Commanders Team Name Under Attack Again

[TwoDeep3]

I hope this is the right spot for this - TD3

Slate joins the growing list of publications no longer using the ‘Commanders’ name

The name of the Washington professional football organization — that would be "Commanders," for those of you coming to the story late — continues to provoke ire amongst those who believe it is disrespectful, outdated and/or classless. But since it's clear that team owner Daniel Snyder has no intention of changing the team name, opponents of the burgundy-and-gold squad have decided to use other ways of protesting the team's name.

Several publications have stopped using the name "Commanders" altogether in their coverage of the team. Add Slate to that number, as the website announced it will no longer use the name in an article entitled "The Washington ________."

The article is lengthy but well worth a read; writer David Plotz threads the rhetorical needle, acknowledging both the team's history as well as the outdated nature of the name. Opponents of a name change should take the time to actually read the article before mounting a HELL NO! HAIL TO THE Commanders! counterattack. (We write that knowing that there's a measurable segment of the Commanders audience, including Snyder himself, who staunchly refuse to acknowledge any view but their own.)

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...t-publications-no-longer-using-193111340.html

 

[AmericasTeam81]

Speech police

 

[cml750]

Stupid political correctness. I can't stand the Skins but I do not want their name to change.

 

[jazzcat22]

This has been ongoing for how long now?
Keep the name, it's stupid PC crap, way over done like every thing else.
It's part of the NFL culture. Leave them alone. We don't want to see a crying video about the name change, the autograph one was bad enough!!!

 

[Risen Star]

Politically correct nonsense.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Stupid political correctness. I can't stand the Skins but I do not want their name to change.

Indians and their rights. That's the political correctness I'm for.

 

[cml750]

Indians and their rights. That's the political correctness I'm for.

LOL! So you support nonsense like this????

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

LOL! So you support nonsense like this????

Why do care what I think anyways? You see the world you want, and vice versa. Leave it at that.

 

[Cowboys22]

I'm typically the first one to dismiss political correctness but not in this case. The writing is on the wall with the name Commanders. To many high schools and rec leagues that have used that name are changing it and to many people are jumping on the bandwagon to change it. Momentum is not on the skins side. I think it's inevitable that they will have to change it. I don't pretend to know the true origin of the word or how many people are offended by it, but if there are more than a handful of people who are, then it should not be used as a team mascot. I do know that the owner of the team that put the name in place was a known racist and the team was the last one to sign an African American player. I look at it like this, if you would not walk into a room full of Native Americans and address them as "Commanders", then you should also think its inappropriate to be the name of a professional football team. If you think that would be an appropriate thing to do then good luck!

 

[iceberg]

I'm typically the first one to dismiss political correctness but not in this case. The writing is on the wall with the name Commanders. To many high schools and rec leagues that have used that name are changing it and to many people are jumping on the bandwagon to change it. Momentum is not on the skins side. I think it's inevitable that they will have to change it. I don't pretend to know the true origin of the word or how many people are offended by it, but if there are more than a handful of people who are, then it should not be used as a team mascot. I do know that the owner of the team that put the name in place was a known racist and the team was the last one to sign an African American player. I look at it like this, if you would not walk into a room full of Native Americans and address them as "Commanders", then you should also think its inappropriate to be the name of a professional football team. If you think that would be an appropriate thing to do then good luck!

it's PC and it's stupid and getting WAY out of hand.

Team mascots have a history of offending. Organizations from professional football franchises to inconspicuous elementary schools have often come under scrutiny for mascots referencing Native Americans, for example. But choosing, say, an animal, and not an ethnic group, has generally been a safe bet. Until now.

Canyons School Board members in Draper, Utah have rejected the “Cougars” as a high school mascot, deeming it offensive to older women. When granted the opportunity to vote, nearly a quarter of Corner Canyon High School’s future students opted for alliteration and settled on the Corner Canyon Cougars, Salt Lake City Fox affiliate KSTU reported. Despite the fact that the Cougar is one of the most common school monikers in the country, the board vetoed the choice.



Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/20...to-avoid-offending-older-women/#ixzz2bQwR7EDP

 

[Cowboys22]

it's PC and it's stupid and getting WAY out of hand.

Team mascots have a history of offending. Organizations from professional football franchises to inconspicuous elementary schools have often come under scrutiny for mascots referencing Native Americans, for example. But choosing, say, an animal, and not an ethnic group, has generally been a safe bet. Until now.

Canyons School Board members in Draper, Utah have rejected the “Cougars” as a high school mascot, deeming it offensive to older women. When granted the opportunity to vote, nearly a quarter of Corner Canyon High School’s future students opted for alliteration and settled on the Corner Canyon Cougars, Salt Lake City Fox affiliate KSTU reported. Despite the fact that the Cougar is one of the most common school monikers in the country, the board vetoed the choice.



Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/20...to-avoid-offending-older-women/#ixzz2bQwR7EDP

None of that has a thing to do with the term "Commanders" and whether or not it should be used as a team name in the NFL.

 

[iceberg]

but it has everything to do with people being so wrapped up in little things that in the grand scheme of things don't matter. we're so worried about NOT offending people we're just getting stupid about it.

 

[gimmesix]

Stupid political correctness. I can't stand the Skins but I do not want their name to change.

I do, but not because I care that they use Commanders, just another way to stick it to a hated rival.

I admit, I'm petty.

 

[TheRat]

I like how people are so angry about political correctness, but fail to take the time - or don't care because of their own insensitivity to take the time - to consider that 'Commander' is in fact a word that has been and still is used to malign Native Americans. We are not talking about a positive term like 'chiefs' here. This is a word to make Native Americans feel like trash, and a football team thinks it is perfectly reasonable to name themselves after it. I wonder how Snyder would feel if his team was named after a derogatory word for his own people.

 

[cml750]

I do, but not because I care that they use Commanders, just another way to stick it to a hated rival.

I admit, I'm petty.

I have no love loss for the Skins at all, but would the rivalry really be the same if their name changed?

 

[cml750]

I like how people are so angry about political correctness, but fail to take the time - or don't care because of their own insensitivity to take the time - to consider that 'Commander' is in fact a word that has been and still is used to malign Native Americans. We are not talking about a positive term like 'chiefs' here. This is a word to make Native Americans feel like trash, and a football team thinks it is perfectly reasonable to name themselves after it. I wonder how Snyder would feel if his team was named after a derogatory word for his own people.

Words can only offend people if they let them.

 

[Cowboys22]

but it has everything to do with people being so wrapped up in little things that in the grand scheme of things don't matter. we're so worried about NOT offending people we're just getting stupid about it.

I would agree with you on probably 99% of other similar cases but not this one, I see the other side and can't get past it. The word has been used as a derogatory term in the past and should not be a team name. Again, if you would be unwilling to walk up to a 6'3" 225 lb Native American and call him a Commander, then you should feel it is not an appropriate team name.

 

[TheRat]

Words can only offend people if they let them.

So you would have no problem with an expansion team calling themselves the fighting n-words or maybe the fighting k-words?

Anyhow essentially what you are saying it is not the fault of Dan Snyder for offending Native Americans, but it is their own fault for being offended for being treated like trash. That seems like some really crappy logic.

 

[cml750]

So you would have no problem with an expansion team calling themselves the fighting n-words or maybe the fighting k-words?

Anyhow essentially what you are saying it is not the fault of Dan Snyder for offending Native Americans, but it is their own fault for being offended for being treated like trash. That seems like some really crappy logic.

Good grief, you have put me in the precarious position of defending little Danny Snyder. Danny did not name the Skins. There is a long tradition in the name.The team was not named to offend "Native Americans" but to honor them. If some find the name offensive then they are just being silly. The first sentence of your post is so stupid it doesn't even deserve a response.

 

[TheRat]

Politically correct nonsense.

Yeah us white people shouldn't have to be bothered with the petty feelings of minorities. If we want to treat them like trash they should man up and deal with it.