DanG

The real world isn't as black and white as you imply (pun intended). Yeah, my ancestors were poor, very poor in fact. They worked hard and improved the family's lot in life over generations. But all along the way, it was a tiny bit easier for them because they were white. Do you really think that black families weren't trying to improve their lot in life over the last 150 years? Of course they were, but even if it's just a little bit harder for them, that uphill battle takes its toll. It's not that white people are better off because of "white privilege", it's that in the past, on average, it has been easier for them to better themselves than it has been for other races. That's why, on average, the family of the poor white dirt farmer in 1865 is better off today than their black counterparts. - Dan G

I never knew that Oklahoma meant "red people". I'm not offended by it because it's been around for 500 years, and I've never heard anyone of Native American heritage even mention it. It is kind of obnoxious when I think about it. However, even in your most pedantic mode, you have to admit changing a company name that's a racial slur in English is different from changing a state name in Choctaw. - Dan G

So how can you dismiss all the people who are offended by redskin? - Dan G

Uh, yeah. Gays took back queer, and seem to find it quite empowering. Blacks are doing something similar with nigger, although there is a lot of debate within their community about whether that's right or not. If you don't take offense to it, that's your choice, but I think most whites do. - Dan G

Reductio ad absurdum I agree. I don't think they should be forced to change their name by the government, I think they should change their name on their own. I'd like to see them do it because it's the right thing to do, but if they do it for business reasons alone, I'll take it. - Dan G

I believe that every time any cop shoots any citizen, there should be an impartial investigation. No wait, let me expand, I believe when anybody shoots anybody else there should be an impartial investigation. Cops aren't above the law, regardless of the skin color of those involved. - Dan G

Are you a lawyer? Maybe a lawyer should weigh in before we take that as the truth. - Dan G

Ba dump. Unfortunately, the running games better than the passing. That's not saying much, but we've got some good backs. - Dan G

The vast majority comes from a single survey of people who self-identified as Native American. Hardly scientific. I don't think it's a strange standard at all. Actual Native American teams, composed on actual Native Americans, can call themselves Redskins if they want. It can be empowering. White people don't have the right to call non-white people niggers, spics, slopes, or redskins. Sorry, that's just the way it is. Similarly, non-white people don't have the right to call white people cracker or honkey. - Dan G

Some Native Americans find it pejorative, and some don't. It's disingenuous to imply that only crazy white activists are offended. No, and I'm not going to tell Jay-Z that he can't say nigger in his songs. On the other hand, I'd be quite offended if some white country singer threw out a n-bomb in every other line. Last I checked, there aren't any Native Americans on the Redskins' roster. - Dan G

Snaky reply: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Native+Americans+against+Washington+Redskins+name Not snarky reply: The root of the word appears unclear. Like many slang terms, you can find a derivation that fits your desires quire easily. The root of nigger is pretty clear, but everyone seems to have a story about where Redskins came from. Some appear, to me at least, unbelievable. One claim is that it refers to the blood on the Native Americans skin when they were killed for bounty. I think that's silly. I also think it's silly to believe that it refers only to ceremonial war paint. The plain reading is that it literally refers to the skin color of Native Americans, which is rather redder than the average European. As for who finds it offensive, the biggest pusher from Native America tribes is the Oneida Nation from upstate New York. Surveys of Native Americans imply that many don't find the term offensive, but some have criticized the surveys for not controlling the actual racial makeup of the respondents. Either way, there are a lot more people than local white activists that don't like the name. I'm local and white, but I'm not an activist, although I have been avoiding buying Redskins merch until they change the name. I'm not sure anyone will make money off the change. That's an angle I've never heard discussed. As far as suing for emotional damage, what's more likely, suing after the team changes the name in good faith, or suing because the team refuses to change the name with a big fat fuck you? I don't think it really matters how many Native Americans find the term offensive, or if they are local. An unbiased observer should realize that the term is, on its face (pun!) racially motivated. That makes it wrong, and it should be changed. I'd like to see them change the name to the Washington Warriors, and keep the logo. I would not be offended by that, and maybe it'll help us win a few games. - Dan G

The purpose of this forum is to discuss the issues of the day. If you don't want to discuss political issues, then this probably isn't the place for you. OTOH, I agree that people get way too worked up around here. The rest of your post has been asked and answered repeatedly. - Dan G

And here's the 1,001st time: There is a huge difference between a team name which references a tribe of Native Americans, and a team name which references all Native Americans using a racist pejorative. Please don't make me type it out for the 1,002nd time. - Dan G

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply you did. It was just a general question to the thread. If we can all agree that racism is wrong, no matter who does it or what the target is, then how can anyone defend the Redskins' name? - Dan G

I agree. So why should the Redskins get a pass? - Dan G

It's right next to the option for "but not busy enough to avoid posting about it" - Dan G

I've said it a thousand times before, and it looks like I'll have to say in a thousand more times. There's a huge difference between team name referencing a tribe of Native Americans, and a team name that references Native Americans as a whole using a racial pejorative. Why is this so hard to understand? - Dan G

And I trust you won't criticize the Dems if they do it, just like you won't criticize the GOP. Yeah, right. - Dan G

I'm not entrenched at all. Anvil posted that normiss was entrenched. I implicitly agreed with him in my post. There was no point in posting that statement yet again directly to normiss. I wanted to know if Anvil realized he was entrenched as well. So, have you already made up your mind just like normiss and Anvil? - Dan G

I didn't ask you what you based your opinion on. I asked you what it would take to change that opinion. Anything? - Dan G

What would it take for you to change your attitude about this incident? Can you really not see that you are just as entrenched in your position as normiss is in his? - Dan G

Nice use of the passive voice. Try writing your sentence in the active voice: "This was the video __________ reported Holder tried to suppress." Active voice requires you to fill in that blank. Passive voice is a cop out. - Dan G

Can you at least wait until said idiots speak up? Or is your mind already made up about people who disagree with you? BTW: I know you know how to spell idiot, I just think it's hilarious that whenever someone on the Internet calls someone else stupid, there is guaranteed to be at least one spelling mistake involved. Misspelling the word "idiot" is particularly funny. - Dan G

If these new accounts are true, it shows even more clearly how badly this situation was handled by the authorities. Why does it take a week and a half for reports to leak out about how the officer was fighting for his life? If the authorities had released even general information, I think the whole protest/riot situation could have been prevented. - Dan G

I try not to be a spelling Nazi, but it's a web site, not a web sight - Dan G