Judge Says Native Americans Waited Too Long to Sue Commanders Over Name

[tyke1doe]

I'm not sure about laws of the decision, but its a little different when talking about trademark laws than civil rights laws.

Agreed.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I will repeat a challenge I have made to several Commanders fans. If you don't think the name is offensive, please come to Arizona to visit me and I will take you out to one of the reservations. Please walk up to a group of our native Americans and say "hello Commanders" just as friendly as you can. I will watch.

None of them have ever taken me up on my offer. Wonder why if it isn't offensive as they claim.

Listen to the man!
As one who has spent lots of time in Arizona and northern New Mexico, and with a fair amount of Comanche in my veins, I totally co-sign Hos' post.

 

[tyke1doe]

Probably cause there arent enough Natives to defend themselves.

Agreed.

 

[tyke1doe]

Sure there are major differences. The only similarity is time. I just think the argument of them waiting too long is absurd.

But it's an argument without context. In one case, time is not a factor; in another case it is.

You're basically comparing an issue where time isn't consequential to one where time is consequential.

 

[fortdick]

My wife was telling me a story about a city councilman that was talking about a project that was up for funding. He said the project would be a black hole for tax money. His fellow councilman, an African-American, took offense, claiming it was a racist remark.

How sensitive we gotta be?

 

[Hostile]

My wife was telling me a story about a city councilman that was talking about a project that was up for funding. He said the project would be a black hole for tax money. His fellow councilman, an African-American, took offense, claiming it was a racist remark.

How sensitive we gotta be?

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121541

 

[YosemiteSam]

I think it's irrelevant how long they've waited. John a three year old native American isn't old enough to know that it is insulting to his heritage. By claiming "they" waited to long is stripping John of his rights because of someone elses non-action before he was born.

The judge is wrong.

 

[The Panch]

My wife was telling me a story about a city councilman that was talking about a project that was up for funding. He said the project would be a black hole for tax money. His fellow councilman, an African-American, took offense, claiming it was a racist remark.

How sensitive we gotta be?

To compare something that would take a major reach to be looked at as subliminally offensive to a blatant racial remark is amazingly ignorant.

 

[Hostile]

I think it's irrelevant how long they've waited. John a three year old native American isn't old enough to know that it is insulting to his heritage. By claiming "they" waited to long is stripping John of his rights because of someone elses non-action before he was born.

The judge is wrong.

Good post.

 

[AbeBeta]

Me, I think it is time for the NFL to step in on this as the NCAA did a few years ago.

 

[Danny White]

I'm not sure about laws of the decision, but its a little different when talking about trademark laws than civil rights laws.

If this is the same speedkilz, you're running circles around them over there at Extremeskins.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251196&page=2&pp=15

 

[Wrangler87]

I'm about 20% American Indian, give or take a few percentage points. I hate the Commanders, but I'm not offended by their name one bit. It's a name. It's a word. For goodness sake. If you are confident in who and what you are, than something like this will never offend you. It's all about self esteem.

 

[Hostile]

I'm about 20% American Indian, give or take a few percentage points. I hate the Commanders, but I'm not offended by their name one bit. It's a name. It's a word. For goodness sake. If you are confident in who and what you are, than something like this will never offend you. It's all about self esteem.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt

I still think it is an obvious slur.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

guess the statue of limitations run out -- right?

 

[peplaw06]

Would have to read the decision to know the legal basis for the ruling, but there is a principle in the law known as laches which is defined as "an equitable defense accusing an opposing party of having "sat on its rights"; as a result of this delay, the delaying party is undeserving of equitable relief. It is a form of estoppel for delay."

It does sound like the judge was looking for a reason to side with the Skins.

That being said I've wondered for a long time how the Skins, in this day and age, are able to use that name and logo when our society has gone overboard on sensitivity and political correctness.

guess the statue of limitations run out -- right?

IMO Laches and Statutes of Limitations are ridiculous defenses. If you accept that this if offensive, then you have a continuing offense against Native Americans, and a whole new class of members as time goes by and generations pass. Does someone who was just born lose their rights just because their parents and/or grandparents didn't do anything?

I also think this is offensive. But I'm not sure legally speaking what anyone can do about it. The only recourse I think is feasible is to bring enough economic pressure on the NFL to where the league makes them change it.

I don't see a specific harm to the group, other than hurt feelings. I could be missing something, but I don't see it.

And if it is just hurt feelings, what if a rancher were hurt because we're using Cowboys? Is PETA going to get involved and sue on behalf of animals for all the names of animals that are used, or something like the Packers? What about people over 7'0" tall, do they sue the Giants? Does every team have to adopt a mascot that is an inanimate object, like the Jets?

 

[leeblair]

Judge says American Indians waited too long to sue Commanders

Associated Press

Updated: July 11, 2008, 3:24 PM ET

WASHINGTON -- A federal judge has sided with the Washington Commanders in a lawsuit brought by American Indians who consider the team's name racially offensive.

A group of Native Americans has been trying to get the courts to cancel the Commanders' trademark so that the team could no longer market its name.

But a U.S. district judge in Washington says the plaintiffs waited too long to bring their case to court. She added that her ruling does not decide "the appropriateness of Native American imagery for team names."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Somewhere, somebody needs to get a hold on people like this and shake some sense into them.

Back a few years ago, the native Americans were protesting the Braves in the World Series, because they called themselves the Braves.

Our courts systems do not have the time to entertain such silliness of people who try to make something out of nothing just so they can cause an issue.

What needs to happen is that the Judge needs to slap a stiff fine on them for needlessly tieing up the courts in such a frivolous lawsuit.

What's next? Are they going to go around suing all of us that played "Cowboys and Indians" when we were kids?


That's just ridiculous.

 

[dogberry]

Can people today to referred to by color? I had a phone surveyor refuse my self description of White and re-race me as Caucasian. Would it be sufficient for some of you to call them the Washington Native Americans (a name I would object to)?

As a general rule, teams are not named after objects of derision.

 

[jobberone]

I will repeat a challenge I have made to several Commanders fans. If you don't think the name is offensive, please come to Arizona to visit me and I will take you out to one of the reservations. Please walk up to a group of our native Americans and say "hello Commanders" just as friendly as you can. I will watch.

None of them have ever taken me up on my offer. Wonder why if it isn't offensive as they claim.

Don't call them chief either. Even if you mean chief honcho. It will not go down well. Promise you.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I don't see how it could be possible for a time limit to be something that regards race relations. I do not think the should be able to get money however a change in names should be warranted. O well hopefully they will apeal this decision.

 

[cleverusername]

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt

I still think it is an obvious slur.

Me too, If they ever do change their name, here's an idea...

http://i154.***BLOCKED***/albums/s264/elver86/FightinWhities1.jpg

Read this for more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_Whites