Commanders Team Name Under Attack Again

[Tabascocat]

Whats next...PETA wanting to rename the Dolphins because they get murdered on the field every Sunday?

If it isn't one thing, it is another that will draw attention. I see the name Commanders(football related) kind of like an honor to the Native Americans, not offensive. I have never felt it was derogatory as a football teams name, but I am not a NA either.

Until I see a vast majority of NA's speak up and want it re-named, then I will be fully behind that move. But, as it stands now, it seems like an extremely small population making waves.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

First off, I don't believe the 90% stat that skins fans throw around but even if that's true, that means 10% of Native Americans are offended by the term. That right there is plenty evidence enough to get rid of the word as a team mascot. My silly question needs no context because there is no situation in which you or anyone else of sound mind would think its appropriate to address a Native American as a Commander, especially one that you don't know. So go ahead and make up some ridiculous situation in which it would be okay to go up to a Native American and say "what's up Commander".

So, if 10% of white people were upset because they didn't like the fact that I was referred to as Hispanic and instead, they wanted to call me Spic, then the rest of the country should bow to their wishes because it was offensive to that segment of people?

10% of the population are against everything all the time. I mean, that's just how things go when you have a country with 3 Million plus people.

 

[Vtwin]

The Washington Gingers.

Oh wait...

I'M OFFENDED!!

lol

 

[Denim Chicken]

However, i also wouldn't walk up and say, "Hey, blackskin!" either.. as you wouldn't.

That made me LOL

 

[RoyTheHammer]

So, if 10% of white people were upset because they didn't like the fact that I was referred to as Hispanic and instead, they wanted to call me Spic, then the rest of the country should bow to their wishes because it was offensive to that segment of people?

10% of the population are against everything all the time. I mean, that's just how things go when you have a country with 3 Million plus people.

How many black people have you heard or heard of using the N word?

Alot, right?

Does that mean it should be ok for everyone to start using the phrase whenever they want then?

 

[Cowboys22]

How many black people have you heard or heard of using the N word?

Alot, right?

Does that mean it should be ok for everyone to start using the phrase whenever they want then?

The post you responded to was so ridiculous I decided to ignore it and let it stand on its own ignorance for all to see.

 

[SirLK26]

Whats next...PETA wanting to rename the Dolphins because they get murdered on the field every Sunday?

If it isn't one thing, it is another that will draw attention. I see the name Commanders(football related) kind of like an honor to the Native Americans, not offensive. I have never felt it was derogatory as a football teams name, but I am not a NA either.

Until I see a vast majority of NA's speak up and want it re-named, then I will be fully behind that move. But, as it stands now, it seems like an extremely small population making waves.

The bold is exactly right. In fact, one full-blooded Native American said he is very honored by the name. It's just a group of people obsessed with political correctness that are trying to change the name. Quote by RG3:" In a land of freedom, we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness." Some day, I believe the name will be changed; it's practically inevitable. That's going to be a sad day.

http://www.Commanders.com/news-and-...mmanders/cdb3c94e-f5c6-4d98-9acd-18d7fb768bb7

 

[RoyTheHammer]

The bold is exactly right. In fact, one full-blooded Native American said he is very honored by the name. It's just a group of people obsessed with political correctness that are trying to change the name. Quote by RG3:" In a land of freedom, we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness." Some day, I believe the name will be changed; it's practically inevitable. That's going to be a sad day.

http://www.Commanders.com/news-and-...mmanders/cdb3c94e-f5c6-4d98-9acd-18d7fb768bb7

One Native American said he was honored by the term "Commander" being used.. clearly, that means all Native Americans feel the same.

 

[SirLK26]

One Native American said he was honored by the term "Commander" being used.. clearly, that means all Native Americans feel the same.

Actually, if you would have read the article, you would have noted that he said "we", not "me". And it's not just them.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013...ld-be-offended-if-Commanders-did-change-name/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...nia-indian-tribes-not-offended-by-Commanders/

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-sh...h-poll-shows-vast-majority-americans-arent-of

http://conservativeintel.com/2013/0...ans-arent-offended-about-the-Commanders-name/




http://www.Commanders.com/news-and-...mmanders/cdb3c94e-f5c6-4d98-9acd-18d7fb768bb7

 

[Cowboys22]

The bold is exactly right. In fact, one full-blooded Native American said he is very honored by the name. It's just a group of people obsessed with political correctness that are trying to change the name. Quote by RG3:" In a land of freedom, we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness." Some day, I believe the name will be changed; it's practically inevitable. That's going to be a sad day.

http://www.Commanders.com/news-and-...mmanders/cdb3c94e-f5c6-4d98-9acd-18d7fb768bb7

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Commander
http://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=Commander
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Commander
http://www.kdictionaries-online.com...#&&DictionaryEntry=Commander&SearchMode=Entry
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/Commander?

The links above provide you with 5 current definitions of the word "Commander". As you read through them can you honestly say to yourself that the term, as viewed today, is appropriate? Be honest, you are happy to have a team name that is viewed by so many in that way and that dictionaries define as offensive and an insult. I know you love the team, its name, its colors, its logo, its history and this issue tears deep because you feel you will lose all the traditions and it will never be the same if the name is changed. I get all of that but it pales in comparison to a sports team keeping a generally accepted racial slur of an oppressed minority as its team name. I don't think it will be a sad day when it is inevitably changed. After the initial shock it will feel like a weight has been lifted off the entire organization and all is fans as they will no longer have to defend the indefensible.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Actually, if you would have read the article, you would have noted that he said "we", not "me". And it's not just them.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013...ld-be-offended-if-Commanders-did-change-name/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...nia-indian-tribes-not-offended-by-Commanders/

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-sh...h-poll-shows-vast-majority-americans-arent-of

http://conservativeintel.com/2013/0...ans-arent-offended-about-the-Commanders-name/

If he did say "we", than he would be speaking for other people, which is the very thing he said he was so upset about. How odd..

