Redskins will "never" change name

[Mavric]

I have yet to be convinced that most of the "offense" is not much more than contrived concerning most teams that use some reference to Native Americans. For example, I believe the Seminole people are supportive (or at least used to be) of Florida State's mascot but others find it offensive.

 

One of my favorite stories on the subject was related by Larry Ribble who was the boys basketball coach at Millard South when they changed their mascot from the Indians to the Patriots. He likes to say that they "used to be the brave, valiant warriors and now they're just the people who took their land away."

 

But I think Redskins is in a different category. Even if the people who used to be more widely referred to by that derogatory term are in a tiny minority at the present time, that doesn't change the fact that the origin was not to paint them in a positive light.

[RedSavage]

Maybe my perception is wrong, but it seems to me there are lot more people wanting to keep the name than there are people complaining about it and asking for a change. I personally don't know anyone who is offended by it and I know a reasonable amount of people who are part native american. Like I said though, maybe my perception is wrong and might be different if I lived closer to Washington.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that there are decidedly more people demanding for the change than demanding that it not be changed. You may be correct in that a great number of people couldn't care less what the name is but I think their ignorance towards racial slurs could be enlightened if they took a few minutes and understood that it doesn't just refer to the perceived color of a Native American's skin color. Which in itself is ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that it is demeaning. You don't hear it used that way anymore though. You don't hear people being called "Redskins" like you do with the N word. The only time I ever hear the word is when people are talking about a NFL football team, not another person. It will always have an inherent negative connotation but I don't think it carries the weight it once did when it was created, as it's not really used as a derogatory term anymore. I guess that's why it seems like its not as big of deal to me but I understand the other side of the argument.

[zoogs]

FYI guys, that NFL tax exemption subject was so interesting (and tangential) I split it into a separate topic. Cool stuff, Mavric!

[husker_99]

Maybe my perception is wrong, but it seems to me there are lot more people wanting to keep the name than there are people complaining about it and asking for a change. I personally don't know anyone who is offended by it and I know a reasonable amount of people who are part native american. Like I said though, maybe my perception is wrong and might be different if I lived closer to Washington.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that there are decidedly more people demanding for the change than demanding that it not be changed. You may be correct in that a great number of people couldn't care less what the name is but I think their ignorance towards racial slurs could be enlightened if they took a few minutes and understood that it doesn't just refer to the perceived color of a Native American's skin color. Which in itself is ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that it is demeaning. You don't hear it used that way anymore though. You don't hear people being called "Redskins" like you do with the N word. The only time I ever hear the word is when people are talking about a NFL football team, not another person. It will always have an inherent negative connotation but I don't think it carries the weight it once did when it was created, as it's not really used as a derogatory term anymore. I guess that's why it seems like its not as big of deal to me but I understand the other side of the argument.

exactly. all the older people are making a big deal out of it and the younger people when they hear the term Redskins would refer it to the football team and not something negative. There is an article on espn which they site that in 2004 90% of Native Amercians weren't bothered by the name. That number will only go up. The easier way is just to redefine the word rather and make it something positive.

[walksalone]

People need to quit being so sensitive. The team has had this name for so long that I think the negative connotation is hardly even associated with it anymore. I don't think twice about it being an insult to people when it's said. To me it is nothing more than a team name, which I imagine is how most people feel. It's not like they're called the N words or something.

Except for the people it is offending......

People will always find something to be "offended" by. I guess this is just an instance where the voice of the few overwhelms the voice of the many.

I don't think this issue is one of those "instances"

 

This is a certain group of "convenient activists". If this really would have been such a slight, then it would have been brought to the forefront during the civil rights movement in the 60's.

 

Most indians could give a damn about this, me being one of them. I've polled almost everyone in my family, and they could care less about the name.

 

How about instead of worrying about the name, we worry about improving living conditions, health care, the rampant alcholism, and the 80% unemployment rate, Most of the people that find outrage in this are white anyways...

[carlfense]

How about instead of worrying about the name, we worry about improving living conditions, health care, the rampant alcholism, and the 80% unemployment rate . . .

 

Any ideas?

[BigRedBuster]

How about instead of worrying about the name, we worry about improving living conditions, health care, the rampant alcholism, and the 80% unemployment rate . . .

 

Any ideas?

Now you're talking about an issue that really needs to be addressed. The entire issue of indians and reservations has been a cluster f**ck ever since the government put them on the reservations. First of all....I think we would all agree that the entire issue of putting them on a reservation was wrong. But, then what happens after that? How do you undo the damage the government did over 125 years ago?

 

The issue at hand is that they were put on the worst land available so there isn't any good farming or ranching. They are so far out of the way that any real industry isn't going to want to locate there. Most indians who have motivation to go out and make something of themselves have left long ago which leaves the ones who don't there to reproduce and raise more and more kids in the conditions there which rely very heavily on government subsidies to live.

 

I believe the reservations are still legally their own nations...correct?

 

It's a circular problem that honestly, I don't know an answer for.

[Landlord]

How about instead of worrying about the name, we worry about improving living conditions, health care, the rampant alcholism, and the 80% unemployment rate, Most of the people that find outrage in this are white anyways...

 

 

 

 

 

 

People need to quit being so sensitive. The team has had this name for so long that I think the negative connotation is hardly even associated with it anymore. I don't think twice about it being an insult to people when it's said. To me it is nothing more than a team name, which I imagine is how most people feel. It's not like they're called the N words or something.

 

 

People also need to quit telling others what a derogatory and racist term might mean to them as members of the race it was actually aimed at.

