Opinion: 'Redskins' a slur to Native Americans
Monday, April 23, 2007
Filed Under:
Opinion
"I know that football is not in the air. I should be following the Nationals or the Wizards. But NFL mini-camps are just around the corner, and something has been bothering me:
The name Redskins must go.
I am a lifelong fan. I know that many fans say: If you change the name, you'll cut a link to our city's storied football history. More to the point, they argue, "Redskins" was originally chosen as a celebration of Native American strength.
But words such as "redskin" are defined not by individual speakers -- not by you or me or Daniel Snyder -- but by a society of speakers. And whatever its connotation in the past, in 2007, "redskin" is a slur. Check a dictionary. Here is the Webster's definition, for example:
Redskin: n. Offensive. American Indian.
Our football history might be proud, but the dictionary says -- our society says -- that our team name is shameful. We should stop being stubborn. If we change the name now, with Joe Gibbs coaching, we'll have continuity to our football history built in."
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Appeals Court Decision:
Pro-Football,
Inc. v. Harjo (July 15, 2005)
Lower Court Decision:
Pro-Football,
Inc. v. Harjo (September 30, 2003)
Patent and Trademark Office Ruling:
Trademark
Trial and Appeal Board (1999)
Relevant Links:
Redskins -
http://www.redskins.com
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