@ Nos: “Nordic-American backlash against the “VIKINGS” is next.”
But ‘Viking’ was an occupation (like Lawyer—in fact a lot like Lawyer), and a part-time one at that, indulged in by persons who definitely didn’t wear silly helmets with useless horns on! While most of them were probably what we would now call ‘Nordic’ it was not an ethnic or racial term.Ironically, in the present context, if left out in the sun most would rapidly become Redskins!
What is a Hebe? I have never heard of that term. How can a word be derogatory if no one uses it? It is like calling someone a kerfling. People would only look at you with puzzlement.
It is all about one political group forcing their will on other people. We just love kicking ass and making others do what we want them to do. It is part of human nature. Once this one is forgotten about, I am sure there will be endless opportunities to attack someone else.
““Redskins” is a derogatory term. It would be like naming a sports team the New York Hebes or the Los Angeles Coons.”The analogous names that came to my mind are The Alabama Wife Beaters, Kansas Trailer Trash, Virginia Hillbillies, New York Guidos, or Texas Spics.
It is a derogatory word. I know quite a few Native Americans and they don’t like the term.The vikings are something the Nordic people are proud of, to the best of my knowledge.
I think Washington Warriors would be a good choice. It even alliterates.
If you call me Shrimp, or Beanpole, or Carrot-top, and you do it affectionately, and I accept it as such, that’s fine. But when other people have use the same term to degrade and insult me, I come to resent it. Still, I may put up with it, coming from a friend.
But if I finally have had enough, and I politely ask you, my friend, to drop it, and yet you persist, telling me that I am too sensitive — so that finally I INSIST that you stop calling me that — and THEN you STILL persist — from that point on, every time you use that name it is an insult and an arrogant demeaning of me.
It is not the WORD that is the insult, it is the persistent USE of the word after you have been asked and finally told to desist.
It matters not in the least what you intended when you first adopted the nickname. It is the disrespect for my wishes that is the insult.
So all the crap justifying the use of the name, claiming that no ill-will is intended by it, is just that — crap. The longer its use persists under present circumstances, the bigger the insult it is.
Though I agree that the only native Americans should really have a say in this. What a bunch of white guys think about the name, pro or con, is somewhat irrelevant. There is however plenty of information about what the native American community and its leadership think about the term “redskin” and its use. If they say its not cool, it isn’t. As a white guy, I can either respect their judgement on the matter or not. But I would be a hypocrite to pretend that I respect them and persist in ignoring their views.So the only honest defense of the name Redskins is “I like the name, no insult was meant to anybody when it was chosen, I don’t want to go through the hassle of changing it, and I don’t give a damn what a bunch of redskins think about it.” That would be honest. Reprehensible, but at least not hypocritical.
“We found opponents of the name in 18 tribes: veterans of the U.S. military, lawyers, college students, cultural center employees, school volunteers and restaurant servers. Their viewpoints align with official statements from dozens of tribes or inter-tribal councils and from the NCAI, which represents more than 250 tribal governments at the Embassy of Tribal Nations. Many of these people wondered how, or if, their voices are being counted.” — Sports Illustrated.
“The Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies at California State University, San Bernardino has conducted a study on racial and ethnic perspectives on the team name Redskins and associated issues, and found that the large majority of American Indians, when properly identified and polled, find the team name offensive, disrespectful and racist. “The first question on the survey tells the basic story:The Redskins team name is a racial or racist word and symbol. “American Indians were 67 % in agreement, 12 % were neutral and 20 % disagreed with the statement.”
Simon_Jester: Good one. In its long history, Texas has had a handful of average governors, but only three great ones (i.e. served the people), none of whom served their elected terms. Two of these were impeached, convicted, and removed from office: Houston because he would not turn traitor against the U.S. “and bring ruin to this state”, and Ferguson because he used corruption to gain back the money the state stole from him by making pay for 12 staff members and all official dinners on a $2,000 a year salary (mostly from selling pardons for nonviolent bootleggers “who should be paying taxes instead of consuming them”). Allred was appointed a federal judge before his term was up.
Richard Howland-Bolton Premium Member almost 10 years ago
@ Nos: “Nordic-American backlash against the “VIKINGS” is next.”
But ‘Viking’ was an occupation (like Lawyer—in fact a lot like Lawyer), and a part-time one at that, indulged in by persons who definitely didn’t wear silly helmets with useless horns on! While most of them were probably what we would now call ‘Nordic’ it was not an ethnic or racial term.Ironically, in the present context, if left out in the sun most would rapidly become Redskins!
eddodt almost 10 years ago
way too much political correct talk…stop already… …
wolfhoundblues1 almost 10 years ago
What is a Hebe? I have never heard of that term. How can a word be derogatory if no one uses it? It is like calling someone a kerfling. People would only look at you with puzzlement.
