Unbelievable: FCC to consider banning to the name Redskins

[jeffro151]

FCC considering move to ban NFL Redskins team name

The Federal Communications Commission is considering whether to punish broadcasters for using the moniker of the Washington NFL team, the Redskins, a word many consider a slur to Native Americans, the agency's chairman indicated on Tuesday.

The FCC, which enforces broadcast indecency violations, has received a petition from legal activist John Banzhaf III, asking that regulators strip local radio station WWXX-FM of its broadcasting license when it comes up for renewal for using the name "Redskins."

Banzhaf says the word is racist, derogatory, profane and hateful, making its use "akin to broadcasting obscenity."

"We'll be looking at that petition, we will be dealing with that issue on the merits and we'll be responding accordingly," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told reporters.

"There are a lot of names and descriptions that were used over time that are inappropriate today. And I think the name that is attributed to the Washington football club is one of those," Wheeler added.


Source: Amazon.com

The Federal Communications Commission is considering whether to punish broadcasters for using the moniker of the Washington NFL team, the Redskins, a word many consider a slur to Native Americans, the agency's chairman indicated on Tuesday.

The FCC, which enforces broadcast indecency violations, has received a petition from legal activist John Banzhaf III, asking that regulators strip local radio station WWXX-FM of its broadcasting license when it comes up for renewal for using the name "Redskins."

Banzhaf says the word is racist, derogatory, profane and hateful, making its use "akin to broadcasting obscenity."

Read More US Patent Office cancels Redskins trademark registration

"We'll be looking at that petition, we will be dealing with that issue on the merits and we'll be responding accordingly," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told reporters.

"There are a lot of names and descriptions that were used over time that are inappropriate today. And I think the name that is attributed to the Washington football club is one of those," Wheeler added.

The FCC could formally deem use of the team name to be indecent, and thus impose a de facto ban on it on over-the-air television and radio.

Despite protests, vigorous lobbying and even intervention from President Barack Obama, team owner Daniel Snyder has vowed not to change the name of his National Football League team.

Some TV football analysts, including CBS' Phil Simms and Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, have said they will no longer use the term Redskins. On the other side, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, a Hall of Famer, says the issue is "so stupid it's appalling."

Half of the U.S. Senate asked the NFL to endorse a name change and the Washington Post editorial board has also said it will stop using the team's name, although it will still be used in the rest of the paper, including the sports section.

In June, a panel of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office canceled the team's trademark registration because it considers its name and logo disparaging. The team has appealed the decision in federal court.

 

[starbigd]

Ha!......have you seen the new tshirts they've printed up?

 

[SteveDallas]

The most offensive part of this story is the fact "we the people pay these idiots salary.

 

[jeffro151]

Ha!......have you seen the new tshirts they've printed up?

Not offended one bit by this.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

How come this kind of scrutiny only applies to the football team? Why aren't they going after other brand names like Redman Chewing tobacco? Oh that's right, because the people leading this charge are a punch of self-righteous pussy turd-burglars who would rather score brownie points and make headlines with their actions than actually contribute to society and do something useful.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

This is simply ridiculous.

 

[cowboycolors]

well you have to remember this is coming from the "Forgot Commonsense Commission"

completely stupid

 

[Nooone]

Im also offended by the following team names:

The Browns- I MEAN SERIOUSLY, TALK ABOUT A RACIAL SLUR
The Giants- So offensive to actual Giants
The Vikings- Unbelievable
The Cowboys- So offensive to actual cowboys
The Chiefs- Awful
The Raiders- Even worse
The Patriots- Seriously, how are non-americans supposed to feel comfortable with this team in the NFL?

 

[Cave_Johnson]

How come this kind of scrutiny only applies to the football team? Why aren't they going after other brand names like Redman Chewing tobacco? Oh that's right, because the people leading this charge are a punch of self-righteous pussy turd-burglars who would rather score brownie points and make headlines with their actions than actually contribute to society and do something useful.

*bunch. God dammit.

 

[fordman84]

How come this kind of scrutiny only applies to the football team? Why aren't they going after other brand names like Redman Chewing tobacco? Oh that's right, because the people leading this charge are a punch of self-righteous pussy turd-burglars who would rather score brownie points and make headlines with their actions than actually contribute to society and do something useful.

as a habitual vandalizer, I'm offended by your college team. I demand change!

 

[fordman84]

Im also offended by the following team names:

The Browns- I MEAN SERIOUSLY, TALK ABOUT A RACIAL SLUR
The Giants- So offensive to actual Giants
The Vikings- Unbelievable
The Cowboys- So offensive to actual cowboys
The Chiefs- Awful
The Raiders- Even worse
The Patriots- Seriously, how are non-americans supposed to feel comfortable with this team in the NFL?

Surprised PETA hasn't started petitioning for the poor, helpless animals that are having their likeness profited off of.

 

[Lemon Harang Pie]

Surprised PETA hasn't started petitioning for the poor, helpless animals that are having their likeness profited off of.

I'm waiting for the blind to start filing suits against teams named after colors.

 

[TxHeat]

As I said in a related thread, the FCC should get their nose out of the NFL and regulate what they are supposed to. I'd prefer they investigate all the fees/taxes the cellphone and cable companies add to your bill, which is almost a page of charges.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Ha!......have you seen the new tshirts they've printed up?

I will first state that the word Redskin means nothing to me. When I say it, I do not think badly upon Native Americans. I do not even associate the word Redskin to Native Americans. I see it as a sports logo and a mascot, as simple as that.

