief Wahoo" is an even worse logo. They should have made the change when Atlanta did.
Florida State's Seminoles would be an example of how the culture can be referenced in an acceptable way.

 

[Cosmic]

I agree that Chief Wahoo is worse. But the Cleveland Indians also have other logos that they use in place of that one. And I don't follow that team closely, but I feel that in recent years, use of that awful logo on team merchandise and other media has become less prominent.

Regarding Washington, I've been an NFL fan ever since I was a little boy. I have cheered for and against the Redskins at various times. But I have to admit, this team name in combination with that logo is plainly and openly racist. It's a shame that in this day and age, it continues on virtually without any challenge or criticism. The Oneida leaders have a legitimate complaint and make a strong, clear and concise argument for why the NFL should pressure the team to make changes.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I think they have a legitimate complaint, and if people were really upset over name I would agree that it would be good to change it. But the protests drew like two dozen people. That tells me that except for a tiny, tiny minority people, including Native Americans, simply don't care. If they want the name to change they will need to gather far more support than that.

 

[TheCarpetMan]

This reminds me of the mad tv skit where they native americans had a sports league with names offensive to the other races.

 

[terry78]

At least he's happy! You should see what they have representing my heritage.

But that is an accurate representation though.

 

[Warhammer]

Imagine in a parallel universe, this team is known as the Washington N-Words. That is so ridiculously outrageous, it's funny. I wouldn't be offended at all.

 

[terry78]

It all depends on who would raise a stink about it. Some nationalities just don't want to make waves or don't care, so they can still get cracked on and few people bat an eye.