Satire Gone Too Far? The Onion Hurls Slurs At Redskins Owner

WCBS TV NYC ^ | October 22, 2013

[Pharmboy]

Publication's Take On Team Nickname Debate Raises Many Eyebrows

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A satirical publication is making real news with its take on the debate surrounding the Washington Redskins nickname.

An article posted to The Onion’s website on Monday featured anti-Semitic slurs and stereotypes aimed at Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, who is Jewish.

Under the headline, “Redskins’ K— Owner Refuses To Change Team’s Offensive Name,” The Onion referred to Snyder as “hook-nosed” and “shifty-eyed.” The K-word was used three times, once in the headline and twice again in the story — and it wasn’t the only derogatory term used.

Snyder has insisted the team will continue to be called the Redskins despite growing opposition to the name. Those calling for a change include the Oneida Indian Nation, a tribe in upstate New York.

Veteran broadcaster Bob Costas called the team’s moniker “an insult” and “a slur” during a Sunday Night Football editorial earlier this month.

Did The Onion go too far with its satire? Reaction on Twitter ranged from applause to outrage.

“The Onion makes its point by crossing the line,” one person tweeted.

Another wrote that The Onion failed “in a big, pretty disgusting, way.”

[peeps36]

There's a big difference between Redskins and Kike. That's like saying black is the same as ni$$er. Call them the Thin-Skins and keep a symbol resembling something from the NY tribe that's complaining. Or he could change the name to the only unprotected group, The White-Skins.

[gop4lyf]

My college went from being the UL-Monroe Indians to being the Warhawks. I refuse to buy any caps or shirts that say Warhawk on it.

[jjsheridan5]

My response to liberals when this comes up: how vigorously did you oppose Elizabeth Warren when she ran for the senate seat in Mass? I then point out (when they say they didn’t), that here was a case of a person fraudulently using programs designed to help native americans for her own selfish interests, and the fact that you were silent then, but only are heard on a purely symbolic issue, makes you a racist hypocrite.

It doesn’t win me any friends, but it does silence them rather effectively.

[Typelouder]

They are phasing out Chief Wahoo slowly but surely. More of the uniform combinations have a script “Indians” or the letter C on their caps. The Chief has been relegated to the batting helmet and a small patch on their sleeve.

[Cyber Liberty]

PeTA actually came up with a position on the football team name. They suggested leaving the name alone and replace the mascot with a potato.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah, something similar happened to my old high school. Redskins ==> Redhawks ==> No Sale.

[ac-rep]

If indians didnt like the name, they shoulda said something when the team first formed. It shouldnt take 80 years to get offended

[PMAS]

Who was it that started all of this BS about the Redskins ?

[Navy Patriot]

I remember when I used to root for Stanford, "Go Indians!!".

"Go Redwood Trees" just doesn't have the ring to it, and Cardinal is a darker red color, so "Go Darkies" might cause problems nowadays, but "Go Reds" fits well.

[only1percent]

It’s over. The Redskins will be renamed before the 2014 pre-season opens, it’s only a question of how much the team will pay American Indian charities between now and then.

[Pharmboy]

Good post. Thanks.

[ConorMacNessa]

The activists who oppose the name "Redskins" also oppose names such as "Eagles," "Cardinals" and a variety of other names they deem to be the property of the so-called "Native Americans." Almost 50 years ago I graduated from a high school whose team name was "Indians." The school closed in the early 80's due to population movement within the county.

Several years ago, the population moved back in and the school reopened. Now the team is named the "Gladiators."

So I guess it's not appropriate to have a team named after an ethnic group, but it's perfectly fine to name a team after a class of enslaved captives who are required to combat each other with deadly weapons and dispatch each other for the entertainment of a decadent class of Patricians.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[xzins]

If Snyder were a black instead of a Jew would the Onion have used the “N” word each place it used the “K” word?

No Way.

Therefore, it’s not equivalence that they’re driving for. They’re not courageous....they simply outed themselves as ZwiebelNazis.

[Navy Patriot]

...but it's perfectly fine to name a team after a class of enslaved captives who are required to combat each other with deadly weapons and dispatch each other for the entertainment of a decadent class of Patricians.

Excellent point, as the current media is nothing more than the Praetorian Guard.

[bfkirk]

Perhaps we need a Humor Czar to regulate parody? I nominate Gilbert Gottfried.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"Is calling an Indian a Redskin as bad as calling a Jew a kike?"

Nope.

"They were the only tribe of the Iroquois Nation to fight on the Patriot side against the Brits. We owe them a good listen."

Oh puh-lease. We? Speak for yourself. I owe them approximately jack-squat. Because their ancestors determined that scalping Brits was more profitable than scalping Yankees, we should take their whining about the name of a sports team seriously?

[Boogieman]

The Onion goes too far every day though, so what's the point of getting outraged? You'll just end up on Literally Unbelievable.

[Pharmboy]

Excellent point. Thank you.

[Pharmboy]

You don’t know your history.

When I said “we” I absolutely didn’t mean you. Sorry...I should have been clearer.

[xzins]

Yep, someplace in the front of their minds is a little place that says, “It’s OK to attack Jews.”