TLH: My Kind of Rivalry

[Hostile]

http://thelandryhat.com/2013/10/12/c...-kind-rivalry/

This week the Dallas Cowboys will host the Washington Commanders. I’m not even going to mince words here, I can’t stand the Commanders. I pretty much despise just about everything about them. My dream was to play in the NFL. I would have bypassed that dream if the only team that wanted me was the Commanders. Some people find that statement to be silly. That is their right. I could not under any circumstance play for a team that I feel clings to its racist roots. Quite frankly I wish NFL players would take a public stance against their mascot name.

Believe me when I say that I know my opinion on this topic is not the popular opinion. I know there are Cowboys fans who disagree with me, and I know how much Commanders fans do as well. That is their right, I am merely exercising mine as well. I was an English Major in college, and I often find myself gravitating to the Dictionary and the etymology or source of a word to form some of my opinions. I have done this regarding the word Commander. No matter which Dictionary you choose to look up this word you will find that it is considered a pejorative word or insult. If you look up the origin of the word it plainly indicates that this word was meant to be be a descriptor of a person’s race of color.

 

[Kalyan]

http://thelandryhat.com/2013/10/12/c...-kind-rivalry/

This week the Dallas Cowboys will host the Washington Redsk*ns. I’m not even going to mince words here, I can’t stand the Redsk*ns. I pretty much despise just about everything about them. My dream was to play in the NFL. I would have bypassed that dream if the only team that wanted me was the Redsk*ns. Some people find that statement to be silly. That is their right. I could not under any circumstance play for a team that I feel clings to its racist roots. Quite frankly I wish NFL players would take a public stance against their mascot name.

Believe me when I say that I know my opinion on this topic is not the popular opinion. I know there are Cowboys fans who disagree with me, and I know how much Redsk*ns fans do as well. That is their right, I am merely exercising mine as well. I was an English Major in college, and I often find myself gravitating to the Dictionary and the etymology or source of a word to form some of my opinions. I have done this regarding the word Redsk*n. No matter which Dictionary you choose to look up this word you will find that it is considered a pejorative word or insult. If you look up the origin of the word it plainly indicates that this word was meant to be be a descriptor of a person’s race of color.

I live in DC and I can't stand them either but I want payback for last year. We are better than Commanders and if we don't beat them, it will bother me in so many ways

 

[Risen Star]

If a book has to tell you to be offended, chances are you're looking to be a victim.

 

[BEMYDADJERRY]

Quick story.....
worked on a NASCAR team...met JOE GIBBS...he tried to lurer me into working for his crew ...i said to him and i quote

" with all due respect i would and could NEVER work for you "
he looked at me with a puzzled look on his face, i said "I'M A COWBOYS FAN" he laughed and said " I UNDERSTAND".....

 

[big dog cowboy]

Quick story.....
worked on a NASCAR team...met JOE GIBBS...he tried to lurer me into working for his crew ...i said to him and i quote

" with all due respect i would and could NEVER work for you "
he looked at me with a puzzled look on his face, i said "I'M A COWBOYS FAN" he laughed and said " I UNDERSTAND".....

Great story.

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

"Eighteenth-century records do, however, attest the emergence of the use of the color terms red and white by Native Americans as racial desig- nations, and the adoption of these terms by Europeans in eastern North America. The first uses of the term red as a racial label that Shoemaker (1997: 627) found are from 1725. In that year a Taensa chief talking to a French Capuchin priest in Mobile re- counted an origin story about a “white man,” a “red man,” and a “black man” (Rowland and Sanders 1927–1932, 2: 485–486), and a Chickasaw chief meeting with the English Commis- sioner for Indian Affairs at Savanna Town referred to “White people” and “red people” (George Chicken in Mereness 1916: 169). As Shoemaker (1997: 628) documents, this use of “red” was soon adopted in both French and English and was conven- tional by the 1750s. Although Euro- peans sometimes used such expres- sions among themselves, however, they remained aware of the fact that this was originally and particularly a Native American usage."


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

 

[Venger]

If a book has to tell you to be offended, chances are you're looking to be a victim.

I need something to just autolike your posts.

As I responded to someone on this topic elsewhere, offense can be given, and offense can be taken, and it is clearly the latter when it comes to this topic.

 

[jnday]

"Eighteenth-century records do, however, attest the emergence of the use of the color terms red and white by Native Americans as racial desig- nations, and the adoption of these terms by Europeans in eastern North America. The first uses of the term red as a racial label that Shoemaker (1997: 627) found are from 1725. In that year a Taensa chief talking to a French Capuchin priest in Mobile re- counted an origin story about a “white man,” a “red man,” and a “black man” (Rowland and Sanders 1927–1932, 2: 485–486), and a Chickasaw chief meeting with the English Commis- sioner for Indian Affairs at Savanna Town referred to “White people” and “red people” (George Chicken in Mereness 1916: 169). As Shoemaker (1997: 628) documents, this use of “red” was soon adopted in both French and English and was conven- tional by the 1750s. Although Euro- peans sometimes used such expres- sions among themselves, however, they remained aware of the fact that this was originally and particularly a Native American usage."


http://anthropology.si.edu/goddard/Redsk*n.pdf

Get enough people together and the truth comes out.

