Washington loses it trademark for team name.

**Brien Jackson** · 06-18-2014, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Captain Silver

I beg to differ. The American Indians are a very, very small minority of the country, have little voice, and most of their world was taken away or destroyed. If they have banded together to fight that name, then it is valid. If they were 10% of the population, it would be changed. "Blackskins" would never fly in this country. Just because an established institution of a sport with a long history has used the name doesn't make it right.

No one protests the other 31 team names. Want to say PC, then I agree the renaming of the Bullets to the Wizard in the NBA was PC. I don't agree the Redskins fit that criteria.

This is still too soft-peddling: "Redskins" is to Native Americans what the N-word is to African Americans. It's really that simple.

**Brien Jackson** · 06-18-2014, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by moose10101

This ruling only applies to the name.

Yeah, my understanding is that the logo is still trademarked, but not the name.

**HoustonRaven** · 06-18-2014, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

The name is offensive, there's no other way to put it. I don't even feel comfortable saying it anymore. I just say Washington.

To a very small minority of people who have misinterpreted the history and lineage of the word. Numerous tribes are totally fine with it.

Even the Smithsonian has weighed in in this, saying it's not a derogatory term.

**HoustonRaven** · 06-18-2014, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Captain Silver

I beg to differ. The American Indians are a very, very small minority of the country, have little voice, and most of their world was taken away or destroyed. If they have banded together to fight that name, then it is valid. If they were 10% of the population, it would be changed. "Blackskins" would never fly in this country. Just because an established institution of a sport with a long history has used the name doesn't make it right.

No one protests the other 31 team names. Want to say PC, then I agree the renaming of the Bullets to the Wizard in the NBA was PC. I don't agree the Redskins fit that criteria.

Not a fungible argument in the least.

**BigPlayReceiver** · 06-18-2014, 11:07 AM

Political correctness or not, Snyder has an incredibly unique opportunity here to rake in even more money, yet he just can't see past his ego.

**bmorecareful** · 06-18-2014, 11:08 AM

I don't think a lot of people's minds are going to be changed on this issue at this point, but then again, I would have said the same thing 10 years ago and I would have been wrong then. Just look at how the winds are changing now.

Having mused on that, it seems very simple to me: no sports team could ever get a trademark application for the name "Washington N-words" approved. The Washington professional football team's name is equivalent.

The only difference is that Native Americans have been historically marginalized to a far, far greater extent than African Americans in this country, mostly by reducing their numbers by outright genocide, and that ethnic group has no national media presence like an NAACP, Al Sharpton, etc. to advocate for them. They are also not relevant as a voting bloc in the way that African Americans are at least outside of Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, etc. are, so politicians feel no need to shoulder their issues.

For these reasons, among others, nationally Native American issues as a whole have gotten virtually no press or public interest. One might argue that the name of a sports team pales in comparison to the importance of "real" issues facing Native Americans (like widespread poverty, alcoholism, and the poor quality of medical care and social services provided by IHS.)

**The Excellector** · 06-18-2014, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

To a very small minority of people who have misinterpreted the history and lineage of the word. Numerous tribes are totally fine with it.

Even the Smithsonian has weighed in in this, saying it's not a derogatory term.

Wow, Native American leaders have been trying to get this name changed for decades, but because the Smithsonian declares that some tribes are fine with it, you know, like some blacks are fine with calling each other nigga, that the word is not offensive to a race?

**Trackmaster** · 06-18-2014, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

To a very small minority of people who have misinterpreted the history and lineage of the word. Numerous tribes are totally fine with it.

Even the Smithsonian has weighed in in this, saying it's not a derogatory term.

So it seems like this ruling doesn't have a lot of teeth. The legitimate market for Reds**** merchandised might face a little bit of increased competition, but I doubt that many people will want to buy shirts that just say the city and name without the other bells and whistles that go along with it. I think that this move was pretty symbolic if nothing else. With all of Dan Snyder's protesting, it looks like he's digging himself in deeper and will go down on "the wrong side of history."

**trailhiker85** · 06-18-2014, 11:12 AM

I can't stand that franchise down there in Landover. Never could, and never will, no matter what they call themselves.

**HoustonRaven** · 06-18-2014, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Wow, Native American leaders have been trying to get this name changed for decades, but because the Smithsonian declares that some tribes are fine with it, you know, like some blacks are fine with calling each other nigga, that the word is not offensive to a race?

A minority of Native American leaders have been trying to get it changed. I'd be happy to site numerous NA leaders who are both fine with it and understand it's true history.

**JustaslowZ06** · 06-18-2014, 11:14 AM

Exactly!!!! It was brought by FIVE individuals. NOT the American Indian Council, which yes guys there is one, sort of like the NAACP only for well Native Americans. NOT but large protests even. This, along with the "Braves" in Atlanta and their tomahawk chop thing they do in the stands, along with Florida State doing the same thing and the dozen's of other ref to Native Americans in sports both professional and collegiate, hell even Rec league and nothing has been deemed "bad", although I do remember the Council trying to get the Braves and Seminoles fans to stop doing the tomahawk chop thing. Their reasoning if I remember correctly, not disrespectful but they were worried it would portray Native Americans in a poor light and considering Native Americans own over half the casino's in this country it would be "Poor for business".

**JustaslowZ06** · 06-18-2014, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Wow, Native American leaders have been trying to get this name changed for decades, but because the Smithsonian declares that some tribes are fine with it, you know, like some blacks are fine with calling each other nigga, that the word is not offensive to a race?

No, they're really not. The Council hasn't spoken on the subject except to say it wont approach it. The "opposition" are a handful of old farts who aren't in the council and just trying to start a riff.

Really don't get it though. They are allowed certain rights and laws that other people are not. Did you guys know Peote is fully legal INSIDE their agreed upon lands, ALONG with Marijuana and actually most other drugs. Little known fact, but the DEA has NO jurisdiction on reservations, neither do "local law enforcement". True story.