Redskins

[93henfan]

The name of Washington DC's football team has been getting much press the past month or so.

I just read an article in the Philly Inquirer this morning that advocates that the FCC step in, declare the name a racial slur, and ban it from being used on television and radio.

Discuss.

Preferably JSO first.

Spoiler: show

My personal thoughts: Keep the name. Keep the Government out of this. Are any Native Americans of any significant number really upset about this?

[Pwns]

Here's what I don't understand...we're told it's okay that rappers use the n-word nonstop because when it comes to racial slurs it's all about the context of the use of the word and not just the fact the word is used. Fine. But what about the context of native-American mascots? No college or professional team will pick a nickname to mock whatever noun is the team nickname. Nicknames are chosen because there is respect for whatever noun the team name is.

Also, supposedly words like "cracker" or "honkey" (which BTW don't offend me no matter who says it) aren't slurs because they have no history of non-white racial epithets. Well why must redskins all of the sudden quality as a racial slur?

PC requires so much cognitive dissonance that it's ridiculous.

[TheDancinMonarch]

When your enemies use particular words you call it a slur. Otherwise it's just freedom of speech.

[eagleskins]

There's like 5 Indians in the country. I've never met an Indian family at Red Lobster.

[mrklean]

Here's what I don't understand...we're told it's okay that rappers use the n-word nonstop because when it comes to racial slurs it's all about the context of the use of the word and not just the fact the word is used. Fine. But what about the context of native-American mascots? No college or professional team will pick a nickname to mock whatever noun is the team nickname. Nicknames are chosen because there is respect for whatever noun the team name is.

Also, supposedly words like "cracker" or "honkey" (which BTW don't offend me no matter who says it) aren't slurs because they have no history of non-white racial epithets. Well why must redskins all of the sudden quality as a racial slur?

PC requires so much cognitive dissonance that it's ridiculous.

1. This is a free country
2. You can use the N-word if you choose too.

[SuperHornet]

Here's what I don't understand...we're told it's okay that rappers use the n-word nonstop because when it comes to racial slurs it's all about the context of the use of the word and not just the fact the word is used. Fine. But what about the context of native-American mascots? No college or professional team will pick a nickname to mock whatever noun is the team nickname. Nicknames are chosen because there is respect for whatever noun the team name is.

Also, supposedly words like "cracker" or "honkey" (which BTW don't offend me no matter who says it) aren't slurs because they have no history of non-white racial epithets. Well why must redskins all of the sudden quality as a racial slur?

PC requires so much cognitive dissonance that it's ridiculous.

I recently read an article about a HS teacher in Brooklyn (at least, I THINK it was Brooklyn) who was fired for using the word "negro" in class. The problem was that the school board didn't look at the context: it was in a discussion of the Spanish words for the basic colors IN SPANISH CLASS (hence the lower-case "n"). And for those who think that the skin color of the teacher involved might have something to do with whether the term was "racist" or not, the teacher was African-American.

Sometimes, school boards just get a complaint and think they have to "do something" about it, and they don't stop to think about context. Kinda makes you wonder how these people get elected in the first place.

[93henfan]

Here's what I don't understand...we're told it's okay that rappers use the n-word nonstop because when it comes to racial slurs it's all about the context of the use of the word and not just the fact the word is used. Fine. But what about the context of native-American mascots? No college or professional team will pick a nickname to mock whatever noun is the team nickname. Nicknames are chosen because there is respect for whatever noun the team name is.

Also, supposedly words like "cracker" or "honkey" (which BTW don't offend me no matter who says it) aren't slurs because they have no history of non-white racial epithets. Well why must redskins all of the sudden quality as a racial slur?

PC requires so much cognitive dissonance that it's ridiculous.

I recently read an article about a HS teacher in Brooklyn (at least, I THINK it was Brooklyn) who was fired for using the word "negro" in class. The problem was that the school board didn't look at the context: it was in a discussion of the Spanish words for the basic colors IN SPANISH CLASS (hence the lower-case "n"). And for those who think that the skin color of the teacher involved might have something to do with whether the term was "racist" or not, the teacher was African-American.

Sometimes, school boards just get a complaint and think they have to "do something" about it, and they don't stop to think about context. Kinda makes you wonder how these people get elected in the first place.

What a silly negro!