A letter to Redskins fans Monday night

[skinsdad62]

Excellent debate on the issue here...Good read

As an outside fan of football in general, I ask myself the question..."Why did it take D Snyder this long to address the naming issue and a call for a Charity to be started?"

Was it because it is getting to hot in the kitchen now?

why did the complaints get louder over the last 2 seasons ? nothing to sell newspapers with ?

 

[skinsdad62]

PR 101, Snyder doesnt give 2 shits about the native americans or anything they've been through...why is he all of a sudden concerned about them after owning the team for 15 years? he isnt, he perceives that the movement for the 'skins to change their name is gaining traction, so he counters with this "see look what i'm doing, i really care"

charity is good and all, but this is just a straight 100% PR move, nothing more, nothing less

says the giant and raven fan

 

[Stymietee]

why did the complaints get louder over the last 2 seasons ? nothing to sell newspapers with ?

Or maybe as people focus on this issue the number who realize that it is indeed a slur is increasing.

 

[Sharkinva]

why did the complaints get louder over the last 2 seasons ? nothing to sell newspapers with ?

Because a new trademark suite was filed. My take is, if there was no legal action this would be a back back back burner issue at best. I mean you hear about Green Peace protesting off shore drilling for years off and on. But it didnt really gain traction until the big offshore oil mess three year ago. Now its a hot topic. Now on this naming thing, Im sure there were and are people who are upset and very offended by the name, but until recently I would say the majority of the world only related the term Redskin to the football team. Now its a hot topic and every one has an opinion. I would be willing to lay odds that half the offended redskins fan who grew up fans of the team had no idea of the negative connotations associated with the name 40 years ago. I admit as a boy coming up if you had asked me what a Redskin was, I would have said its a player on my football team. End of story.

 

[gkekoa]

Redskin is not a slur. It was a term created by the indians to describe themselves. This is according to the head of that department at the Smithsonian.

 

[skinsdad62]

Or maybe as people focus on this issue the number who realize that it is indeed a slur is increasing.

or most people disagree that it is a slur as all the numbers show

 

[Sharkinva]

Or maybe as people focus on this issue the number who realize that it is indeed a slur is increasing.

Sty... the term Devil Dog was actually a slur, coined by Germans in WWII as a disparaging term to refer to US Marines. these days its the highest compliment and taken as a sign of honor. Ten to fifteen years ago, calling some one gay was considered a slur, now.. they own it and are proud to wear it. They even have pride parades. And you can not tell me as a black man in the DC area (I assume you are in DC area) you have not heard young black men refer to other young black men as Dats my ****a. And yes we OWN that word period. My point being, now days... a word can only cause injury if you allow it to.


Side note... I can type every swear word on the planet except the N-word?? I guess in a couple of years we will refer to the team as the Washington R*******.

 

[Stymietee]

Because a new trademark suite was filed. My take is, if there was no legal action this would be a back back back burner issue at best. .

On this point we agree!! It has always been my contention that the trademark lawsuit will be the death Nell for the team name. Two current rulings, the last one involving a potato were both rejected by the USPO. I'm sure that Mr. Snyder is well aware of this and his letter was just the first step to prepare Washington fans for the inevitable.

back back back burner issue...kind of sums up issues not in the interest of the mainstream.

 

[Stymietee]

or most people disagree that it is a slur as all the numbers show

Very little is a slur when it does not directly effect the numbers that you speak of.

 

[Stymietee]

Redskin is not a slur. It was a term created by the indians to describe themselves. This is according to the head of that department at the Smithsonian.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[Sharkinva]

Very little is a slur when it does not directly effect the numbers that you speak of.

So then let me ask you a question Sty. As a boy growing up in what i can only assume were the 50-60s era (having experienced Jim Crow first hand), when you were a child did you consider the team name a slur?? Or did you only get to that point within the last say 25 years??

 

[skinsdad62]

Very little is a slur when it does not directly effect the numbers that you speak of.

i am speaking of american indians and their numbers

 

[Stymietee]

Sty... the term Devil Dog was actually a slur, coined by Germans in WWII as a disparaging term to refer to US Marines. these days its the highest compliment and taken as a sign of honor. Ten to fifteen years ago, calling some one gay was considered a slur, now.. they own it and are proud to wear it. They even have pride parades. And you can not tell me as a black man in the DC area (I assume you are in DC area) you have not heard young black men refer to other young black men as Dats my ****a. And yes we OWN that word period. My point being, now days... a word can only cause injury if you allow it to.


