The Daily Show and the Redskins

http://m.reviewjournal.com/sports/s...ntroversial-redskins-vs-american-indians-clip

Recently, a segment was aired on Comedy Central's The Daily Show that showed both sides of the debate on whether or not the NFL team the Washington Redskins should change their name. The segment seemed pretty harmless until the Redskins fans, those who don't want to see the name changed, were confronted by Native American activists who wish to see the name changed. The problem was the fans were told that being in the same panel with Native Americans would be "too serious for Comedy Central" and were then surprised, one fan left in tears and few attempted to revoke their consent before the clip aired.
Personally, I see both sides of the Redskins debate. As for The Daily Show, the fact that fans were told they wouldn't be confronted and then were is wrong.

 

[exball]

I really think Redskins fans are right here. It's just a name; people need to stop getting so offended over this crap.

 

[JP 307]

I haven't been following this debate at all, but wow at what happened with everyone at the debate. That's really fucked up that no prior notice was given.

If a change ends up happening, I think a good compromise would to name the team after something that's central to Native American culture.
"Washington Tomahawks" has a nice ring to it.

 

[exball]

If a change ends up happening, I think a good compromise would to name the team after something that's central to Native American culture.
"Washington Tomahawks" has a nice ring to it.

It'll be called racist.

 

[Grand Number of Pounds]

Can't they just get a Native American group to sponsor them and let them use their name? It would be a cash cow for that tribe. I think the Seminoles came to some sort of agreement to the college team in Florida, but I don't know anything about it.

But Tomahawks or Warriors or something would also work.

 

[Durable Mike Malloy]

Can't they just get a Native American group to sponsor them and let them use their name? It would be a cash cow for that tribe. I think the Seminoles came to some sort of agreement to the college team in Florida, but I don't know anything about it.

But Tomahawks or Warriors or something would also work.

Any reason why not just change the name back to the Braves?

 

[Grand Number of Pounds]

No, if that's what they want to do they can. I don't know if the SJW's would be satisfied, but whatever.

I live near Cleveland and some people get riled up over the Indians and Chief Wahoo. I understand why people might be upset over Wahoo with it being a racial caricature and all, but Indians is an even milder name than Redskins, and it still upsets the SJW's.

 

[JP 307]

It'll be called racist.

I only mention it since both sides of the debate seem like they both want to retain the Redskins' Native American theme in tact. Better than "arrowhead" or "buckskin" imo.

Any reason why not just change the name back to the Braves?

Maybe they don't want people to think they have a connection to the Atlanta Braves? (Yeah I know, that's baseball, but still, they also have a Native American theme.)

 

[Morbid Boredom]

Can't they just get a Native American group to sponsor them and let them use their name? It would be a cash cow for that tribe. I think the Seminoles came to some sort of agreement to the college team in Florida, but I don't know anything about it.

That's correct, money talks.

Spoiler: A tangent

The Fighting Irish is an interesting case - Notre Dame is a Catholic institution where a huge chunk of the student body (and alumni!) are Irish Catholics. It's their stereotype and they'll do what they want with it... as opposed to being told they're cool enough to be a sports team, but not cool enough to be permitted to live.

I'm a member of a website that discusses hilarious acts made by a dumb person operating under false premises.
I cannot condemn Jon Stewart, even if I wanted to.

 

[Trickie]

I can kind of understand the attachment they have to the name of their team, but the name was changed to Redskins in a time when being openly racist was socially acceptable. They probably shouldn't be so surprised that it's seen in poor taste now.

 

[EI 903]

The surprise attack was a cheap shot, but The Daily Show has done that on and off for years. Back during the Kilborn era of the show, it was their primary tactic.

The whole name thing is a bit ridiculous. Just change the damn thing- it's a racist football team name, not something that means anything. Tradition is a stupid argument for anything.

 

[Pikonic]

Maybe they don't want people to think they have a connection to the Atlanta Braves? (Yeah I know, that's baseball, but still, they also have a Native American theme.)

Actually back in the early NFL days before teams moved around a couple teams they just named their team after the baseball team in the area, we still have the Giants and the Cardnals (The Bears were the bears because "Cubs" wouldn't be intimidating in football) Washington could easily become the Nationals, KC could become the Royals.
There was a debate years ago about the Cleveland Indians but nothing really happened.*
However, this could lead to a possible "every team is offensive" scenario. The Patriots are offensive to the British, the Giants are offensive to people with giagantism, PETA could be offended at all the animal names, and the Jets are offensive to the airline industry.


* Shit almighty was I wrong about that, like super wrong, about 9 billion dollars worth of wrong

On 25 June 2014, major news media outlets began reporting that Robert Roche, leader of the Cleveland American Indian Education Center, would file a lawsuit against theCleveland Indians organization in July.[345] Roche would be suing the team in excess of $9 billion dollars.[346]According to Roche, compensation would be sought based on the length of time and exploitation which has occurred from the use of the mascot.[347] "We're going to be asking for $9 billion and we're basing it on a hundred years of disparity, racism, exploitation and profiteering," Roche said. "It's been offensive since day one. We are not mascots. My children are not mascots. We are people."[348]

 

[Grand Number of Pounds]

The Indians are phasing out Chief Wahoo, right now he's only on the uniform sleeves. The main logo now is a capital C.

