Respectfully, we'll call that team 'Washington' (Rampant PC in Lincoln, NE)

Lincoln Journal Star ^ | 1/26/03 | Kathleen Rutledge

[Right Wing Professor]

Readers of the sports pages may notice a change in the newspaper's style beginning today: We have stopped using the nickname "Redskins" to refer to the professional football team of the nation's capital. When we're reporting on that team, we'll call it Washington.

We also have stopped printing logos for professional and college sports teams that use Native symbols -- ones that adopt imagery such as an arrowhead and ones that caricature Native culture. The Chief Wahoo logo of the Cleveland Indians, which we stopped using last summer, is an example of rank caricature. Instead, we'll use alternative logos that stay away from Native symbols.

Finally, we've decided to drop the stereotypical modifier "Fighting" when used with team nicknames such as Fighting Sioux or Fighting Illini.

We've made this decision out of respect for Native people. Plain and simple.

We will no longer use "Redskins" or "Skins" because it is a racial slur. It derives from an old, genocidal practice in this country of scalping Indians to earn a bounty. A bounty hunter could prove he had killed an Indian by turning in a scalp. The bloody scalps were called "redskins." I learned this from the Portland Press Herald in Maine, which banned "Redskins" from its sports pages in July 2000.

What about Native people who proudly wear "Redskins" caps and shirts? That's their choice, just as it is the choice of other sports fans to emblazon the name across their chests, some in the professed belief that it honors Native people.

I choose to credit the words of a Lakota man who recalled that he wore a "Redskins" T-shirt as a boy. He thought it was cool. When he was older, when he heard fans "woo-wooing," he saw things differently. "I felt like a cardboard cutout, a cartoon,'' he said.

Last year, the Native American Journalists Association called on news organizations to stop using sports mascots and nicknames that depict Native Americans by 2004.

I asked Sports Editor John Mabry and News Editor Jim Johnson, a NAJA member, to lead our inquiry on this topic. They researched the question, put together a packet of materials that included readers' views, and arranged for newsroom staffers to get together to talk it over. The two made a recommendation and I have accepted it.

Many sports mascots were adopted at a time in this country when Native people had no voice. Now they have a voice.

Some newspapers have already heeded that voice. The Minneapolis Star Tribune banned the use of all Native team names and mascots in 1994. The Oregonian, the St. Cloud (Minn.) Times, the Portland Press Herald and the Kansas City Star limit publication of Native mascots and images in varying ways.

Today, the Lincoln Journal Star joins their ranks. Out of respect for Native people. Pure and simple.

[Right Wing Professor]

But will they continue to call Notre Dame the Fighting Irish? And it's too bad the Braves left Boston, because they'd have to then refer to the Boston Red Sox and The Other Boston Baseball team.

BTW, her statements about the etymology are nonsense. 'Redskin' dates at least to the late 17th century.

[Bob Buchholz]

I am personally offended when I hear about the "SOONERS", after all these were a bunch of cheating whiteys! /sarcasm>

[dighton]

Finally, we've decided to drop the stereotypical modifier "Fighting" when used with team nicknames such as Fighting Sioux or Fighting Illini.

Sure, call football teams the "Pipe-of-Peace-Smoking" Sioux, Illini, and whatnot.

[dirtboy]

I've got a solution. Let's come up with name that reflects the four major ethic groups in this country: white, black, hispanic and native American, and call the team the fourskins...

[Guillermo]

Vikings, Packers Cowboys...

Being the name of a sports team is an HONOR, not a slap.

[dighton]

Being the name of a sports team is an HONOR, not a slap.

The point is so obvious, yet it always escapes these lunatics.

[dirtboy]

Being the name of a sports team is an HONOR, not a slap.

[clintonh8r]

Hey! The two editors "put together a packet" and then talked it over with other sniveling newsies. I mean, who can argue with decisions made with the support of packets and earnest conversations with people who are bound to agree with you?

[Billthedrill]

We have stopped using the nickname "Redskins" to refer to the professional football team of the nation's capital.

I have too. "Losers" sounds just fine...

[pgyanke]

It's times like this (and not necessarily last Sunday) that I'm glad I'm a Raider fan. Apparently, this, and other news rags, will allow us to keep our mascot... for the time being.

Here's some free advice for all of the Indian-honoring schools and clubs out there... let them go. Let's see how the Native American lobby likes no mention of their culture at all. Here are some possible alternatives...

Washington Wannabes
Atlanta's Really Good Baseball Team
Cleveland White Settlers
FSU Gator Poop
Group of People Who Like to Play Sports from Illinois
Kansas City Industrialists

...you get the picture.

[Guillermo]

I wish I had a link to the poll that showed over 80% of "native Americans" did not find the names/mascots offensive.

It's just the same old professional bitchers who are making this a huge deal.

[RonF]

First, their uncritical acceptance of the entymology of "redskins", without checking primary sources themselves, is suspect.

Secondly, I wonder if they're going to call the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL "Chicago"? The Chicago Blackhawks were named as such to honor a specific Native American individual from the Chicago area. The logo is a reasonably accurate depiction of a Native American in profile (even if the feathers were never colored like that), and the team has never adopted a mascot or allowed any caricactures or other bastardizations of the logo or the name.

[clintonh8r]

Craig Kilbourn had a great comment about the post-game riots last night: After the game fans rioted in Oakland, setting fires, breaking windows and damaging buildings, causing over a million dollars in improvements.

[berserker]

Being the name of a sports team is an honor, not a slap

And a great honor it can be

How could it be otherwise

Anyone who thinks differently is just wrong

We honor those whom we respect

By naming teams

And designing logos

And mascots

To honor them

[Billthedrill]

I can tell you that the local seahawks are getting pretty PO'ed about having the Seattle football team named after them. Too embarrassing.

[RonF]

Another interesting point is their banning of using an arrowhead. The Boy Scouts of America has an honor society (whose members are elected by the boys in the program) called the Order of the Arrow. The logo used to be a Native American head wearing a full-blown Plains Indian war bonnet. Due to some PC sensitivities (perhaps called for), they've changed that to an arrowhead. Given that an arrow is used as a symbol during various aspects of the OA program, that's a better choice anyway. But that's now not PC enough?

[Guillermo]

Yeah, I sure see lots of Norwegians bitching about the Vikings, Cowboys bitching about Dallas, blue-collar guys bitching about the Packers.

Why would a team name themselves after something dishonorable?

Like I said earlier, this is just a few rabble rousers trying to get some face time.

[SoDak]

Obviously nonsense, she got the info from another newspaper.

[clintonh8r]

When I was in the Marine Corps every Indian kid was nicknamed "Chief" and nobody seemed to be offended. They were pretty damn tough and I doubt they brooded over crap like "sensitivity for their heritage." If they were offended, they were the kind of guys who would let you know! But then, that was more than 30 years ago before,... uh....skins got thin and liberal white America went on a self-hating guilt binge.

[Junior]

We will no longer use "Redskins" or "Skins" because it is a racial slur. It derives from an old, genocidal practice in this country of scalping Indians to earn a bounty. A bounty hunter could prove he had killed an Indian by turning in a scalp. The bloody scalps were called "redskins." I learned this from the Portland Press Herald in Maine, which banned "Redskins" from its sports pages in July 2000.

Beep. Circle takes the square. The Indians were called "Redskins" because of their red skin. Another sobriquet was "red man." This clown obviously does not know anything about that which he speaks.