Native Americans go on the warpath and tackle the Redskins

[babsbunny]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/native-americans-go-on-the-warpath-and-tackle-the-redskins-1790712.html

Washington football team faces Supreme Court battle to retain "offensive" name

By Guy Adams in Los Angeles

Monday, 21 September 2009

Opposition to President Obama isn't the only subject that has Washington mulling over thorny issues of race and bigotry. As the new American Football season hits its stride, the city's beloved team, The Redskins, is being taken to the Supreme Court over its allegedly-offensive name.

A group of Native Americans have filed a legal challenge against a trademark the club owns over "Redskins." They claim to find the term offensive and disparaging – and say it should not, therefore, be entitled to any form of commercial protection under US law. For a name to come before the nation's highest court may sound comically petty. Yet the case is quite the reverse. It pits the future of a billion-dollar sports franchise
against the grievances of a people whose historic mistreatment represents a stain on the national conscience.

[johnnie]

1. They should just change their insignia

[Captain Hilts]

2. Survey: Only 10% of Native Americans find the name offensive

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6093796/

This follows previous surveys that showed the logos for the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Redskins positively received by native groups.

The Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians logos were seen as offensive.

[Johonny]

7. I've read that before

It's interesting

[Captain Hilts]

11. It follows survey results from 2000. I was doing survey research in Native areas at that time...

about a different topic, so I was scouting some of these things for survey language.

It's interesting to note that most of the folks I spoke to called themselves 'Indians'. I remember one was related to one of the Marines' code talkers. How cool is that?

[paulsby]

15. me too

i have several friends in the wampanoag trial and all of them prefer the term "indian" to native american.

[Seldona]

3. That is perhaps the single most racist title I've ever seen.

I realize it isn't the op that titled the article, but Guy Adams seems like an idiot.

[Jamastiene]

8. +1

[Maru Kitteh]

16. +2

[dana_b]

4. comment under the article:

"I watched the game between the St. Louis Rams and the Washington Hateskins on Sunday. One of the peculiarly offensive images shown was at half time when the Hateskins band mached onto the field, each wearing an elaborate headdress made of burgandy and gold feathers. Ouch. FYI, I am from the Blackfeet Tribe and in our tradition, only revered leaders wear full headdresses and only those who do deeds of honor are awarded eagle feathers. This happens today--tribal members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are awarded eagle feathers. When our tribal leaders are sworn in, they wear a headdress. This is not a costume or some prop from a bygone era. This happens today. I am appalled and offended to see these important cultural symbols portrayed as mere costumes by the band members and worse, caricatured by "Chief Zima." This name is offensive and needs to be changed!"

Change the name.

[bobbolink]

17. Thank you. R-E-S-P-E-C-T It's a very simple concept.

Changing a name isn't a life-or-death issue. It's very easy to do.

Just plain insensitive stubbornness to refuse to do so.

[madamesilverspurs]

5. Team spirit

http://www.cafepress.com/fightinwhite/107




Go here to read about Solomon Little Owl. He was our candidate for the state senate; the seat went, instead, to Scott Renfroe who is not known for his charitable opinions of those who are not just like him.

http://www.unco.edu/NASS/staff.html

[buzzycrumbhunger]

6. Turnabout's fair play

Best comeback I've seen is the http://www.fightingwhites.org/">University of Northern Colorado's Fightin' Whites. Whilst I agree that Native Americans have reason to be pissed (what other minority has been co-opted this way?), IMHO humor is a superior weapon to endless outrage.






ETA a crap--someone beat me to it! :)

[madamesilverspurs]

9. S'okay, I live here,

check out the info I just added.

[jberryhill]

12. Why reach that far....

[Neecy]

10. I've wondered about this

I think that it's pretty shameful that a sports team in our nation's capital has such an in-your-face racist name. It's disgusting anywhere, of course, but particularly in DC.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. The name is not offensive at all. Nor is the logo. Wanna see offensive? Look here:

[Iggo]

18. edit

life is wonderful.

[imdjh]

14. Oh gee, is it Fall already? Don't we do this every year? nt