The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Here is my opinion about the term #Redskins as well as actual Natives http://nfldraftdiamonds.com/how-do-actu ... -redskins/

"This is a pretty amazing article . . . that I wrote." Forgive me if I don't get too excited about it. Maybe let the article speak for itself?

What's "amazing" about it?

Deadskins wrote:What's "amazing" about it?

Lmmfao!!! My thoughts exactly!

On facebook it showed that Bruce Allen wrote a letter to the congress. And he kind of told them to shut it and let us be us. It was actually insightful. I don't know how much is subjective with him and Dan Snyder's thoughts are. But still...gonna still be "Redskins" spend your government money on something more important.

http://files.redskins.com/pdf/letter-fr ... -allen.pdf

EA7649 wrote:On facebook it showed that Bruce Allen wrote a letter to the congress. And he kind of told them to shut it and let us be us. It was actually insightful. I don't know how much is subjective with him and Dan Snyder's thoughts are. But still...gonna still be "Redskins" spend your government money on something more important.

http://files.redskins.com/pdf/letter-fr ... -allen.pdf

That's great! Finally, someone sets the record straight.

EA7649 wrote:On facebook it showed that Bruce Allen wrote a letter to the congress. And he kind of told them to shut it and let us be us. It was actually insightful. I don't know how much is subjective with him and Dan Snyder's thoughts are. But still...gonna still be "Redskins" spend your government money on something more important.

http://files.redskins.com/pdf/letter-fr ... -allen.pdf

"Shut it and let us be us" is nsightful? lol.

I think Bruce and Dan just need to go out and prove once and for all that there is nothing wrong with the name Redskins. Here is what I propose. They will hold a banquet for a large group of Native Americans, representatives of several tribes in North America. Bruce and/or Dan will step to a podium and say, "Good evening, Redskins. We're here to explain why we intend to keep our team name. yadda yadda yadda yadda". Afterwards, there will be a meet and greet line where they can shake hands and warmly greet each person with: "Hello, Redskin."

If all goes well, none of the attendees will be offended by the former slur, and Bruce and Dan will have proven once and for all that there is no negative connotation to the name.

So...50 senators signed the letter to the Redskins...

49 Democrats, 1 Independent and NO Republicans...

Why is that?

Could they be busy doing "real" work?

Jeez!!!

fredp45 wrote:So...50 senators signed the letter to the Redskins...

49 Democrats, 1 Independent and NO Republicans...

Why is that?

Could they be busy doing "real" work?

Jeez!!!

Too busy practicing the art of negotiating by saying "no" to everything?

At least they're worrying about something important...

Hard to believe 1/2 the Senate is spending time worrying about the name of a professional football team!

How about a budget?

riggofan wrote:

EA7649 wrote:On facebook it showed that Bruce Allen wrote a letter to the congress. And he kind of told them to shut it and let us be us. It was actually insightful. I don't know how much is subjective with him and Dan Snyder's thoughts are. But still...gonna still be "Redskins" spend your government money on something more important.

http://files.redskins.com/pdf/letter-fr ... -allen.pdf

"Shut it and let us be us" is nsightful? lol.

I think Bruce and Dan just need to go out and prove once and for all that there is nothing wrong with the name Redskins. Here is what I propose. They will hold a banquet for a large group of Native Americans, representatives of several tribes in North America. Bruce and/or Dan will step to a podium and say, "Good evening, Redskins. We're here to explain why we intend to keep our team name. yadda yadda yadda yadda". Afterwards, there will be a meet and greet line where they can shake hands and warmly greet each person with: "Hello, Redskin."

If all goes well, none of the attendees will be offended by the former slur, and Bruce and Dan will have proven once and for all that there is no negative connotation to the name.

The letter was insightful. I was saying that was the purpose. The letter was insightful. Read it for yourself. Rather than be a smart a$$

fredp45 wrote:At least they're worrying about something important...

Hard to believe 1/2 the Senate is spending time worrying about the name of a professional football team!

How about a budget?

I agree that half the senate should be worrying about a budget, for once. They Could take a lesson from the other half that does that already WHILE dictating idiotic letters to sports commissioners about the latest absurd cause du jour.

EA7649 wrote:The letter was insightful. I was saying that was the purpose. The letter was insightful. Read it for yourself. Rather than be a smart a$$

I did read it, and I'm not trying to be a smart a$$. Allen repeated the same arguments the Redskins have always made about the name. I didn't find anything new in there, much less insightful. What was insightful about it?

fredp45 wrote:So...50 senators signed the letter to the Redskins...

49 Democrats, 1 Independent and NO Republicans...

Why is that?

Could they be busy doing "real" work?

Jeez!!!

They aren't looking to distract voters with red herrings.

fredp45 wrote:So...50 senators signed the letter to the Redskins...

49 Democrats, 1 Independent and NO Republicans...

Why is that?

Could they be busy doing "real" work?

Jeez!!!

Why do you find that surprising? When was the last time any of the current Republicans broke ranks on ANYTHING?

I'm not bashing the Republicans btw, just pointing out that they don't roll like that. Say what you want about them, they're organized.

Aside from the stupid and childish comment about "could they be busy doing real work", I agree with your point about the letter being signed only by Democrats. Its a lot easier to dismiss the letter because of that fact.

yupchagee wrote:They aren't looking to distract voters with red herrings.

