Theres a really great Washington Post feature on what different people think about the Washington football team name: washingtonpost/wp-srv/special/sports/redskins-name-opinions/ Great quote by Native American Bill Wetzel: Right now, anybody still fighting for it, theyre on the wrong side of history.” Also Oneida Indian Nation of New York representative Ray Halbritter: I learned what ‘redskin’ means through my family — and specifically, through the experience of seeing them left to die by a local fire department that didnt think it was their responsibility to help us because we are Native Americans. ...They saw us as redskins.” Also this video by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation: https://youtube/watch?v=mR-tbOxlhvE Also from American Samoan delegate to Congress Eni Faleomavageo: “It is a racist, derogatory term, and patently offensive to Native Americans.” Also Suzan Harjo, the Native American woman who was the lead plaintiff in the first trademark lawsuit against the team: ‘We are honoring you,’ they say. ‘No, youre not,’ we reply. ‘Shut up,’ they say. Thats pretty much the divide for 17 years.” Also, theres a bunch of great solidarity from black leaders who know a bit about being on the receiving end of slurs: Also Michael Wilbon: Redskin is like using the N-word to African American people, okay? Lets not mince our words here.” Also Marion Barry: I do note that most of the people who dont want to change the name havent been the subject of slurs. Walk in our shoes to know how it feels, reads one tweet. Another: Why do these Whiteskins on twitter get so angry when someone challenges them on their cont. use of Redskins slur? Doesnt sound nice does it? Or former wide receiver Art Monk: If “Native Americans feel like Redskins or the Chiefs or [another] name is offensive to them, then who are we to say to them ‘No, its not’?” Or Tony Dungy: “I hope Daniel Snyder does reconsider and change it. The Redskins nickname is offensive to Native Americans. In 2013, we need to get that name changed. . . . We need to do that. I hope Snyder changes his mind.” But then again, theres a lot of really passionate opinions in the opposite direction from a bunch of white guys who arent offended and think people like Tony Dungy are in the business of finding things to be offended by, (Bill James) people like Art Monk dont understand the history and tradition of the Washington football team (Scott York) and people like Suzan Harjo and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation are stupid people. (Don Geronimo). I think we should go with the actual Native Americans on this one. In the words of Mike Carey, the recently-retired NFL referee (and first black referee to officiate a Super Bowl) who respectfully, privately asked to not referee D.C. games due to the disrespectful name: In America, we’ve learned that respect is the most important thing that you have. I learned it from my parents, my schools, from my faith. And when you learn there’s something that might not be as respectful as you like, when you come to terms with it, you have to do something about it.” (see: washingtonpost/sports/redskins/mike-carey-longtime-nfl-referee-avoided-washingtons-games-because-of-the-name/2014/08/20/d6dae602-27b2-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_story.html) The name isnt bad because its offensive. Native Americans like Ray Halbritter arent offended by the name -- theyre too thick-skinned for that. The name is bad because its disrespectful. And if youre disrespected by something, you should stand up and fight back. Thats what Native Americans, like Halbritter and Suzan Harjo, are doing with the Change the Mascot campaign...standing up for respect. We in D.C. shouldnt stand with thin-skinned, overly-sensitive millionaires like Dan Snyder who are offended by the campaign... we should stand with respect. #HTTPigskins
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 03:36:55 +0000
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