How Will The NFL Respond Under Pressure?
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| Washington Redskins helmet logo |
That being said Commissioner of the NFL Roger Goodell has in the past conducted polls on whether or not to keep the Redskins' name and more often than not the name has received positive reviews. Owner of the Washington Redskins Dan Snyder has stated that the name was chosen to honor Native Americans but the Oneida Nation has taken offense to this and many others have as well.
The common misconception with this issue is that had the team been named the Washington N-Words more outcry would follow but due to what society deems as controversial we turn a blind eye to this issue. Why is this situation not resolved and what legnths does this issue have to go to for change?
Hey Orlando! Great post. I was wondering if you'd consider writing something about Michael Sam being drafted to the NFL this week? It seems really ironic that the NFL is becoming more progressive in some areas, but still really traditional in others.
ReplyDeleteThe Michael Sam story is interesting in the case that in sports, NFL in particular we've never seen an openly gay player be accepted the way that he has. I think that the pressure from outside sports is the reason for change because when we look at sports in the past Jackie Robinson's acceptance came from the pressure of media. If more people showed their dislike of the name "Redskins" I think it has a better chance of changing.
DeleteI very much agree with your ideas on the subject. Many people in society don't seem to understand the degrading effect this teams name has on the Native Americans. I also feel as though due to the fact that the name had been around for a while, it would be hard to remove it. When something has been established or recognized by a certain name it takes a while for it's name to be replaced. For example a few years ago the Rogers Center was called Skydome, before it was bought by Rogers. For 2-3 years many people continued to call it the Skydome. For a major league team, there may be the fear of losing some recognition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in the fact that society especially businesses find it hard to change something that has already been established but in the 1930s the team used to be called the Boston Braves and was eventually changed to the Redskins. I find it weird that a team would change their name to something so explicitly offensive when the original name was the Braves.
DeleteThis post was very interesting and made me think about other teams in this exact predicament. i believe that the team would lose some of its culture and identity by changing its name. Its like changing a tradition that people have been so accustomed to over the years. imagine if i was an owner that changed the name of my organization to benefit the minority? It isnt such a big deal for fans but it would be hard to get used to
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said but when a team's "tradition" is derogatory towards a group of people and continue to be successful in making money then I think that societies ideology has changed. I know it'll probably be a struggle to change the name but the team's identity is less important than constant bigotry.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with this post Orlando, because I believe that society should not turn a blind eye to situations like these. Keeping the name Redskins is very offensive to the Oneida Nation. The term "Redskins" is not used in a positive manner to represent them. Also the stereotype of feathers and an eagle are again put as images on the Helmet.
ReplyDeleteThis article http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/08/im-guessing-you-wouldnt-wear-a-new-york-jews-or-san-francisco-chinamen-cap/ is in response to the Washington Redskins helmet logo. If society doesn't take offense to that helmet supposedly representing the natives, then there would should be no problem to wear caps of teams named after "New York Jews" or "San Francisco Chinamen" right?
Sure changing name would be hard to adjust to, but in time society will learn to accept change by being considerate of others.
Both you and I share the exact same thinking in this case because it seems as if sports in general is always stuck in the past with their ways of acknowledging acceptance whether it is ethnic or sexuality. Sports play a part in everyday society and it is on them to make an example of exemplary attitudes.
DeleteI really do agree with this post, I feel that our society only focuses on the good intention without even thinking about the bad consequences. Noam Chomsky said this one quote that I feel might fit into the subject " It's like naming our murder weapons after victims of our crimes: Apache, tomahawk... it's as if the Luftwaffee were to call its fighter planes "Jew" and "Gypsy"" I do find it offensive but as DJ mentioned, it would be hard to change the name because people are so used to it. When it comes to changes, our society will keep it to minimum as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteWhat you and DJ said were completely right in the sense that a name change would be hard but if we continue to keep the name we open the door for more occurrences like this. Although a name change is hard it also is the right thing as well, but it won't be done over night.
DeleteThe name itself might be a part of a 'tradition' but really an NFL team is a franchise, a business that can change its name. The only tradition that is being honoured is one of bigotry as Orlando mentioned and ignorance. Although, in the USA Today poll results expressed American's interest in keeping the name, in a MSNBC the results were 58% in favour of a name changed, yielding the opposite results. It should be known that 81% of Aboriginals are offended by the use of their culture's symbols and names. It is obvious that the readership of the USA Today Newspaper is not as education in discrimination. It is obvious that the readership of the USA Today Newspaper is not as educated in the history of discrimination. I believe that results of the polls that are pro 'Redskins' for a national playing team name, should be looked at critically. In a poll done by Sports Illustrated Magazine, the results yield 90% of Aboriginals were okay with the name of the team. However, American Aboriginal activist groups have questioned the areas/recruitment of those polled. This is offensive and not at all respectful. Change must happen to support the majority of the people who are being spotlighted. It has to start with the owner, Dan Synder, who stated, "the name will never be changed", despite the request from 10 congressmen. Society must be proactive about moving forward in terms of human rights and lose the mindset that it would be too hard to convert.
ReplyDeleteI think this problem can be linked to a lack of understanding by Dan Snyder and the people who voted in favour of keeping the name because they feel as if the name change affects them more than the actual Native Americans who are affected by the name. Leagues like the NHL continue to use Chicago Blackhawks and the MLB uses the name Cleveland Indians, ignorance plays a part in their decisions and flat out bigotry is involved aswell
DeleteAn article I recenty read in response to Dan Synder's resistance to alter the name. It looks like change is really gonna happen!! http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2014/05/22/314929019/senate-to-nfl-change-the-redskins-name
DeleteSociety has changed so much over the course of history so why is it so hard to change a name of a franchise. I understand that some fans will be unhappy of this however anything is anything is better than tarnishing the name of an entire group of indigenous people. They have already suffered so much but I believe this is a slap in the face. I agree with you if Redskins can be a name why not the Washington N..... we as a society need to put a stop to this because it's simply wrong and unfair. I believe that no matter what the cost or consequence the team should be forced to change there name because there is no room anywhere in our society for subtle racism.
ReplyDeleteI think that the name "Redskins" does not honor the Native population, it in fact increases stereotypes and prejudice that are put out against them. Also, I think it comes down to this, if they say that the name is supposed to honor the Natives, meaning the whole Native population, and it doesn't ("Oneida Nation has taken offense to this") the name should be changed. If they do not change it, this means that what they said about honoring the Natives was just a cover up. The fact of the matter is that the name can be changed easily because they are well-funded and well-known team. However, they don't change it either out of ignorance of the Native population or out of laziness. (or some other reason along those lines)
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