@chaski Said
To understand that it is offensive all one needs to do is swap "Redskins" for something else similarly insulting...
Let's try it out....
The Washington Niggers... Coons... Black Faces...
The Washington Chinamen... Chinks... Gooks...
The Washington Slave Traders....
The Washington Kykes... Jew boys... Gas Dodgers...
The Washington Spics... Wetbacks...
The Washington Sand Niggers...
I could go on, but maybe you get the point.
If not try imagining an insulting word that describes a group you are a part of socially, sexually, etc... now make that the name of a sports team.
To me it is obvious, but that is just me... I also believe that complaints about political correctness are bulls***, but that is probably a different thread.
I understand entirely the point you're making there, but as far as I'm aware.... and I appreciate that I don't live on that side of the pond.... 'redskins' wasn't something that Native Americans were particularly bothered about. I accept that I could be wrong on that point though. Please advise.
Has there been a complaint by whatever organisations monitor these things on behalf of first nations, or has the football franchise taken it upon itself to change the name in order to head off such complaints before they come in..?
You tell me. I'm the outsider here, trying to understand. And this isn't the no-brainer you might think it is. There is a point to what I'm arguing.
Taking offence is in the purview of the receiver. Speaking for myself, I've been called so many names so many times they cease to have any meaning any more. They don't bother me and I don't complain. I've heard them all and know lots more besides so when I'm called a name, I respond with something along the lines of "Awwwwww, come-come now. Can't you do better than that..? How about (this) or (that)...."
If you've ever seen the movie 'Roxanne' with Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah you'll know where I'm coming from. Mock the offender and make him look a prat in front of his mates. Get everybody laughing AT him, rather than WITH him.
It works for me.
So..... if indeed this is a case of Washington trying to head off possible future trouble then OK, that's cool too. It shows that the protests are having an effect on American race culture. And that's a good thing.
If the name change isn't 'necessary' or enforced' but is now 'desirable' then praise the Lord, we're winning.
But for my money, it still wouldn't have bothered me had things not changed. You see.... I can be glad that the change is happening on behalf of another offended group, but any offence I
personally might have felt at the name would have been irrelevant.
Oh, and I did once play for a netball team called "Pinkies" and that has a certain meaning in the LGBT community here. All the other (straight) girls teams knew what it meant though and they all laughed it off.