Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post

djnemo65 · 04-09-2005, 12:24 PM

My attitude is this: Native Americans say the name is offensive and I don't think anyone who is not of that ethnicity is really in a position to disagree with them. In fact, it is incredibly patronizing for those who are not Native American to offer arguments as to why the name is not offensive. I'm Jewish and if someone who was not Jewish attempted to tell me what I should and should not be offended by I would be a little perturbed.

So far the only argument proffered here has basically been, "im part chinese and i wouldn't care if there was a chinamen team" or whatever. That's fine, but the American Indian nation is still overwhelmingly against having its identity appropriated for sports mascot use and it is inappropriate and insensitive for any of us to argue with them as pedestrians - especially when our real motivation is our own sports fandom. Also, as to the Giants offending short people, short people are not a historically oppressed group that have been subjected to systematic genocide over two centuries, so they are not really in the same position to complain. Still, if they ever did launch any organized concerted effort to change the Giants name based on perceived offensiveness, I wouldn't argue with them as a six footer. I would respect their complaints.

I feel that Native Americans have suffered so much over the last 200 years and change that maybe we should just give them this one. Besides, its the Washington I root for, not the redskin.

04-09-2005, 12:24 PM	#19
djnemo65 Playmaker Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,836	Re: This again My attitude is this: Native Americans say the name is offensive and I don't think anyone who is not of that ethnicity is really in a position to disagree with them. In fact, it is incredibly patronizing for those who are not Native American to offer arguments as to why the name is not offensive. I'm Jewish and if someone who was not Jewish attempted to tell me what I should and should not be offended by I would be a little perturbed. So far the only argument proffered here has basically been, "im part chinese and i wouldn't care if there was a chinamen team" or whatever. That's fine, but the American Indian nation is still overwhelmingly against having its identity appropriated for sports mascot use and it is inappropriate and insensitive for any of us to argue with them as pedestrians - especially when our real motivation is our own sports fandom. Also, as to the Giants offending short people, short people are not a historically oppressed group that have been subjected to systematic genocide over two centuries, so they are not really in the same position to complain. Still, if they ever did launch any organized concerted effort to change the Giants name based on perceived offensiveness, I wouldn't argue with them as a six footer. I would respect their complaints. I feel that Native Americans have suffered so much over the last 200 years and change that maybe we should just give them this one. Besides, its the Washington I root for, not the redskin.