Negative words are powerful and can and do cause substantial, irreparable damage. Changing the name of the team is a win-win for all.
—
As one who is not a football, or most organized or professional sports, fan (I prefer playing sports to watching others play), I was ambivalent about the Washington R*dskins name controversy. But then I thought about it, realized the magnitude of the issue (very large), and the solution (very simple)–Change the name!
Words are very powerful and carry with them a great ability to enlighten, elevate and create, or, on the other side, destroy, demean and devastate. The old adage “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me”, may help persuade a child/person victim of name calling, to ignore the taunt and refrain from physical retaliation, but it does not minimize the very real emotional and psychological pain inflicted by the slur and attitude expressed (and the negative actions and consequences that mostly follow).
We are all part of some group defined by one or more elements (heritage, race, gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, size, build, color, religion, no religion, character, emotional, physical and physiological traits or handicaps, health and…), which defines us in some way in society and opens us up to potential discrimination, ridicule, oppression and feelings of inadequacy. The true damage, although measurable objectively to some extent, can only be really felt and experienced by the group involved. In the case of the controversial Washington R*dskins name, although it is clear to any sentient being that it is offensive and destructive on many levels, it’s only really felt by Native Americans.
On Thursday night’s Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a few R*dskins fans were confronted by Native Americans activists. They were not prepared or really aware of the magnitude and depth of the feelings and issues involved:
America has a long and very painful history with Native Americans, filled with atrocities, theft and deceit, discrimination, abuse and neglect. In a recent June 18, 2014, United States Patent and Trademark Office decision , regarding Redskins Trademark case of Amanda Blackhorse, Marcus Briggs-Cloud, Philip Gover, Jillian Pappan, and Courtney Tsotigh v. Pro-Football, Inc., The Trademark Trial and Appeals Board canceled the R*dskins trademark registration and found that:
“trademarks consisting in whole or in part of the term REDSKINS for professional football-related services were obtained contrary to Section 2(a), 15 U.S.C. 1052(a), which prohibits registration of marks that may disparage persons or bring contempt or disrepute.”
This decision (ending a 19 year and two trials process) to cancel the trademark is now pending an appeal.
Beyond the simple decision to do the right thing, respect the legitimate wishes of Native Americans for relief and end the use of this derogatory, offensive and destructive term, there are great sums of money involved in the exploitation of trademarks, trade names, merchandising, promotions and product placements (never underestimate the power of greed and profit as a business motivator). As far as Daniel Snyder is concerned, this is a simple win-win proposition. He does the right, appropriate and respectful thing and changes the name of his football team, benefits from the resulting good will and credit which will translate to profits, and gets to choose a new name and trademark, that is sure to bring him new and great profits from various merchandising and marks exploitation, in addition to collectable status for the old stuff (He may want to donate a part of those new profits to some good and valuable Native American causes).
One has to wonder why Daniel Snyder is fighting to preserve the offensive name of his football team and continue to pour salt into this great open sore, inflaming the resulting legitimate and painful feelings of Native Americans, and the rest of us thinking humans, when the solution to this festering issue is so simple?
Photo: Banks Willis /Flicker Video: Daily Show Redskins /YouTube
More Current Affairs Bites This Week
Safe from ISIS? Yes or No, Panic is never the answer!
Bill Maher: Is ISIS a Real Threat to the US or a Fool’s Errand?
Fighting Evil to Equal Rights, Emma Watson is an Exceptional Muggle!
All this attention on team names and Halloween costumes is just Native American politics keeping white liberals distracted from other, less savory aspects of Native politics today. Keep white allies occupied with fighting racist symbolism (which is likely indestructible) so you can focus quietly on the nitty-gritty local issues: dis-enrolling your political enemies from the tribe, building casinos, creating for-profit institutions with a minimum level of profit-sharing, and using land just like the most exploitive white people do. Easier to get white leftists on board by pointing out racism to them. Much harder to get white leftist support when you’re… Read more »
should say “not” allowing them to unionize, and it should say NCAI, not NCIA