Posted on 10/08/2013 6:38:19 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
The Oneida Indian Nation held a “Change the Mascot” symposium at the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton Oct. 7. The discussion was held in a packed Fahrenheit restaurant. At the same time, the same hotel is also hosting the NFL’s fall league meeting of owners and officials, which begins tomorrow.
Speakers included Ray Halbritter, the National Representative of the Oneida Indian Nation, D.C.’s Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn.
“Washington’s team name is a painful epithet that was used against my people when we were held at gunpoint and thrown off our lands,” Halbritter said. “When marketed by a professional sports team, it is a word that tells Native American children they are to be denigrated.”
Halbritter also cited President Barack Obama’s comments over the weekend that appeared to support changing the name of the Washington Redskins. “It elevated the visibility” of the Oneida Nation’s cause, Halbritter said.
In a fiery speech, Del. Norton said, “Dan Snyder tried four times to trademark the name (Redskins) and failed. The name should go down in the dust bowl of history.” Norton went on to say that under previous ownership the “team was forced to integrate itself” and did so “only because they were playing on Federal land.” She added, “Snyder should not wait to be compelled to do the right thing.”
Rep. McCollum said that when “Washington comes to play in Minnesota on Nov. 7,” the team will be “met with a large presence and our name change mascot.”
Those on the panel also included psychologist Michael Friedman, David Borgstrom, president of the Cooperstown, N.Y., school board, and two students from Cooperstown, who led the effort to change the school's mascot from "Redskins" to "Hawkeyes."
Some NFL officials were invited to the discussion, but none attended.
Freedoms just keep eroding.
Politicians "of color". What happened to Princess High Cheekbones? Too busy trying to come up with new ways to steal the American people's money in the Senate?
They want $$$$$$$ not a name change.
Other names that should be changed:
NY Giants - Offensive to giant people
Pittsburgh Pirates - Offensive to pirates.
Minnesota Twins - Offensive to twins.
So, a big protest will greet the Redskins when they go to Minnesota to play the Vikings??
Are they also going to protest the Viking nickname? The Vikings were cruel invaders weren’t they? Isn’t that name offensive to the Viking peoples?
What about Pittsburgh Steelers? Offensive to real steelworkers?
Boston Celtics and Notre Dame Fighting Irish? Offensive to those of Celtic and Irish descent?
Dallas Cowboys, offensive to real cowboys?
San Diego Padres and New Orleans Saints, offensive to Catholics???
Why aren’t they also after the Kansas Cith Chiefs, Cleveland Indians, and Atlanta Braves??? Why just the Washington Redskins???
I hate PC.
Heck this year's Giants are offensive to football.
How about changing the name to the Washington Oneidas?
And all of the animal nicknames are offensive to various animal species.
Are the descendents of Buffalo Bill Cody offended by the Buffalo Bills?
You can take just about any sports name and find some reason why someone is supposed to be offended.
Detroit Lions — generally offensive to football fans...
“The Oneida Indian Nation”
Isn’t that the tribe that made a name for themselves a few years back selling tax free cigarettes over the internet?
Let’s have the Washington Gangstas. The mascot can be BO dressed up as a drug dealer or a pimp.
New England Patriots is offensive because liberals detest feelings of patriotism. That name has to go also.
They probably have gone after them at one time or another. Right now, it is the Redskins. You forgot to mention my Blackhawks. The PC crowd has talked about them too.
“I hate PC.”
I like what Dennis Prager says about PC. “Don’t call it PC. It is Leftism. You never see this coming from the Right”.
Yes our freedoms do erode.
This subject resurfaces every so often. People can debate and discuss, however, how in the sam hill is it the place of liberal politicians to have any say in the name of a sports team???? Why are so many, including the president, suddenly eager to talk about Indian nicknames of sports teams as some pressing national issue?????
Hubby said, How about the Washington Casino Owners?
Washington itself is named after George Washington. I believe they should change that name. Imagine the insult that this represents for one of the most corrupt cities in the world to be named after one of the greatest and most honorable Americans in history.
Would you name a cesspool after our greatest hero?
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