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Dan Snyder has taken a lot of heat during his ownership of the franchise. But the one issue where all of Redskin Nation stands behind Mr. Snyder is in his support of not changing the name of the Washington Redskins. Mr. Snyder sent an email to all season ticket holders addressing the issue and then the Washington Post published the letter. (Somehow I also got his email, so I’m confident that Mr. Snyder wanted me to address this issue as well.)
The Redskins continue to make National headlines as a select few interrupt our team name Redskin as an insult or a slur. According to Bob Costas, names like “Braves”, “Chiefs”, and “Warriors” strike as political correctness. Mr. Costas also said that Blackhawks”, “Seminoles”, and “Chippewa’s”, are potentially more problematic, but they can still be used if their logo/symbols are appropriately respectful. Someone PLEASE explain to me how the Washington Redskins logo is different from the Chicago Blackhawks?
I mean if we’re talking about feelings from left field; how to do you think our national bird feels about being the mascot of the football team in Philadelphia? And we wonder why they were on the endangered species list for so many years… (See how ridiculous that just sounded? That’s exactly what the name change argument sounds like to Redskins Nation.) In my entire life, I have NEVER heard the word “Redskins” used to refer to anything but the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.
Here are parts of Mr. Snyder’s letter:
As some of you may know, our team began 81 years ago – in 1932 – with the name “Boston Braves.” The following year, the franchise name was changed to the “Boston Redskins.” On that inaugural Redskins team, four players and our Head Coach were Native Americans. The name was never a label. It was, and continues to be, a badge of honor.
In 1971, our legendary coach, the late George Allen, consulted with the Red Cloud Athletic Fund located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and designed our emblem on the Redskins helmets. Several years later, Coach Allen was honored by the Red Cloud Athletic Fund. On the wall at our Ashburn, Virginia, offices is the plaque given to Coach Allen – a source of pride for all of us. “Washington Redskins” is more than a name we have called our football team for over eight decades. It is a symbol of everything we stand for: strength, courage, pride, and respect – the same values we know guide Native Americans and which are embedded throughout their rich history as the original Americans.
I’ve listened carefully to the commentary and perspectives on all sides, and I respect the feelings of those who are offended by the team name. But I hope such individuals also try to respect what the name means, not only for all of us in the extended Washington Redskins family, but among Native Americans too.
Consider the following facts concerning the “Washington Redskins” name:
1) The highly respected Annenberg Public Policy Center polled nearly 1,000 self-identified Native Americans from across the continental U.S. and found that 90% of Native Americans did not find the team name “Washington Redskins” to be “offensive.”
2) In an April 2013 Associated Press survey, 79% of the respondents stated the Washington Redskins should not change their name, while only 11% believed the team’s name should change.
Paul Woody, a columnist for the Richmond Times Dispatch, interviewed three leaders of Virginia Native American tribes this May. They were all quoted by Mr. Woody as stating that the team name doesn’t offend them – and their comments strongly supported the name “Washington Redskins.” Also in May, SiriusXM NFL Radio hosted Robert Green, the longtime and recently retired Chief of the Fredericksburg-area Patawomeck Tribe, who said, among other things:
“Frankly, the members of my tribe – the vast majority – don’t find it offensive. I’ve been a Redskins fan for years. And to be honest with you, I would be offended if they did change [the name, Redskins….This is] an attempt by somebody…to completely remove the Indian identity from anything and pretty soon… you have a wipeout in society of any reference to Indian people….You can’t rewrite history – yes there were some awful bad things done to our people over time, but naming the Washington football team the Redskins, we don’t consider to be one of those bad things.”
Our franchise has a great history, tradition and legacy representing our proud alumni and literally tens of millions of loyal fans worldwide. We have participated in some of the greatest games in NFL history, and have won five World Championships. We are proud of our team and the passion of our loyal fans. Our fans sing “Hail to the Redskins” in celebration at every Redskins game. They speak proudly of “Redskins Nation” in honor of a sports team they love.
President Obama was quoted for saying that if he were the owner of the Washington Redskins, he would change the name. Well, thank the sports gods that Obama is NOT the owner of the Redskins. Doesn’t he have enough issues to worry about in the Nation’s Capital right now? Or is he on the government shut down too? If I say that I’m offended that I’m still being taxed and paying for his employees who are NOT working will he change the tax law to only collect tax when the entire government is working?
Redskin fans have lost a lot over the years; actually, it feels like we’ve lost most of my 29 years of being a fan. Even if we never win another game this season or a Super Bowl in my lifetime, we the fans of Redskins Nation will NOT lose our team name. Some things will never change; we will forever be the Washington Redskins and we honor all Native Americans every time we sing Hail to the Redskins.