Theodore E. Lind Premium Member almost 10 years ago
It is all about one political group forcing their will on other people. We just love kicking ass and making others do what we want them to do. It is part of human nature. Once this one is forgotten about, I am sure there will be endless opportunities to attack someone else.
Bilword almost 10 years ago
a hebe is a heeb, as in hebrew.
your welcome.
Jason Allen almost 10 years ago
““Redskins” is a derogatory term. It would be like naming a sports team the New York Hebes or the Los Angeles Coons.”The analogous names that came to my mind are The Alabama Wife Beaters, Kansas Trailer Trash, Virginia Hillbillies, New York Guidos, or Texas Spics.
pam Miner almost 10 years ago
It is a derogatory word. I know quite a few Native Americans and they don’t like the term.The vikings are something the Nordic people are proud of, to the best of my knowledge.
mnsmkd almost 10 years ago
Someone recently said that if they changed the mascot to a “potato”, the problem would be solved……
sw10mm almost 10 years ago
So the redskins name is a tradition of racism? Why is Andrew Jackson routinely celebrated and honored by Reid’s Democratic Party?
Doughfoot almost 10 years ago
I think Washington Warriors would be a good choice. It even alliterates.
If you call me Shrimp, or Beanpole, or Carrot-top, and you do it affectionately, and I accept it as such, that’s fine. But when other people have use the same term to degrade and insult me, I come to resent it. Still, I may put up with it, coming from a friend.
But if I finally have had enough, and I politely ask you, my friend, to drop it, and yet you persist, telling me that I am too sensitive — so that finally I INSIST that you stop calling me that — and THEN you STILL persist — from that point on, every time you use that name it is an insult and an arrogant demeaning of me.
It is not the WORD that is the insult, it is the persistent USE of the word after you have been asked and finally told to desist.
It matters not in the least what you intended when you first adopted the nickname. It is the disrespect for my wishes that is the insult.
So all the crap justifying the use of the name, claiming that no ill-will is intended by it, is just that — crap. The longer its use persists under present circumstances, the bigger the insult it is.
Doughfoot almost 10 years ago
Though I agree that the only native Americans should really have a say in this. What a bunch of white guys think about the name, pro or con, is somewhat irrelevant. There is however plenty of information about what the native American community and its leadership think about the term “redskin” and its use. If they say its not cool, it isn’t. As a white guy, I can either respect their judgement on the matter or not. But I would be a hypocrite to pretend that I respect them and persist in ignoring their views.So the only honest defense of the name Redskins is “I like the name, no insult was meant to anybody when it was chosen, I don’t want to go through the hassle of changing it, and I don’t give a damn what a bunch of redskins think about it.” That would be honest. Reprehensible, but at least not hypocritical.
Doughfoot almost 10 years ago
“We found opponents of the name in 18 tribes: veterans of the U.S. military, lawyers, college students, cultural center employees, school volunteers and restaurant servers. Their viewpoints align with official statements from dozens of tribes or inter-tribal councils and from the NCAI, which represents more than 250 tribal governments at the Embassy of Tribal Nations. Many of these people wondered how, or if, their voices are being counted.” — Sports Illustrated.
Doughfoot almost 10 years ago
“The Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies at California State University, San Bernardino has conducted a study on racial and ethnic perspectives on the team name Redskins and associated issues, and found that the large majority of American Indians, when properly identified and polled, find the team name offensive, disrespectful and racist. “The first question on the survey tells the basic story:The Redskins team name is a racial or racist word and symbol. “American Indians were 67 % in agreement, 12 % were neutral and 20 % disagreed with the statement.”
hippogriff almost 10 years ago
Simon_Jester: Good one. In its long history, Texas has had a handful of average governors, but only three great ones (i.e. served the people), none of whom served their elected terms. Two of these were impeached, convicted, and removed from office: Houston because he would not turn traitor against the U.S. “and bring ruin to this state”, and Ferguson because he used corruption to gain back the money the state stole from him by making pay for 12 staff members and all official dinners on a $2,000 a year salary (mostly from selling pardons for nonviolent bootleggers “who should be paying taxes instead of consuming them”). Allred was appointed a federal judge before his term was up.
ORMouseworks almost 10 years ago
Re: Washington Kerflings"…could also be Gelflings… ;)