However, the shirt you show, while funny, is more closely associated from Caucasians to Native Americans. If we were calling the Redskins, the Washington Native Americans, I doubt you would see much outcry.

I think the Native Americans feel this use of the word Redskins is more closely related to the word N*ggers. Which I think we can all agree is a word that is easily no longer accepted, nor should it be. How many African American people would be up in arms if the team name was the Washington N*ggers? I think there may be an issue at that point.

So say what you want, but if you were a Native American who lived through a few centuries of being called Redskins and it being a derogatory meaning, then you may feel differently. I think the world is becoming to "PC", but on the other hand, I can't fault a group of people from doing everything they can inside the laws of the United States to have the team change its name.

 

[Money]

Snyder won't change the name because it's the only way he can keep that sad excuse of a franchise relevant in the news.

4 games in and yet another season down the shitter for them.

 

[NorthCoastSteelersFan]

Dear Mr. Wheeler:

Please resign immediately. That you would give this frivolous petition ANY consideration is proof-positive that you are incompetent.

Regardless of whether some people regard "Redskins" as a racial slur, it happens to be the actual name of a nationally known sports team. To broadcast it, when making reference to the team, is not akin to broadcasting obscenity. Anyone who wasn't brain-dead would know this...and since you obviously don't, you need to go.

Thank you for your attention, and your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,
Every American whose brain hasn't been rendered inert by political correctness.





P.S.: If the foregoing message sailed over your head, we'll rephrase it.......
QUIT YOUR JOB AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL, YOU FUCKING DIPSHIT ! ! !

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Dear Mr. Wheeler:

Please resign immediately. That you would give this frivolous petition ANY consideration is proof-positive that you are incompetent.

Regardless of whether some people regard "Redskins" as a racial slur, it happens to be the actual name of a nationally known sports team. To broadcast it, when making reference to the team, is not akin to broadcasting obscenity. Anyone who wasn't brain-dead would know this...and since you obviously don't, you need to go.

Thank you for your attention, and your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,
Every American whose brain hasn't been rendered inert by political correctness.

P.S.: If the foregoing message sailed over your head, we'll rephrase it.......
QUIT YOUR JOB AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL, YOU FUCKING DIPSHIT ! ! !

What if every politician took the same stance regardless of the topic? Be pretty worthless electing anyone at that point wouldn't it? He has an obligation to review the petition, analyze the data and make an informed decision based on the good of the people in general.

I don't think it is fair to penalize the networks for saying the legal name of the team, as incorporated though. The media didn't make the name. They are just saying the given name of the team. It would be more correct to go after Snyder, and the NFL than it would the media, but on the same token, they have tried and tried to go after the NFL, and they have little to show for it, so they are finding loop holes to force the NFL's hand.

From a business perspective, Daniel Snyder is an idiot. He should take this moment, to not only endear himself to the Native American people and make the team more PC (great publicity as it would put Washington in the news on a regular basis for a while during this stage), but it also allows Snyder to rebrand the organization, sell all new merchandise to consumers, and potential sell naming rights to things for a higher price, as no company would have to worry about alienating themselves from possible consumers due to sponsoring the Redskins, but perhaps the Washington Arrows, or the Washington whatevers.

Fans of the team would not jump ship, they would stay put, as they are fans of that franchise, not the name of it. Those same fans would have to repurchase all new merchandise and jerseys to fulfill their needs as fans.

Snyder could also sell off the rest of the merchandise at a discount of course for fans wanting the old attire to collect as memorabilia.

As a business standpoint, Snyder is a complete idiot.

 

[NorthCoastSteelersFan]

What if every politician took the same stance regardless of the topic? Be pretty worthless electing anyone at that point wouldn't it? He has an obligation to review the petition, analyze the data and make an informed decision based on the good of the people in general.

Wheeler is not an elected official...he's a bureaucrat.

And the petition is frivolous on its face. Calling a team by its actual name is NEVER a violation of the broadcasting regs.

If a guy's last name was "Ni*ger," or even "Motherfucker" (as unlikely as that may be), and he did something newsworthy, it would not be a broadcasting violation to identify him by name on TV. Though of course, one might expect the newscaster to warn viewers that the next story contained highly offensive language.

 

[dkmightyhammer]

I think the Native Americans feel this use of the word Redskins is more closely related to the word N*ggers. Which I think we can all agree is a word that is easily no longer accepted, nor should it be. How many African American people would be up in arms if the team name was the Washington N*ggers? I think there may be an issue at that point.

I would bet all of them would be mad as hell, but then a large percentage of them would throw on some D12, Snoop, 50cent, etc and happily sing the word a few hundred times. Honestly I don't think people have much issue with some of these words, its more about what context they are used in. Then there are the busy-body types who just looooove to stick their noses into everything and force other's to do what they think is right. Is "Redskins" racist? Probably at its basest level it is racist, but is it being used in a racist way with Washington's football team? No chance. That's why these types of arguments bug me, they just seem like they are making something out of nothing.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Im also offended by the following team names:

The Browns- I MEAN SERIOUSLY, TALK ABOUT A RACIAL SLUR
The Giants- So offensive to actual Giants
The Vikings- Unbelievable
The Cowboys- So offensive to actual cowboys
The Chiefs- Awful
The Raiders- Even worse
The Patriots- Seriously, how are non-americans supposed to feel comfortable with this team in the NFL?

The one that gets me is the Fighting Irish. It's clearly depicting all Irishmen as bearded midgets who are always looking to get into a fight ( most likely because they're always drunk).