A little friday debate.... read and respond

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 2:52 pm

http://www.bangornews.com/editorialnews ... /ID/419907

General Failure · Post by **General Failure** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:02 pm

We live in a curiously impolite era. We know no new sporting team in this country -whether spawned to give identity to a new grade school, college or amateur team, or to promote the creation of a new professional enterprise - that would dare feature a mascot or logo with a direct racial or ethnic theme. And, of course, no one would seriously contemplate a design that would clearly be offensive to the Black, Hispanic, Jewish communities, etc.

I guess this is okay though.

HardcoreFan · Post by **HardcoreFan** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:07 pm

If the name were changed, there would be more unhappy fans than happy Indians. I think it's a small percantage of Native Americans that are actually offended.

surferskin · Post by **surferskin** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:14 pm

i would be furious if they changed the name :explode:

gibbsfan · Post by **gibbsfan** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:19 pm

it seems that this deal with the indians about the redskins name will keep on going. the redskins will always be the redskins.

this has been going on for quite some time and i don,t think that it will change either.

surferskin · Post by **surferskin** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:27 pm

it's just silly that people still talk about this. when someone says "redskins" people don't think it's a racial slur, they think of the washington redskins. it's been the teams name for 70+ years now and to change the name would like changing the name of the washington bullets...bad example :oops:

. but the point is anyone that gets offended is just being too hyper-sensitive. if anything it's a tribute to native americans. the redskin's are warriors! i can't stand all this political correctness. people need to stop always thinking the worst when someone says or does something and give them the benifit of the doubt. long live the redskins!!!

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:33 pm

If I was a Native American, I would be pretty proud of the Redskins and PO'd at this:

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:37 pm

I totally agree - I read somewhere it's a small percentage of native americans who are offended. If they change the name I'll be pissed too.

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:37 pm

PS - I don't think they ever will either!

Wysocki · Post by **Wysocki** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:45 pm

I took a trip to the Everglades last year and I asked the guides (Seminole descendants) if they were offended by the name Washington Redskins (along with the various symbols) and every one of them were proud of the name and were not offended...

SkinsChic · Post by **SkinsChic** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:02 pm

Way to go Jake....I agree !

NJ SKINSFAN · Post by **NJ SKINSFAN** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:03 pm

It's just another cause for the bleeding heart liberals. When any of the fans say the name Washington redskins we do not use it as a racial slur. we are proud of the name when we say, we think of them as warriors. We are certainly not trying to insult native americans.

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:04 pm

I read something to that effect before... There's one lady in the DC area who is behind the annual ban the name campaign. It's ridiculous when one person with money trys to speak for a group when the majority of that group doesn't find it offensive.

That's politics for ya though....

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:09 pm

Yeah, at least our logo is a noble Native American figure, unlike Chief Wahoo.

I will agree that the namesake is offensive to some, but when is the last time you called someone a Redskin out of anger? Never? Me too.

General Failure · Post by **General Failure** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:11 pm

When was the last time you saw someone could could call a redskin out of anger? Maybe if you were at a casino or something ...

Champsturf · Post by **Champsturf** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:19 pm

The subject of that article is ludicrous. I don't know for a fact, but I seriously doubt any kind of majority of any Native American tribe/group is offended by our beloved team's name. Our helmets feature a proud Indian warrior. The Native American obviously was here before the white man and took MUCH better care of this beautiful country. I think the name "Redskins" is a tribute to a great people that were treated with the utmost disrespect as the white man moved in. If anything, I think that our teams name and others like it insure that we will never forget what the white man did and who's land this really is. I t keeps our youth understanding a little bit of their culture. It may not always be represented properly, but it may cause a little interest and some people may try to learn more about the Native American.

The fact that this is still a topic of debate is absurd. Our society has become entirely too "politically correct." I am against racism, but acknowledging another persons culture/heritage is not racist when done in a proper manner. These liberals have much more important issues to worry about than how a sporting team's name/mascot may/may not be offensive to an entirely different group of people other than they are a part of.

