Posted on 06/19/2014 8:41:15 AM PDT by ConservingFreedom
The Redskins got a flurry of bad news Wednesday when the U.S. Patent Office canceled the team's trademark registration, because the team name is “disparaging to Native Americans." Basically, it means that the team could lose its federally trademarked protections and could hasten the franchise to change the name, depending on how much pressure the rest of the league puts on Washington for a potential loss of revenue.
While Miami University, now the RedHawks but formerly known as the Redskins, tried to offer some advice on Wednesday, the sports editor of the Seattle Times, Don Shelton, is taking a more drastic step.
The newspaper, in effect, won't allow the Redskins name to grace its pages any longer.
Why exactly?
"It's time to ban the use of 'Redskins,' the absurd, offensive and outdated name of the NFL team in Washington, D.C.," Shelton wrote. "Past time, actually ... We're banning the name for one reason: It's offensive. Far from honoring Native Americans, the term colors an entire race. Many Native Americans consider it an outdated label placed on their people."
The Times isn't the first influential media outlet to take these steps. TheMMQB.com doesn't use the term and neither do the Kansas City Star, the Oregonian, the Orange County Register and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Shelton explained that when he was hired as sports editor five years ago, he convinced himself that a decision that had been made 15 years earlier to minimize the use of the name was good enough. According to Shelton, the Times' policy was to allow the Redskins name once per article and not to use it in headlines or photo captions.
But that stance is no longer appropriate in the eyes of Shelton, who ends his piece writing that he's happy for readers to express their opinions. Yet ...
"Still, your feedback won't change our decision," Shelton wrote. "Some things are too important to be put to a vote."
They do realize that newspapers are dying, right?
So what and who cares?
HAHAHA! That’s it! The new “Team that was formerly called the Redskins” name!
I just call them the “Reds” for short.
That’s okay. I’ve been boycotting all newspapers for years. By the time a newspaper is delivered to you it is history, If I want to read history; I’ll read a book. If I want news, I’ll turn on the radio or check the internet.
DNC email system, SMS text messaging, and fax machines went into overdrive to go after the Redskins.
What about the cleveland indians’ big-nosed mascot Indian? Maybe the LIB asshats should ban all words...just so no one is offend...just to be safe. What complete FAILs.
ahahaha NOT BAD!!!!
At least here in Dallas, of all places, the media still uses the term “Redskins.”
Washington Reagans, Washington Gippers, or my favorite, the Washington Crusaders.
another FREEPER suggested The Washington Bolsheviks
Birds of prey don’t appreciate the Seahawks using a reference to them.
They are probably trying to establish their politically correct credentials since they know their are about to lose their jobs due to lack of readership and think this will help them in their job search.
I guess I won’t use your name anymore, then ... either ... LOL ...
Trademarks and copyrighted material are intellectual property, and the means by which this property was stripped from the Washington Redskins management corporation is very close to violating the Fourth Amendment. No warrant was ever issued, and the seizure was simply a unilateral deprivation of intellectual rights to a specific logo, and an established and recognizable brand.
And who says “all Native Americans” are up in arms about the use of the term “Redskins”? Political correctness is just another club handed to the “regulators” in our society who do nothing to improve the tone of conversation, and are an attempt by the (very small) minority to impose its will on the majority, employing very draconian measures that are altogether disproportionate to the “harm” inflicted.
Well I don’t think they should advertise Ritz crackers then either. I find that offensive. As a matter of fact, I’ll call it the “C” word from now on.
(facepalm)...and Starbuck(s) is a name synonymous with one who is responsible for the deaths of 10’s of thousands of innocent cylon women and children...
Can the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame be far behind?
Have these people gone insane.
I am betting that normal lofos will see this for what it actually is massive over reach by radicals who are living in some weird alternate reality than the rest of the country.
Hopefully this will wake up some voters who have not been paying attention and start a backlash
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.