What a great point. I'm sure the letter was a giant ploy to try to sway the election.

riggofan wrote:

EA7649 wrote:On facebook it showed that Bruce Allen wrote a letter to the congress. And he kind of told them to shut it and let us be us. It was actually insightful. I don't know how much is subjective with him and Dan Snyder's thoughts are. But still...gonna still be "Redskins" spend your government money on something more important.

http://files.redskins.com/pdf/letter-fr ... -allen.pdf

"Shut it and let us be us" is nsightful? lol.

I think Bruce and Dan just need to go out and prove once and for all that there is nothing wrong with the name Redskins. Here is what I propose. They will hold a banquet for a large group of Native Americans, representatives of several tribes in North America. Bruce and/or Dan will step to a podium and say, "Good evening, Redskins. We're here to explain why we intend to keep our team name. yadda yadda yadda yadda". Afterwards, there will be a meet and greet line where they can shake hands and warmly greet each person with: "Hello, Redskin."

If all goes well, none of the attendees will be offended by the former slur, and Bruce and Dan will have proven once and for all that there is no negative connotation to the name.

This doesn't really work, which you can see by proposing the same scenario but replacing "Redskin" with "Indian." "Hello, Indian." How stupid would that be? American Indian is an acceptable name, but it would just be bizarre to greet someone that way.

Or how about the Atlanta Braves? Their name is opposed by far fewer people, but it would be stupid/offensive to have a dinner and then greet everyone afterward saying "Hello, Brave." Or "Hello, Fighting Irish." Etc.

riggofan wrote:

EA7649 wrote:The letter was insightful. I was saying that was the purpose. The letter was insightful. Read it for yourself. Rather than be a smart a$$

I did read it, and I'm not trying to be a smart a$$. Allen repeated the same arguments the Redskins have always made about the name. I didn't find anything new in there, much less insightful. What was insightful about it?

This is what stood out to me:
““redskin” originated as a Native American expression of solidarity by multibal delegations that traveled to Washigton to negotiate Native American national policies. In a scholar of Native Americans words ‘The actual origin of the word (redskins) is entirely benign and reflects more positive aspects of relations between Indians and whites’”
"In 1971 the logo was approved by Native American leaders. A leader Walter “Blackie” Wetzel a former President of the National Congress of American Indians and Chairman of the Blackfeet Nation; words about the logo… It represents the Red Nation and it’s something to be proud of”
"90% of Native Americans don’t find it offensive. Red Mesa High School, Arizona, is the Redskins with our teams logo."

How on earth can anyone think that saying "hello Redskin!" to a Native American is a form of 'greeting' - that's a stupid suggestion

what on earth does that have to do with the name of our franchise - one does not call anyone 'a Redskin' - The Washington Redskins is simply a name of a sports franchise

the players on the Redskins are a part of the franchise they are not going to say "Hi fellow Redskin" to each other ... That is just S T U P I D

SkinsJock wrote:How on earth can anyone think that saying "hello Redskin!" to a Native American is a form of 'greeting' - that's a stupid suggestion

what on earth does that have to do with the name of our franchise - one does not call anyone 'a Redskin' - The Washington Redskins is simply a name of a sports franchise

the players on the Redskins are a part of the franchise they are not going to say "Hi fellow Redskin" to each other ... That is just S T U P I D

Yeah I think it would make that would make it worse...and more controversy and arguments!

yupchagee wrote:

fredp45 wrote:So...50 senators signed the letter to the Redskins...

49 Democrats, 1 Independent and NO Republicans...

Why is that?

Could they be busy doing "real" work?

Jeez!!!

They aren't looking to distract voters with red herrings.

Democrats love to be offended, they work hard at it

I find it a bit disconcerting that this crap keeps coming up. I find it more than completely disingenuous to in any way compare the Donald Sterling situation (whether you're talking about the recording in a vacuum or about the totality of Sterling's way of dealing with people over the entirety of his life) to our team's name. One has actually brought harm, insult and actively seeks to discredit, belittle and take advantage of minorities. The other one apparently became offensive 5 minutes ago.

Words have meaning and usage matters. I don't care what a dictionary's definition may say (e.g. the word sinister literally translates to of or on, the left or having to do with being left handed. Who in the world thinks of that when they hear sinister?), how a word is used matters. If you're in a bar, and say "Hey, look at that redskin!"; is anyone either turning around expecting a person of native american descent or chastising you for slander? Lemme answer that one, hell no. They're looking for a member of our football team, because that is the usage that is ubiquitous. No matter how many senators take 4 seconds out of their day to sign a letter, nor how many actually offended native american's fight against it, the fact of the matter is usage trumps.

This, coincidentally, is why the argument that redskin is like the n word is the biggest crock i've ever heard and is actually insulting to me.

Well put! -and great analogy!

emoses14 wrote:This, coincidentally, is why the argument that redskin is like the n word is the biggest crock i've ever heard and is actually insulting to me.

It is a crock. Most Indians are fine with the team name, no blacks would be OK with it. In fact, almost the exact percentage are against the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Chiefs as the Washington Redskins. There are even Indian schools that use the term.

A good rule in life is not to take offense when none is intended. This would be just such a case.