The issue of sport teams having Native American names is something that I have discussed numerous times in the past. I am a Washington Redskins fan as well as a Florida State Seminoles fan. I do believe that neither team nor the other teams, car companies or the military feel that the use of Native American names is derogatory or racist in any way. I agree with their use and although some might feel I am unsympathetic, I believe that the use of these names is meant to be more honorary then racist. Although dictionaries state the definition of the word redskin is a racial descriptor of negative intent, the Oxford Dictionary states the following and many other sources agree that it was not originally a negative meaning: “Redskin is first recorded in the late 17th century and was applied to the Algonquian peoples generally but specifically to the Delaware (who lived in what is now southern New York State and New York City, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania). Redskin referred not to the natural skin color of the Delaware, but to their use of vermilion face paint and body paint. In time, however, through a process that in linguistics is called pejoration, by which a neutral term acquires an unfavorable connotation or denotation, redskin lost its neutral, accurate descriptive sense and became a term of disparagement.” This topic is in the news recently as some are currently fighting to have the courts make the Washington Redskins change their name. At this point, many people: 79% according to a recent AP poll and 90% of Native Americans according to a poll done in 2004 by the Annenberg Public Policy Center do not believe the use of this name is negative. In a recent article at http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/14/redskins-name-cant-properly-be-assessed-without-considering-man-who-coined-it/ the following comment was found. jjb0811 says:Jun 14, 2013 2:38 PM
1. Vikings were know to murder entire cities.
2. Raiders are famous for vandalism and murder, hence the name
3. Buccaneers were pirates
4. Cowboys don’t include women, racist
5. Ravens are named after a terrible drunk
Point is in todays society ANY name can be found offensive. give it a break. With regards to the military naming their equipment after or similar to Native American names as well as using Native American code names to form a language unfamiliar to the enemy is again a sign of honor. Although not all names such as the Blackhawk or Chinook necessarily refer to the Native American connotation, the connotation itself is a sign of a strong, brave and respectable leader and/or tribe. I believe this again is a sign of honor not disrespect or racial. Now, would I take offense if someone named their team the “Fighting Whites” – no. I believe it would sound quite silly but to each its own. Maybe that’s only because I am not that sensitive about my race as some are or maybe it’s because I never experienced racial diversity. I do believe that those that use Native American names do not do it because they intend to be racial, I believe they intend to show honor or may not intend to do anything at all. As the quote stated above, if we would pick apart every sports team’s name, no name would really be acceptable to everyone. Unfortunately (to me) many people have become overly sensitive regarding the use of their history being used in the mainstream media. Although I fully understand the respect that an individual culture deserves and I truly try to respect other cultures, I do believe that some are over sensitive.