WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 18 (DPI) — The mayor of Washington, D.C, earlier this month reignited an old controversy over the antiquated, politically incorrect name of the city’s NFL football team, declaring that any plans to build a football stadium in the city would require a name other than “Redskins.”
But the fury subsided quickly. The team, through its website, ignored the matter as columnists and sportswriters on Washingtonpost.com did their best to keep it alive. One columnist suggested, in a nod to continuity, a name change to simply “The Washington Skins.” Another writer took star quarterback Robert Griffin III to task for not weighing in on the matter – which prompted nearly 2500 mostly comments, most of which were unsupportive of the columnist.
In fact, online replies and comments seemed to drive the quashing of the matter, as hundreds of posters said there were more important things to howl about, and that many Native Americans were not offended at all by references to them in names of pro sports teams.
One reply: “You (sportswriters) always tell these stories about American Indians on reservations telling you they hate the name , for everyone of those guys there are those who think the name honors them, that it reminds Americans of who the original Americans were.
“Everyone is way too sensitive these days. Y ou can’t even walk across the street without worrying about offending someone. Lighten up, it’s a football team, No one is using it as a racist slur, no one but you tired … (columnists) on a slow news day. Robert Griffin III would be crazy to be the face of your … campaign, he probably respects the history of the name and the franchise. Please give it up. It is so tired.”
Other replies cited multiple surveys, and their own experiences, suggesting that most Native Americans are in fact proud of the use of the name “Redskins.”
One example from WashingtonPost.com comments: “A few years ago my grown son, who lives next to a Ute reservation in Colorado, asked me to send him a Skins sweatshirt. When I asked him about PC/sensitivity, he told me the Utes, by-and-large, either wear Redskins or Steelers gear.”