Right. You’re illustrating my other point for me. The issue isn’t black-and-white, and there are those with valid points on both sides of the issue. Yours is a good illustration of the other side.
My opinion? I’m a white guy. My opinion should be irrelevant. Hold a vote on native american tribal lands. Let the majority speak.
(EDIT: Side note, the New York Giants was the name of both a professional baseball and football team for around 30 years or so. Outside of potential trademark issues, having teams from two different sports sharing the same name isn’t without precedent.)
It was always offensive to you. And it is offensive to many Native Americans. But not all of them. That’s the point I’m trying to make. The Washington Post reported that as many as 90% of Native Americans aren’t offended by the name at all, though another poll a few years later claims that it’s closer to a 50/50 split. You have the right to be offended by the name, but your opinion does not reflect large chunks of the Native American population.
Again, I think the best way to solve the problem is to ask them. Get tribal leaders from across the country. Hold a vote. Whatever. Ask them. “What name can we give this football team that would honor our country’s Native Americans?”. I don’t know what that answer is. Maybe there isn’t a good one. I don’t know. Maybe the solution is to have a more generic name for the team itself, but keep the logo. But at the end, I believe in two things: (1) Native Americans should have much more of a say in the issue, and (2) Please, please, anything but Commanders. My god, that name is awful.
Right. You’re illustrating my other point for me. The issue isn’t black-and-white, and there are those with valid points on both sides of the issue. Yours is a good illustration of the other side.
My opinion? I’m a white guy. My opinion should be irrelevant. Hold a vote on native american tribal lands. Let the majority speak.
(EDIT: Side note, the New York Giants was the name of both a professional baseball and football team for around 30 years or so. Outside of potential trademark issues, having teams from two different sports sharing the same name isn’t without precedent.)
No, you can hem and haw about the other team names. But “Redskins” was always offensive, unless you were taking about potatoes.
It was always offensive to you. And it is offensive to many Native Americans. But not all of them. That’s the point I’m trying to make. The Washington Post reported that as many as 90% of Native Americans aren’t offended by the name at all, though another poll a few years later claims that it’s closer to a 50/50 split. You have the right to be offended by the name, but your opinion does not reflect large chunks of the Native American population.
Again, I think the best way to solve the problem is to ask them. Get tribal leaders from across the country. Hold a vote. Whatever. Ask them. “What name can we give this football team that would honor our country’s Native Americans?”. I don’t know what that answer is. Maybe there isn’t a good one. I don’t know. Maybe the solution is to have a more generic name for the team itself, but keep the logo. But at the end, I believe in two things: (1) Native Americans should have much more of a say in the issue, and (2) Please, please, anything but Commanders. My god, that name is awful.