Hail To The RedTails?

[muck4doo]

A big red splash across the butts would actually suit that team just fine:

A member of the Washington D.C. Council said he plans to submit a resolution calling on the Washington Commanders to change their nickname because it is "racist and derogatory" and "it's time to make a change.""
David Grosso suggested the team change its name to "Redtails" in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen, a pioneering group of African-American pilots who served the United States in World War II.


More:



http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9230556/dc-pol-suggests-redtails-name-change-washington-Commanders

 

[Stryker44]

Grosso is a traitor to his own kind.

 

[Wheeltax]

Why not something honoring Native Americans?

 

[punchnjudy]

Tucktail would be more appropriate.

 

[Sonny#9]

Tucktail would be more appropriate.

Nah, the Washington Cowboys-in-December would just sound weird...

 

[RastaRocket]

I find it funny that Skins fans think they have a dominant team.

 

[BAZ]

Nah, the Washington Cowboys-in-December would just sound weird...

Did that sound clever in your head? Dope.

 

[tantrix1969]

this would carry more weight if this was proposed by Native Americans instead of someone searching for a cause

 

[Dmoore Esq]

It is pretty ridiculous how offensive their team name is. I mean, I don't have a problem with teams being named Indians, but the Commanders is awful. I can't think of another team name that's as politically incorrect as the Commanders.

 

[Sonny#9]

this would carry more weight if this was proposed by Native Americans instead of someone searching for a cause

That's because most Native Americans don't reallly care. They have other more pressing issues than this.

 

[erod]

While I would cringe if they cowhered to this politically correct BS.....oh what fun we would have with the name "Redtails". LOL

I know the dual reference - the hawk and the black air squadrons in WW2 - but football fans are too relentless not to whack that softball of a name out of the park.

 

[zrinkill]

In todays society its just a matter of time till they are forced to change the name.

And I will laugh at the Commander fans.

 

[erod]

It is pretty ridiculous how offensive their team name is. I mean, I don't have a problem with teams being named Indians, but the Commanders is awful. I can't think of another team name that's as politically incorrect as the Commanders.

If you want to be offended, it's easy to be offended. And it's ridiculous for anyone to be offended by this nickname.

Is it meant in a derogatory way? Does it offend the Indian culture? Commanders basically means "Warriors", and no offense is meant by it. What about the Syracuse Orangemen?

Intent should be considered, but that's far too cerebral for those who just want to get their panties in a twist over something.

What about Sooners? Yankees? Aggies? Fighting Irish? Vikings?

You can stretch a lot of names into an offensive slur if you want to.

 

[Califan007]

It is pretty ridiculous how offensive their team name is. I mean, I don't have a problem with teams being named Indians, but the Commanders is awful. I can't think of another team name that's as politically incorrect as the Commanders.

Can you explain why it's offensive? And I mean other than saying that "How would you feel if they were called the Blackskins" nonsense lol...

 

[SkinsFan82]

If you want to be offended, it's easy to be offended. And it's ridiculous for anyone to be offended by this nickname.

Is it meant in a derogatory way? Does it offend the Indian culture? Commanders basically means "Warriors", and no offense is meant by it. What about the Syracuse Orangemen?

Intent should be considered, but that's far too cerebral for those who just want to get their panties in a twist over something.

What about Sooners? Yankees? Aggies? Fighting Irish? Vikings?

You can stretch a lot of names into an offensive slur if you want to.

This is pretty much how I feel about it. It obviously wasn't meant to be offensive toward anyone.

Are there Native Americans that are offended by it? Yes.

Do I feel I have the right to tell them they're wrong? No.

The thing is I've seen just as many (or more) that have no issue with it at all, and even some that say they're proud of it.

The loudest people in this "debate" are people who have no connection to it making a fuss because it's become trendy in this country to be offended and stand on what you perceive to be the moral high ground and look down on people who might not agree.

 

[Idgit]

Honestly, the name "Commander" *is* offensive. This isn't like 'Chiefs' or 'Braves' where it's just a name or even an honor of sorts. It's a direct reference to a common historic slur based on skin color. That just doesn't happen elsewhere in professional sports.

That said, it's not the end of the world. If Notre Dame can have a drunken Irishman and wear it proudly, we can live with the term 'Commander' in the NFL.

 

[Califan007]

Honestly, the name "Commander" *is* offensive. This isn't like 'Chiefs' or 'Braves' where it's just a name or even an honor of sorts. It's a direct reference to a common historic slur based on skin color. That just doesn't happen elsewhere in professional sports.

You'd have to search long and hard to find examples of "Commander" used as a 'common historic slur'.

 

[Sonny#9]

Honestly, the name "Commander" *is* offensive. This isn't like 'Chiefs' or 'Braves' where it's just a name or even an honor of sorts. It's a direct reference to a common historic slur based on skin color. That just doesn't happen elsewhere in professional sports.

The thing is, not everyone finds it offensive. I am not arguing that some do, clearly. However, the redsidents of Red Mesa, Az., for example, disagree with you. It's not a black and white issue.

That said, it's not the end of the world. If Notre Dame can have a drunken Irishman and wear it proudly, we can live with the term 'Commander' in the NFL.

I agree -- there are much worse things in this world. I do want to ask though, at what point to we stop living by "minority rule?" Clearly, more people would be negatively affected by a name change than those who are offended by the current name. At what point do we draw the line and stop worrying about possibly offending this, that or the other minority group?

 

[Wheeltax]

I agree -- there are much worse things in this world. I do want to ask though, at what point to we stop living by "minority rule?" Clearly, more people would be negatively affected by a name change than those who are offended by the current name. At what point do we draw the line and stop worrying about possibly offending this, that or the other minority group?

By the same token, there's also the "Tyranny of the Majority" that causes a pure Democracy to not necessarily be a good thing.

I don't really have a dog in the fight*, personally. I'm neither someone who may be offended by the term 'Commander' nor a fan of the team. I just don't want to see it become someone else's White Knight cause.




*Get it? It's a Mike Vick joke.

 

[Idgit]

You'd have to search long and hard to find examples of "Commander" used as a 'common historic slur'.

No, you wouldn't. Why pretend that? I'm not even arguing you should change your name, but 'Commander' is a derogatory term.

...I do want to ask though, at what point to we stop living by "minority rule?" Clearly, more people would be negatively affected by a name change than those who are offended by the current name. At what point do we draw the line and stop worrying about possibly offending this, that or the other minority group?

I agree, you shouldn't have to change the name just because it's offensive to a minority. Frankly, I'd be offended if they change it. You're not going to keep everyone happy, and there's no point in trying. I"m sure there are cowboys somewhere unhappy with us.