Hellobee Boards

I'm a Maryland native and I really don't care. We call them the Redskins and "the skins" and grew up with them. If they change their name, they change their name. Remember when Washington's basketball team was the Bullets? Everyone laughs about that now and there's no harm done. Change it, don't change it, I don't care. We will probably mess up and call them Redskins for a couple of years until we get used to calling them by whatever new name someone comes up with. I'm sure the new name will be perfectly politically correct, at least for the next 50 years.

@mediagirl: I completely agree with you.

I think this is great- We will only call them The Washington Team in our house because we just can't imagine using racial slurs in our everyday speech. And we're Marylanders (although I emphatically do not cheer for the Washington team, I'm a Baltimore girl all the way ), so this is getting some attention here.

The name is dehumanizing to an entire population of people living in our country. Additionally, since I do not belong to any of the ethnic groups concerned, I don't feel like it's my right to pass judgement on whether it's a big deal or not. If Native American groups say it's harmful (and a great many do), then I support them!

@lawbee11: Exactly.

I am part Native American but it's never been a big part of my identity. I know many people though who are deeply affected by the word and I think that is reason enough to change it.

They could just change their logo to a redskin potato instead to get rid of the negative connotation.

Or the second one is my favorite

@jedeve: I think this is great!

@MrsH: LOL I love the potato idea but I guess that's not a very cool mascot for a sports team. XD

I think at the very least the logo should change, even if they keep the name. The logo is just... in bad taste imo.

@jedeve: sorry! It's the type of law I practice

Born and raised Redskins fan here. My grandfather and then my parents had season's tickets. I went to my first game before I could walk. I'm thrilled with this. It's about time. I've seen people try to argue that in polls a majority of people don't think the name needs to be changed. Well, guess what? A majority of people in this country aren't Native American. Why should we get to tell our Native American citizens what is and isn't offensive to their heritage?

@lawbee11: @Arden: Thank you.

My grandparents are Native American, and no one has the right to tell my family what we should or should not be offended by. Its a derogatory slur, and I'm glad its on its way out.

@grizz: who's telling you you shouldn't be offended by the name?

I'm also a life-long Skins fan and I'm hopeful this will be the beginning of changing the name. I'm embarrassed to tell people which team I like because of the name and I never wear my jersey anymore.

Snyder is a complete idiot. I hope the NFL pressures him into it and money is likely the only way to do it. I don't see any reason why they don't. Fans will rush out and buy a bunch of merchandise to replace their old stuff and maybe new people will become fans (if they can get past how awfully they play football )

@mediagirl: well, the owner Dan Snyder has said as much (that it's not offensive enough to change)

@grizz: did you grow up hearing it used in a derogatory fashion? I feel like my exposure to Native Americans is so limited I really have to rely on talking heads to tell me this word in particular is derogatory. There are slurs for other cultures that based on TV or movies or jokes or song controversies that I just instinctively know are not nice.

I don't think it's a big deal to change the name. People will get used to a new name pretty fast. There have been so many changes in football in America over the last 40 years, none are more than a blip on the radar.

How many people know Cleveland was without a team for awhile?

Did you know the Indianapolis colts were originally the Baltimore Colts?

I think given that it IS offensive to some, it should be changed.