Washington loses it trademark for team name.

[JimZipCode]

Not a fungible argument in the least.

Fungible?

[JustaslowZ06]

"Fighting Irish" doesn't have any reference to drunks or bars. Is that how you think of Irish people?

Considering I'm 100% Irish, well 75% yeah Im allowed to be offended. Everyone knows EXACTLY what it means. Or I should say, just as close as to what "Redskins" mean. How about them apples?

[Captain Offense]

Wow what a thread !!

I am always of the opinion that when it comes to a business, it rises or falls on the market. If it offends and people do not buy, then it has a business decision to make. Sell to the 15 people that agree with you or change and expand the market.

As I also tell clients, nobody impacts or upsets you any more than you let them. You control your emotions and your response.

And if they do change the name, how can I refer to D.C. as the Deadskins anymore (Or another term that offends people)?

[Brien Jackson]

Considering I'm 100% Irish, well 75% yeah Im allowed to be offended. Everyone knows EXACTLY what it means. Or I should say, just as close as to what "Redskins" mean. How about them apples?

Indeed: It's a reference to the Irish-Catholic nature of the institution, combined with "fighting," a fairly common modifier sports teams use to denote their program's spirit and tenacity. Any other inane arguments?

[JustaslowZ06]

/facepalm

Oh lighten up Nancy. Was just trying to lighten the subject. They own half the casinos, can pretty much di we they want on their land, which is far more freedoms than regular Americans enjoy, so what are the complaining about? Lol. For a people that were invaded and lost a war I'd say they're actually doing pretty good. We've done, and history has, far worse to the losers and spoils of war. Lol

Edit: Ask the French. If it wasn't for their bread and wine their lineage would've been wiped out long ago.

[GOTA]

More politically correct nonsense.

Yup. When are they going to start going after the Cleveland Indians, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Atlanta Braves etc....

[GOTA]

St. John's "Redmen" changed their name to "Red Storm" some years ago. I'm not politically correct, but I think it's time for a name change in D. C. A new logo might spark more sales of NFL stuff anyway... Bc

That was equally insane because Redmen referred to the color of their jackets. It's just like the Syracuse Orangemen. Can you imagine they became the Orange Storm because those who used spray tan complained?

[HotInHere]

I'll ask again.

Question for those who are in favor of changing the name; Should we change the name of Oklahoma as well?

Has "Oklahoma" been used in a derogatory way, ever? No? Then no.

Here's the difference:

Take a term like "Gaels," a popular sports nickname including a couple local high schools. It started out as another term, a way to describe people of Scots-Irish descent. While it may not be a vogue term anymore, it never became commonly used in a derogatory way. There is not a group of people of Scots-Irish descent who are offended by the term Gael.

Conversely, words like "redskin" and "nigger" started out a simple descriptors to refer to a race of people. Over time however, they because used in demeaning and derogatory ways. Once this usage becomes commonplace, you can no longer play the "well I said it, but I didn't mean it in a derogatory way" game.

There is a wealth of evidence that Redskins was and has been a derogatory term for quite some time. It is not one or two Native Americans who are offended by it. It is a significant number of people. It is these two factors: accepted and common use in a derogatory way over a long period of time, and a significant group that is offended by such usage, that are the determining factors. And "Oklahoma" has neither.

Maybe the bigger question is why it's such a problem to change the name? Does the 'heritage' of a group of football fans matter more? We got robbed of a lot more than a name here in Baltimore, and yet we seem to be doing quite well loving our Ravens. Can't we just change the freaking name and move on?

[JustaslowZ06]

Indeed: It's a reference to the Irish-Catholic nature of the institution, combined with "fighting," a fairly common modifier sports teams use to denote their program's spirit and tenacity. Any other inane arguments?

Seriously?

[Brien Jackson]

Oh lighten up Nancy. Was just trying to lighten the subject. They own half the casinos, can pretty much di we they want on their land, which is far more freedoms than regular Americans enjoy, so what are the complaining about? Lol. For a people that were invaded and lost a war I'd say they're actually doing pretty good. We've done, and history has, far worse to the losers and spoils of war. Lol

Edit: Ask the French. If it wasn't for their bread and wine their lineage would've been wiped out long ago.

Yeah, they've got "more freedom" than everyone else. I suppose it's not like there's any sort of unique history or anything that lends itself to their different legal standing or anything.

[HotInHere]

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.

Incorrect.

28. On January 18-19, 1993 NCAI passed resolution 93-11 which reads in pertinent part:
NCAI is the oldest and largest intertribal organization nationwide representative of and advocate for national, regional, and local tribal concerns; ...
[T]he term REDSKINS is not and has never been one of honor or respect, but instead, it has always been and continues to be a pejorative, derogatory, denigrating, offensive, scandalous, contemptuous, disreputable, disparaging and racist designation for Native American’s [sic] and
[T]he use of the registered service marks identified in Exhibit B to this resolution by the Washington Redskins football organization, has always been and continues to be offensive, disparaging, scandalous, and damaging to Native Americans.

[Brien Jackson]

Seriously?

Well yeah. My high school's name was "The Fighting Eagles." If you actually think it's only a reference to Irish people being drunken brawlers, as another poster said that says more about your own way of thinking than the lineage of the name.