[walksalone]

How about instead of worrying about the name, we worry about improving living conditions, health care, the rampant alcholism, and the 80% unemployment rate . . .

 

Any ideas?

 

A good start would be a scholarship program for kids on reservations. Provide programs for school kids and the elderly. Do something to generate jobs.

 

Hell I don't know, but those seem to be good places to start from...

[walksalone]

How about instead of worrying about the name, we worry about improving living conditions, health care, the rampant alcholism, and the 80% unemployment rate . . .

 

Any ideas?

Now you're talking about an issue that really needs to be addressed. The entire issue of indians and reservations has been a cluster f**ck ever since the government put them on the reservations. First of all....I think we would all agree that the entire issue of putting them on a reservation was wrong. But, then what happens after that? How do you undo the damage the government did over 125 years ago?

 

The issue at hand is that they were put on the worst land available so there isn't any good farming or ranching. They are so far out of the way that any real industry isn't going to want to locate there. Most indians who have motivation to go out and make something of themselves have left long ago which leaves the ones who don't there to reproduce and raise more and more kids in the conditions there which rely very heavily on government subsidies to live.

 

I believe the reservations are still legally their own nations...correct?

 

It's a circular problem that honestly, I don't know an answer for.

 

You can actually Ranch on the reservations in South Dakota, but you have to be willing to work your ass off. But that whole thing gets defeated if the gov't pays you not to do so...

[carlfense]

A good start would be a scholarship program for kids on reservations.

Something like that already exists at UNL . . . but maybe it should be expanded and/or better advertised?

Native American Heritage Scholarship

 

Native American tribes are woven into the fabric of Nebraska. Recognizing this, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) offers the Native American Heritage Scholarship for freshman; other Undergraduate Students can be considered for the Native American Transfer Scholarship.<h4></h4>

Freshman and Undergraduate Scholarship - Eligibility Req.

 

To identify academically promising students who have knowledge and experience in the Native American community and strive to create opportunities in the advancement of this unique culture.

 

Award: Depends on financial need. The range per academic year will be from $2,000 to the full direct of attendance. Freshman scholarship is renewable for four years, transfers two years.

http://admissions.unl.edu/discover/diversity/scholarships.aspx

 

Provide programs for school kids and the elderly. Do something to generate jobs.

 

Hell I don't know, but those seem to be good places to start from...

It's a @#%tty situation. I don't know any answers either.

[BigRedBuster]

How about instead of worrying about the name, we worry about improving living conditions, health care, the rampant alcholism, and the 80% unemployment rate . . .

 

Any ideas?

Now you're talking about an issue that really needs to be addressed. The entire issue of indians and reservations has been a cluster f**ck ever since the government put them on the reservations. First of all....I think we would all agree that the entire issue of putting them on a reservation was wrong. But, then what happens after that? How do you undo the damage the government did over 125 years ago?

 

The issue at hand is that they were put on the worst land available so there isn't any good farming or ranching. They are so far out of the way that any real industry isn't going to want to locate there. Most indians who have motivation to go out and make something of themselves have left long ago which leaves the ones who don't there to reproduce and raise more and more kids in the conditions there which rely very heavily on government subsidies to live.

 

I believe the reservations are still legally their own nations...correct?

 

It's a circular problem that honestly, I don't know an answer for.

 

You can actually Ranch on the reservations in South Dakota, but you have to be willing to work your ass off. But that whole thing gets defeated if the gov't pays you not to do so...

 

 

Yes you can. I think I should have stated more clearly....not very good ranch land. Yes, there are lots of cattle raised in SD but when it takes that many acres per cow calf pair, the reservation would have to be multiple times bigger for an entire community to sustain itself on that land.

 

And, I agree with the bolded part.

[ShawnWatson]

I lived in South Dakota for five years and have friends who made it off the "Res" as they call it. They work hard as sh#t and basically wish to never live there again.

 

Most of the natives lived in a trailor park in the town that is equal to a ghetto (lived there as well during college).

 

I have no clue what the answer is but something needs to change, and as soon as possible.

 

I will say though, these people could give two sh#ts about a team name. That is more an issue with people that have money and don't want to spend time looking at the real issues.

[sd'sker]

the history of the development of reservations alone is enough to make it near impossible for them to be viable. now there are problems with everything being terribly unfunded (schools, tribal gov't, etc.). and the potential problem of diversity of law cases companies could find themselves in and would rather just avoid. obviously just skimming the surface, but you do not have to dig too deep to understand why reservations are in such rough shape.

 

who knows how to fix it though. how do you get abject poverty to a place of thriving sustainability, while trying to maintain sovereignty? it is truly tragic and one of america's great embarrassments and failures; to just devastate an entire people and then let them be almost completely forgotten.

[StPaulHusker]

I will admit that I am not wholly in tune to everything going on at every reservation in America. But I have made some observations when I have driven through or past them. Or have read about them in the news. The thing I notice is that it all starts with the leadership.

 

I drive through Winnebago, NE every time I visit family in Nebraska. When I was a kid, that place was a hole. The old joke was that they had to call timeouts during football games because they would have to chase stray dogs off of the field.

 

Today, that place puts almost every other small town in the area to shame. Their football field rivals those at Omaha and possibly some in Texas and California. They have a brand new shopping center and a magnificent school and hospital. I realize that a good portion of their money came from casino dollars but still, the leaders of that community saw what Winnebago was and made it into what they wanted it to be.

 

I believe that if anyone wants ideas on how to improve conditions, they need to look there first. Obviously it will not take hold in every part of the US but there is something about how that town is being run that people could learn from.