LOL, Team Names & Political Correctness
A reader pointed me to this letter apparently sent to the Chicago Tribune last year in response to an editorial saying the Redskins name had to go. I can't prove it was real, but who cares at this point? It is funny:
Dear Mr. Page...
I always love your articles. and I generally agree with them. I would suggest, as in an email I received, they change the name to the "Foreskins" to better represent their community, paying tribute to the di@k heads in Congress.
Here are some other politically correctness to consider: I agree with our Native American population. I am highly insulted by the racially charged name of the Washington Redskins. One might argue that to name a professional football team after Native Americans would exalt them as fine warriors, but nay, nay. We must be careful not to offend, and in the spirit of political correctness and courtesy, we must move forward. Let's ditch the Kansas City Chiefs, the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians. If your shorts are in a wad because of the reference the name Redskins makes to skin color, then we need to get rid of the Cleveland Browns.
The Carolina Panthers obviously were named to keep the memory of militant Blacks from the 60's alive. Gone. It's offensive to us white folk.
The New York Yankees offend the Southern population. Do you see a team named for the Confederacy? No! There is no room for any reference to that tragic war that cost this country so many young men's lives.
I am also offended by the blatant references to the Catholic religion among our sports team names. Totally inappropriate to have the New Orleans Saints, the Los Angeles Angels or the San Diego Padres.
Then there are the team names that glorify criminals who raped and pillaged. We are talking about the horrible Oakland Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Pirates!Now, let us address those teams that clearly send the wrong message to our children. The San Diego Chargers promote irresponsible fighting or even spending habits. Wrong message to our children.
The New York Giants and the San Francisco Giants promote obesity, a growing childhood epidemic. Wrong message to our children.
The Cincinnati Reds promote downers/barbiturates . Wrong message to our children.
The Milwaukee Brewers---well that goes without saying . . . Wrong message to our children.
So, there you go. We need to support any legislation that comes out to rectify this travesty, because the government will likely become involved with this issue, as they should. Just the kind of thing the do-nothing congress loves . . .As a die hard Oregon State fan, my wife and I, with all of this in mind, it might also make some sense to change the name of the Oregon State women's athletic teams to something other than "the Beavers."
morgan.c.frank:
bulls- offensive to hindus and vegans
July 15, 2015, 1:17 pmbears- offensive to stephen colbert
nationals - offensive to illegal immigrants
jets- promote a carbon unfriendly lifestyle
49ers - glorifies exploiting natural resources
kings - offends those harmed by monarchies
tar heels - must be a slur of some kind
Matthew Slyfield:
Packers - anti gay slur (isn't fudge packer a reference to anal sex?)
July 15, 2015, 2:26 pmBucks - glorifies greed.
Admirals (AHL) - glorifies war
Badgers (UW Madison) - glorifies harassment
anders hector:
To make the discussion more international: What is the political correct view of the Indian Cricket League team name the "Mumbai Indians". Always makes me laugh but is it offensive to Indians? But if so, which ones? And surely it's offensive to Spanish sailors of Italian origins with poor understanding of the diameter of Earth, no?
July 16, 2015, 12:19 amano333:
Yawn.
I realize that this is in jest, but none of the other team names are offensive in the same nature as the term "Redskin". None of the other names are an actual slur against a group of people. I'm not big on political correctness, and I don't think this is a legal issue, but I think it is quite stupid for a business to use a name that alienates an entire ethnic group.
July 16, 2015, 3:21 amOrion Henderson:
NE Patriots-offensive to liberals.
Celtics-offensive to the Irish.
Lakers-trigger warning to people who live in the desert.
Redskins really is offensive though. I mean, come on. But congress doesn't need to legislate it either.
July 16, 2015, 6:50 amobloodyhell:
This whole concept is markedly brain damaged. YOU DO NOT USE DEROGATORY TERMS TO NAME YOUR OWN SPORTS TEAMS. With a few exceptions, like the "Banana Slugs", EVERY sports team is named with a team which is identified by a term designed to display what is considered a desirable quality, usually fierceness and RESPECT for the combat abilities of the team.
If you will forgive the usage of the word, there would NEVER have been a team named "The Nashville Niggers" -- because it was a derogatory team and no one would name their team that.
Q.E.D. -- "Redskins" is therefore and blatantly self-evidently intended to reflect the fact that they are FIERCE WARRIORS worthy of fear and respect. To claim it has to go because it's "demeaning and derogatory" only demeans and derogates the intellect of the claimant and any moron so stupid as to agree with them.
Yeesh.
This is yet another attack of the Perpetually Indignant. They need to be made an object of derision, not encouraged.
July 16, 2015, 8:40 amobloodyhell:
See above. your argument is FAIL.
July 16, 2015, 8:41 amobloodyhell:
IF I understand correctly, this is a classic malmeme that is utterly unfounded. Columbus knew he was not anywhere near "India" -- which wasn't the term for India at the time, anyway ("Hindustan", IIRC -- "India" is far more recent a term). The term "Indian" is derived from "In Dios" -- "Of God", the Eden-like state which Columbus found the Caribbean natives whom he first met. Not complicated, not particularly clothed, and quite innocent and friendly.
July 16, 2015, 8:45 ammorgan.c.frank:
i would have gone with "lakers" - insensitive during a drought.
July 16, 2015, 9:54 amDerKase:
Keep the name Redskins, but change the logo to a red skin potato.
July 16, 2015, 10:25 amSamWah:
U. of Oregon Ducks: Calling them cowards, are you, you nasty, horrible person?
July 16, 2015, 11:29 amMatthew Slyfield:
You are absolutely correct, but it's also fun to make fun of them.
July 16, 2015, 7:18 pmMatthew Slyfield:
I would have gone with EPIC FAIL personally.
July 16, 2015, 7:18 pmMatthew Slyfield:
I think if they do change the name, they should change it to a slur against politicians in general and Congress in particular.
How about the Washington Pork Barrels?
July 16, 2015, 7:31 pmano333:
You're an idiot. Native Americans themselves are saying that it is offensive. Even if it was never used as a slur at the time the team was created (which I doubt), it is considered a slur now by the people slurred.
To paraphrase your "argument", it is "brain damaged" to continue to use a team name when told it is offensive.
July 17, 2015, 9:57 amano333:
According to wiki, the "west Indies" were so named around the time of Columbus to differentiate them from the original "Indies" (India and southeast Asia). Thus, the term "Indies" was around prior to Columbus's voyage.
Perhaps you mean that "Indian" derived from the innocent state of the original Indians (inhabitants of the East Indies)?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Indies
July 17, 2015, 10:03 amStagnant.:
Nonsense, but whatever idiots will always find a reason to not recognize the bullshit of the past. Fuck football anyway and all its ignorant fans.
October 13, 2015, 6:21 pmStagnant.:
Can't reason with idiots, hopefully their kids will get shot so they don't breed as well, since the same assholes are so against gun control.
October 13, 2015, 6:22 pm