 

[iceberg]

and the ignore list grows.

 

[SirLK26]

If he did say "we", than he would be speaking for other people, which is the very thing he said he was so upset about. How odd..

You still didn't read the article, at least not properly. He wasn't speaking about just anybody, or even other Native Americans, necessarily. He was representing his tribe. By the way, you're not providing any facts or opinions about the name; so you're just arguing because you dislike the Commanders, not because you think the name's racist. Cute.


Cowboy22, I am a Commander fan, so I'm biased. But I honestly do not think the name is racist. If there was a team with the the n-word for a name, that would be racist, simply because that word is used in a derogatory way. If there was a team called the blacks, I wouldn't think that was racist, because that word isn't used in a derogatory way. The name Commanders is not being used in a derogatory way. There's an article on the interwebs that clarifies the history behind the name, but I couldn't find the link, unfortunately. (I'll keep looking for it.) Honestly, when I think of the name Commanders, I don't think about Indians at all. All I think about is football. The name isn't being used in a derogatory way, so I don't believe it's racist. If people would be insulting Native Americans by calling them Commanders, then the name change debate would have some merit. And if the majority of Native Americans were offended by the name, again, it would have merit. But as it is now, the debate is rubbish. "In a land of freedom, we are being held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness".

 

[cml750]

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013...ld-be-offended-if-Commanders-did-change-name/

 

[SirLK26]

Cowboys22, I still couldn't find the link, but anyway...The Commanders name came about after George Preston Marshall was awarded an NFL franchise in Boston in 1932. He named that team the Braves. In 1933, he moved the team to Washington, and renamed it the Commanders.

 

[Cowboys22]

You still didn't read the article, at least not properly. He wasn't speaking about just anybody, or even other Native Americans, necessarily. He was representing his tribe. By the way, you're not providing any facts or opinions about the name; so you're just arguing because you dislike the Commanders, not because you think the name's racist. Cute.


Cowboy22, I am a Commander fan, so I'm biased. But I honestly do not think the name is racist. If there was a team with the the n-word for a name, that would be racist, simply because that word is used in a derogatory way. If there was a team called the blacks, I wouldn't think that was racist, because that word isn't used in a derogatory way. The name Commanders is not being used in a derogatory way. There's an article on the interwebs that clarifies the history behind the name, but I couldn't find the link, unfortunately. (I'll keep looking for it.) Honestly, when I think of the name Commanders, I don't think about Indians at all. All I think about is football. The name isn't being used in a derogatory way, so I don't believe it's racist. If people would be insulting Native Americans by calling them Commanders, then the name change debate would have some merit. And if the majority of Native Americans were offended by the name, again, it would have merit. But as it is now, the debate is rubbish. "In a land of freedom, we are being held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness".

The issue skins fans desperately try to ignore is that the origin or ancient meanings of the word have no bearing on the word as it exists today. The word has evolved and is now generally accepted as a racial slur. So much so that dictionaries define it as such. Go back to my previous post with the quotes. The word became increasingly used as a negative towards Native Americans from 1875 to 1930 and by the 1960's fell out of favor with nearly everyone as unacceptable. It is well past the time to get rid of the name. Keep the colors, logo, and uniforms and simply come up with a name that all view as honoring Native Americans. It will suck for skins fans and I feel for you. Its a rough situation to be in and I'm glad its not me but the organization and all associated with it will emerge better off on the other side. I wholeheartedly believe that.

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002961.html

www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/downloads/political_communication/naes/2004_03_redskins_09-24_pr.pdf

http://anthropology.si.edu/goddard/Commander.pdf

 

[Cowboys22]

Cowboys22, I still couldn't find the link, but anyway...The Commanders name came about after George Preston Marshall was awarded an NFL franchise in Boston in 1932. He named that team the Braves. In 1933, he moved the team to Washington, and renamed it the Commanders.

We all know the history of the team but now I know that the term Commander had become increasingly negative towards Native Americans from 1875 to 1930 so it was viewed as a negative slur when it was chosen as the team name. That begs different questions as we all know the racial history of the Commander franchise and it reluctance to sign black players. Why didn't he keep the Braves? Why did he choose a negative slur instead?

 

[iceberg]

Cowboys22, I still couldn't find the link, but anyway...The Commanders name came about after George Preston Marshall was awarded an NFL franchise in Boston in 1932. He named that team the Braves. In 1933, he moved the team to Washington, and renamed it the Commanders.

from what i read, he was still trying to capitalize off the "braves" stigma, hence, Commanders.

and like i've also read, it was about the painting of their skin, not the color of it.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

You still didn't read the article, at least not properly. He wasn't speaking about just anybody, or even other Native Americans, necessarily. He was representing his tribe. By the way, you're not providing any facts or opinions about the name; so you're just arguing because you dislike the Commanders, not because you think the name's racist. Cute.

..and this is a prime example of why speaking for other people is stupid.

I read the article just fine.. he claimed to be able to speak about the most complex feelings about the word for no less than 700 people.

Do you honestly believe not one person in his entire tribe might find the word even mildly offensive?

If so, i have some property in Never Never Land that i'd like to sell you..