Yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office cancelled the Washington Redskins' trademark registration. Now this is not a major, game changing event, since it has happened before, and the Redskins were able to appeal the decision and get the trademark back, which is most likely what they are going to do this time. What it did do, however, was to add more fuel to the fire regarding the changing of the name. I had previously made a post about this, but it appears that I have to make another one.
Ever since the news of the trademark hit, I have been talking with my friends about this, and we have gone through and argued a lot of the points both for and against a name change. I have been, and continue to be, firmly against a name change. I say that not only because I am a fan of the Washington Redskins, but also because of what may result if the team was forced to change the name because of how some feel about the name. In order to present my argument, I will go through several points and try to explain my position :
First, and the major point that has to be realized. The NFL is a private business. The Washington Redskins are a privately owned part of that private business. What does that mean? It means they can name their team whatever the hell they want. They can call it the Washington N-words. There is nothing anyone can do to stop them, legally. If their name is offensive, or what they do is offensive, much like Sterling in the NBA, then the consumers and the players much speak out and boycott the team in order to make a change. If people stop buying gear and stop going to games, and if players stop wanting to come to DC to play, because of the name, then Dan Snyder will change the team name in a split second. As a business, the only thing that really matters to Snyder and the NFL is the profit. The Redskins are one of the most profitable sports franchisees in the world. As long as they continue to make money off of the name, they will continue to use it, unless Snyder has a change of heart, which does not appear to be the case.
Second. Last time I checked, we lived in a Democracy. That basically means that majority rules. The majority of people don't have a problem with the name, which is why the Redskins are so profitable. This majority is both Native Americans and other people. Much like in politics, people vote to voice their opinions, but in this case, they vote with their money. If they buy a product, then they are supporting the makers/producers and their views. If people are offended by the team name, then they need to voice their opinions by not purchasing gear or watching games, and to persuade their family and friends to do the same. Change will only happen if people voice their opinions and back them up, one person at a time. Get enough people to share your views and agree with your opinion, and the change you want will happen. That is how this country works.
Third. Although the origins are still in dispute, according to many historians, the term redskin was NOT originally an offensive word. There are a number of articles and posts claiming that the term redskin refers to the scalping of Native Americans. However, many historians have disproved that statement, claiming that when the proclamation for the scalping of Native Americans was made by the English, the word redskin was not used. The word came into play many years later, when a post referred to Native Americans as "red skins". In fact, the term redskin was first used by Native Americans to distinguish themselves from the white man. It was later thought of as derogatory, but the basis of it was not such. In fact, the word "Indian" was used the same way as the word "redskin" to try and put down the Native Americans at the time, suggesting that Redskin was not a derogatory term, but that most portrayals of Native Americans were negative in general. Which is why there are so many Native American schools and groups that call themselves Redskins, and do so with pride. If the term is offensive, then the people being offended should be the first to stop using it.
Fourth, and probably the most sensitive topic. Being offended by the word, or any word. Words only have power when we give it to them. If enough people keep saying that a word is offensive, racial, hurtful, then over time it will become just that. This includes the people using the words, and those that the words are directed to. That is why certain words in the English language are thought of as taboo, or not intended for society, because of how people have given them power. If people strip away the hate associated when encountering a word, over time it looses its strength and becomes just another word. If you don't let a word upset you, or get to you, or insult you, then you have not only stripped away any strength there is in the word, but also in the person using it in a hurtful manner. Letting a word or phrase have an impact on you is giving up control over your own feelings and emotions, and handing over that control to the person(s) uttering those words.
Each person has to make their own choices in life, which include how or why they are offended. I can not force anyone to not be offended by a word, I can only make sure that I myself am not offended and try to instill the same in my child. If you find that you are so offended by the name of the Washington Redskins, fine, do something about it, stop buying their product and try and inform those around you, with education information. What you should not do is try and force the government to step in and make Dan Snyder and the NFL change the name. If that happens, if the government steps in, then it opens the door for them to do the same in any situation they feel like.
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