 

[Risen Star]

Here's the bottom line, to me, on this ridiculous issue and I think anybody looking at it fair will agree. The Washington Commanders are honoring Native Americans. Regardless if some find it offensive. It's the intent that matters. They wouldn't name themselves what they believe is a slur. They're not going out on the field on Sundays at the expense of the guy on their helmet.

This quite possibly might be the single most idiotic league issue of my lifetime.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Here's the bottom line, to me, on this ridiculous issue and I think anybody looking at it fair will agree. The Washington Redsk*ns are honoring Native Americans. Regardless if some find it offensive. It's the intent that matters. They wouldn't name themselves what they believe is a slur. They're not going out on the field on Sundays at the expense of the guy on their helmet.

This quite possibly might be the single most idiotic league issue of my lifetime.

I couldn't agree more. I've never understood the argument regarding alleged slurs as sports teams' names. You don't name your team after something you're trying to demean. You name it after something you hold in high regard. The bottom line here is semantics. Commanders v. Braves or Indians???? Like you said, some people just look at the surface and dig no deeper.

 

[Risen Star]

I couldn't agree more. I've never understood the argument regarding alleged slurs as sports teams' names. You don't name your team after something you're trying to demean. You name it after something you hold in high regard. The bottom line here is semantics. Redsk*ns v. Braves or Indians???? Like you said, some people just look at the surface and dig no deeper.

Great post.

I sure hope there isn't somebody out there who decides Cowboy is an offensive term.

 

[Risen Star]

"Eighteenth-century records do, however, attest the emergence of the use of the color terms red and white by Native Americans as racial desig- nations, and the adoption of these terms by Europeans in eastern North America. The first uses of the term red as a racial label that Shoemaker (1997: 627) found are from 1725. In that year a Taensa chief talking to a French Capuchin priest in Mobile re- counted an origin story about a “white man,” a “red man,” and a “black man” (Rowland and Sanders 1927–1932, 2: 485–486), and a Chickasaw chief meeting with the English Commis- sioner for Indian Affairs at Savanna Town referred to “White people” and “red people” (George Chicken in Mereness 1916: 169). As Shoemaker (1997: 628) documents, this use of “red” was soon adopted in both French and English and was conven- tional by the 1750s. Although Euro- peans sometimes used such expres- sions among themselves, however, they remained aware of the fact that this was originally and particularly a Native American usage."


http://anthropology.si.edu/goddard/Redsk*n.pdf

Yeah, the truth is on your side. The sad thing is I don't think it will matter. Sooner or later this PC society will cause a name change. I just hope you guys always refer to your team as the Commanders.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Thanks for the article, Hos. Good read, regardless of whether or not I agree with it.

 

[Hostile]

Thanks for the article, Hos. Good read, regardless of whether or not I agree with it.

I said many would not. Doesn't matter to me if they do or not.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

It's a racist term and shouldn't be used. Pretty simple to understand. If someone is going to take a stand on something, equality is a good one in my book.

 

[jnday]

It's a racist term and shouldn't be used. Pretty simple to understand. If someone is going to take a stand on something, equality is a good one in my book.

It comes down to if you consider the term to be racist. Before I support any cause, I want to make sure that it is legit. There are serious questions by many, including Native Americans, if the term has offensive racist meaning. From the polls conducted, only ten percent are offended by the term. If the public becomes this petty about these issues, there are a bunch of sports teams that needs changing. I have Native American ancestors, but I also have Celtic and Viking ancestors as well. I should be offended every time ESPN comes on.

 

[Hostile]

It comes down to if you consider the term to be racist. Before I support any cause, I want to make sure that it is legit. There are serious questions by many, including Native Americans, if the term has offensive racist meaning. From the polls conducted, only ten percent are offended by the term. If the public becomes this petty about these issues, there are a bunch of sports teams that needs changing. I have Native American ancestors, but I also have Celtic and Viking ancestors as well. I should be offended every time ESPN comes on.

I have never seen Celtic or Viking defined as an offensive term. However, Commander is defined that way. I don't agree with changing Braves or Warriors or even Indians. I have nothing against Seminoles, Aztecs, Chiefs, or Blackhawks. But those words are not defined as pejoratives. Commanders simply is, and that is what makes it wrong. Again, if they were being organized today, in the Nation's capital, do you think that mascot name would fly? If not, then it can't be okay just because it is tradition. Washington is a town that changed a mascot name from Bullets to Wizards. Bullets is certainly less offensive in nature.

Oh, and for the record, I have not added the * to the word.

 

[Red Dragon]

I'm torn on the name change issue. I dislike the Commanders, but I also dislike political correctness, too.

 

[Doomsay]

Quick story.....
worked on a NASCAR team...met JOE GIBBS...he tried to lurer me into working for his crew ...i said to him and i quote

" with all due respect i would and could NEVER work for you "
he looked at me with a puzzled look on his face, i said "I'M A COWBOYS FAN" he laughed and said " I UNDERSTAND".....

Very Cool.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Oh, and for the record, I have not added the * to the word.

Zone filter for the week. It IS Commanders week, after all.