Supreme Court refuses to hear Redskins' naming case

The Washington Post ^ | November 16, 2009 | Robert Barnes

[GoldStandard]

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to revive a lawsuit on behalf of Native American activists who claimed that the Washington Redskins' team name is so offensive that it does not deserve trademark protection.

The court without comment refused to get involved in the long-running dispute. The decision essentially lets stand a lower court ruling that the activists waited too long to bring the challenge.

[Salo]

Hail to the Redskins!

[svcw]

These indian name law suits are soooooooooooooo stupid, what a waste of time and money.

[jyoders19]

Finally! Something I agree with Dan Snyder on!

[Dr. Ursus]

Too bad.They could have changed the name to the Doormats!

[ConservaTexan]

The plaintiffs should have settled with the Redskins long ago. At least they would have gotten some beads and trinkets for their trouble.

[Salo]

Victories are so few and far between for us I am reduced to cheering for this....

[Borges]

The name ‘Redskins’ was chosen in the early 1930s by the original owner George Preston Marshall who was a noted racist so they do have some history on their side. It’s still silly to get worked up over this.

[B-Chan]

Sanity wins one every now and then.

[raybbr]

The name ‘Redskins’ was chosen in the early 1930s by the original owner George Preston Marshall who was a noted racist so they do have some history on their side. It’s still silly to get worked up over this.

That makes no sense whatsover. If he hated Indians why would he name them the "Redskins"? That's like saying a person who hates blacks would call their team the "Coons". Why would you name your own team after something you supposedly despise?

[Borges]

I don’t know why he chose the name but ever heard of Blackface? Minstrelsy?

[Dewey Revoltnow]

If the Native Americans are going to file a case against the Redskins, I as a white male am going to file a case against Cracker Barrel.

[TankerKC]

...I as a white male am going to file a case against Cracker Barrel.

And the Partiots. And Vikings. And Brewers. And Dodgers. And Mariners. And Texans. And 76er. And...

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the warpath
Fight for old D.C.!

Run or pass and score
We want a lot more
Beat ‘em, swamp ‘em, touchdown
Let the points soar
Fight on, fight on ‘
Till you have won Sons of Washington!
Rah! Rah! Rah!

Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the warpath
Fight for old D.C.!

---

Wonder if they will go after the song next? It has already been revised once.

http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/closer/020315.html

“...Where today’s song cheers fans to “Fight for old D.C.!” the original version’s “Fight for old Dixie!” played directly to the fans’ Southern identity. ****And while the Redskins still use a racial slur for their team name****, some words in the original fight song didn’t do much to deflect accusations of racism. Where the song now says, “Beat ‘em, swamp ‘em, touchdown! — Let the points soar!” it once went, “Scalp ‘em, swamp ‘em — We will take ‘em big score / Read ‘em, weep ‘em, touchdown! — We want heap more!” The lyrics were subsequently cleaned up in the ‘60s, after Marshall’s Redskins were, notoriously in 1962, the last pro team to integrate....”

***Racial slur, LMAO!!!********

[raybbr]

I don’t know why he chose the name but ever heard of Blackface? Minstrelsy?

As the name of a team? No. In fact, that's the first time I have ever seen the word "minstrelsy". That really doesn't answer my question.

[Borges]

I’m not really ascribing much logic to this but just pointing out that these Activists probably noted this in this argument.

[Dixie Yooper]

The Redskins have offended me for over 25 years. Most of it from living there for 20 years and having to listen to George Michael interview Sonny(the most conceded former football player of all time)Jurgensen a million times about anything Redskins.

[DoughtyOne]

Here’s the test. Does the name Redskins harm the image of Native Americans in the U.S.? No. End of story.

Is there anyone alive who can say they think less of the Native Americans due to being exposed to this team name?

The name Braves, is actually an honorable name. If anything it represents the image of a strong vibrant Native American youth. Native Americans should be honored to have a team think enough of the name to use it. It obviously sounded like a positive name to the team when they selected it. Isn’t that a compliment rather than a slam?

Some of these suits make me wonder how someone could be this thin skinned, and out of touch with reality.

[Cuttnhorse]

In the little town of 3,000 where I live, the mascot name of the high school is THE SAVAGES, with an indian head as its symbol.

Well, about 10-years ago some idiot driving through town on vacation took offence and with the aid of some A-hole legal group filed a lawsuit against the city and because the town isn’t particullarly well off the school dropped the indian logo. So the school is still the Savages, they just can’t use an indian as a mascot.

I always laugh at the whole stupidity; the local reservation folks had no problem with the name and logo, and given the amount of crime and alcoholism on the res., the school logo was one of the more positive characterizations of “native americans”. (Now I’m in heap big trouble).