Side note... I can type every swear word on the planet except the N-word?? I guess in a couple of years we will refer to the team as the Washington R*******.

In a way you're making my point, the evolution of terms in language does not stop because we say so. We'll see if this name survives. Maybe the name will become something we all can be proud of and pronounce.

 

[Stymietee]

i am speaking of american indians and their numbers

He visited 26 reservations, 150 differing ones have made the point that it is a slur. I'm willing to bet that (as Shark has made clear) his visit was seen as an opportunity that generations had never seen. What their true feeling are and their words were to take advantage of the opportunity are two vastly different things.

 

[Sharkinva]

In a way you're making my point, the evolution of terms in language does not stop because we say so. We'll see if this name survives. Maybe the name will become something we all can be proud of and pronounce.

Actually I think the name goes away. Because at the end of the day there is a half billion dollar law suite likely waiting to be filed. And when that kind of money is at hand, all thoughts of reality go out the window. And make no mistake, I think this was started by one little old lady who actually was offended by the team name. But it was picked up by a bunch of greedy self serving tribal "leaders" who now see a way to line their pockets. And the only people who will really suffer are fans of the team, the team, and the people they are trying to "protect". Because considering the fact that Native owned Casino's is a multi billion dollar a year industry. And my wife actually works for a multi million dollar Native American owned company that gets first right on alot of serious government contracts, and yet Native Americans as a group are some of the most impoverished people in the country.... I cant bring my self to believe the eventual settlement is going to benefit the people its supposedly going to help.

 

[Sharkinva]

He visited 26 reservations, 150 differing ones have made the point that it is a slur. I'm willing to bet that (as Shark has made clear) his visit was seen as an opportunity that generations had never seen. What their true feeling are and their words were to take advantage of the opportunity are two vastly different things.

So I ask you the same question I asked some one else. If a man offered you a dream job, but it was coming from the man who came over every friday night and screwed your wife (which you are very hurt by). Do you take the job and kindly ask him to stop screwing your wife, or do you tell him to shove his job and demand he stop screwing your wife??

If these Natives americans are so offended by the team name, wouldnt it make their point to refuse any and all aid from the team even if he does change the name??

 

[Stymietee]

So I ask you the same question I asked some one else. If a man offered you a dream job, but it was coming from the man who came over every friday night and screwed your wife (which you are very hurt by). Do you take the job and kindly ask him to stop screwing your wife, or do you tell him to shove his job and demand he stop screwing your wife??

If these Natives americans are so offended by the team name, wouldnt it make their point to refuse any and all aid from the team even if he does change the name??

I take the job, if he is screwing my wife she is no longer that. I would not even ask him to stop because they didn't ask my permission in the first place. I would for as long as I'm there enjoy my dream job but prepare for its' end. There are other women for me to screw!!

On your last point............NO!!

 

[Stymietee]

Actually I think the name goes away. Because at the end of the day there is a half billion dollar law suite likely waiting to be filed. And when that kind of money is at hand, all thoughts of reality go out the window. And make no mistake, I think this was started by one little old lady who actually was offended by the team name. But it was picked up by a bunch of greedy self serving tribal "leaders" who now see a way to line their pockets. And the only people who will really suffer are fans of the team, the team, and the people they are trying to "protect". Because considering the fact that Native owned Casino's is a multi billion dollar a year industry. And my wife actually works for a multi million dollar Native American owned company that gets first right on alot of serious government contracts, and yet Native Americans as a group are some of the most impoverished people in the country.... I cant bring my self to believe the eventual settlement is going to benefit the people its supposedly going to help.

History being what it has been in this country....there's not a lot to argue against in your post.

 

[Sharkinva]

So I guess you missed the question Sty. growing up as a boy, did you think the word Redskin was a slur, or did you come to that realization within the last say 25 years?? I know as a boy I was honored to consider myself a Redskin and would have likely punched some one for calling me a Cowboy.

 

[Stymietee]

So I guess you missed the question Sty. growing up as a boy, did you think the word Redskin was a slur, or did you come to that realization within the last say 25 years?? I know as a boy I was honored to consider myself a Redskin and would have likely punched some one for calling me a Cowboy.

Just took a break, That didn't happen in the last 25 years, I became a Washington fan at approx. 10 years of age, My mom and dad were already fans of the team but instructed my brothers and sisters never to use the team nickname and why. Like many of my generation we played Cowboys and Indians, but not once Cowboys and R__________.