In other words, sit down and shut up!

General Failure · Post by **General Failure** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:21 pm

The Fighting Whites basketball team

NC43Hog · Post by **NC43Hog** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:24 pm

Jake wrote:If I was a Native American, I would be pretty proud of the Redskins and PO'd at this:

Very true Jake - the Redskins honor the Warrior Indian and don't make fun of him with a stereotypical characature.

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:26 pm

Our objective as students was to make a straightforward statement using humor; to promote cultural awareness through satire. Now that national attention has come to us, we hope that our message will reach a wider audience. As a part of our involvement in this ongoing issue, we have formed the Fighting Whites Scholarship Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, the profits of which will go entirely to support the education of Native American students.

That's a positive spin on it all. Good for these guys... Good find!

frankcal20 · Post by **frankcal20** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:26 pm

Ive seen debates on this on CNN and there wasnt any problems with the name but they did want to receive royalties. Now i think that is kind of crazy. I think that was full of crap. You dont see real cowboys in texas going to court saying that they are defacing the name of cowboys.

General Failure · Post by **General Failure** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:37 pm

Well, they do have that mascot. He looks kind of funny ...

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:39 pm

Champsturf wrote: If anything, I think that our teams name and others like it insure that we will never forget what the white man did and who's land this really is. I t keeps our youth understanding a little bit of their culture. It may not always be represented properly, but it may cause a little interest and some people may try to learn more about the Native American.

In other words, sit down and shut up!

i was going to stay out of this argument, because, 'bleeding heart liberal' or not, i don't think it's my place (white american male) to decide what's offensive to another culture. but this is a most ridiculous argument. that's like saying that calling a team 'The Negroes' (or worse) would promote education of black history in this country. and you could further argue that 'The Negroes' only represent the honorable and glorious struggle that blacks have fought against racism. i don't buy it. 'redskin' is a racial slur, and that's a fact. it places the emphasis on the color of someone's skin. that may not be important. what's important is whether enough people find it offensive to change it. that, obviously, hasn't happened.

can anyone honestly tell me that if a new team were started called the 'Blackskins' that there would not be outrage from all corners of the country? and that the name would not be changed? i doubt it.

Champsturf · Post by **Champsturf** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:56 pm

You missed my ponit entirely joe. This is THEIR country, not ours. Black, white, or any other ethniticy is not where is was going with that. I think Cheif Wayoo or whatever his name is a disgrace. Our sheild/emblem or whatever shows honor and respect. My point was that this country was invaded and I think the people that came up with these names in this country saw what a great people with honor, pride, and loyalty we tried to extinguish. They also saw that they were great warriors with great pride. I think these names honor, not disrespect the Native American.
To me, a team called the blackskins or te whiteskins is stupid and shows more disrespect to the Native Americans. I think it would be mocking a great people. The black man and the white man aren't native to this country. Frankly, I am very ashamed of a lot of what the white man has done to ruin this country and other races.
I am not one for political correctness, just respect. I think the two are completely different.

TopHawg · Post by **TopHawg** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:58 pm

Maybe it is impolite but so is cutting someone off on the highway, so why don't they write an article about that? I'll tell you why because that doesn't make money. What does make money today is being offended. So the Native americans act offended so they can sue all the teams for using them as mascots. no-one is really offended, They just need money to fund their casinos. Now I don't blame them for using it to their advantage, I would but being a hawaiian none of us would care. which brings me to my next point, Why doesn't everybody sue team mascots? Why don't white people sue "Americas Team" the cowboys for portraying white amerca as a bunch of gun toting...cowboys. Because nobody cares b/c they don't need the money.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:59 pm

can anyone honestly tell me that if a new team were started called the 'Blackskins' that there would not be outrage from all corners of the country?

Perhaps... how about a team called the "Atlanta Black Crackers"? Insulted yet? You think there might be some outrage there? Of course, they were only the 1938 Negro American League champions, so they might not count.

BTW, when do we start hearing complaints about the Fightin' Irish?