Some Native American group is suing the team for $9 billion because of racism and oppression.

The local news has covered opening day protests for years when Native American rights activists protest over the team name and Chief Wahoo.

 

[Durable Mike Malloy]

Actually back in the early NFL days before teams moved around a couple teams they just named their team after the baseball team in the area, we still have the Giants and the Cardnals (The Bears were the bears because "Cubs" wouldn't be intimidating in football) Washington could easily become the Nationals, KC could become the Royals.

Seriously. For US professional sports teams with overlapping names, we already have the Cardinals (NFL Arizona, MLB St. Louis), Panthers (NFL Carolina, NHL Florida), Rangers (NHL New York, MLB Texas), Kings (NBA Sacramento, NHL L.A.), and Giants (MLB San Francisco, NFL New York). Why not bung the Braves into the mix? It's Native American-themed, steeped in tradition, and not a fucking racial slur.

I can kind of understand the attachment they have to the name of their team, but the name was changed to Redskins in a time when being openly racist was socially acceptable. They probably shouldn't be so surprised that it's seen in poor taste now.

Yeah, the Redskins were named in 1933, when this forgotten gem was raking it in at the box office. Times certainly have changed.

TRIGGER WARNING for comedic violence, tobacco use, Swiss stereotypes, misuse of prescription bomb, Ed Wynn impression, redface, yellowface and blackface - ha!

Literally everything I know about sport comes from old-timey showbiz and pub trivia - clearly my opinion on this subject should count for a lot.

 

[Artard]

In terms of racist mascots, this one (for the sports teams of a rural Illinois high school) was in shockingly bad taste and stayed in place until 1980.

Spoiler

The school teams were known as the Pekin Chinks from the 1930s until 1980 when the school administration changed the nickname to the Dragons.[14] The team mascots were a male and female student dressed as Chinese persons wearing traditional Chinese attire. An earlier attempt was made by a visit of Chinese American groups to change the name from Chinks during the 1974–1975 school year; this was voted down by the student body. The event received national attention.

 

[Trickie]

However, this could lead to a possible "every team is offensive" scenario. The Patriots are offensive to the British, the Giants are offensive to people with giagantism, PETA could be offended at all the animal names, and the Jets are offensive to the airline industry.

That's a slippery slope argument, and it doesn't really have anything directly to do with whether the Redskins should change their name. The fact that some people are easily offended is not a good justification for anyone to just say or do what they want and expect nobody to have a problem with it. There's a balance that needs to be struck and it lies somewhere between being an insensitive asshole and catering to every little bellyache that comes up. The term "Redskin" has a historical meaning that's very painful for them as a people.

 

[John Furrman]

I really think Redskins fans are right here. It's just a name; people need to stop getting so offended over this crap.

Yeah those dang dirty Native americans, they've only have been massacred, massacred again, legally defined as savages for over 200 years, legally displaced, had their culture whitewashed, and NOW they have the audacity to be upset over their name and image being used ignorantly for entertainment purposes by the very decedents of the people who shit all over theirs ancestors. Yeah, they totally need to get over themselves.

If you think native american mascots aren't disrespectful or offensive, then by that same logic I am sure you'd be fine with the New Orleans Niggers, Aryan Allstars, or Texas Wetbacks.

 

[Pine Tar]

Whatever my personal opinion is on the Redskins name, at least Clark Hunt (the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs) is willing to meet with Native American leaders to see how he can make the name and traditions acceptable to Native Americans. I'd say a lot of the issues surrounding the Redskins name is Daniel Snyder being so resistant to even changing the name to something that's still Native American-based but not an ethnic slur. Personally, I like the Washington Warriors.

EDIT: Here's the story: http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2014/08/07/Franchises/Chiefs.aspx?

 

[KingofManga420]

Yeah those dang dirty Native americans, they've only have been massacred, massacred again, legally defined as savages for over 200 years, legally displaced, had their culture whitewashed, and NOW they have the audacity to be upset over their name and image being used ignorantly for entertainment purposes by the very decedents of the people who shit all over theirs ancestors. Yeah, they totally need to get over themselves.

If you think native american mascots aren't disrespectful or offensive, then by that same logic I am sure you'd be fine with the New Orleans Niggers, Aryan Allstars, or Texas Wetbacks.

As much as I agree with everything you just said, I don't give a shit about sports and would buy Aryan Allstars tickets DAY ONE. It'd be like the Harlem Globetrotters only racially pure.

 

[Mourning Dove]

Now as someone who has taken university anthropology courses, what makes me sperg about the Redskin's team is that their mascot represents Plains Indians, NOT Northeast Atlantic Indians. Plains Indians are the ones who wear the feathered warbonnets. It's like confusing British with Greek culture or something. *stress sigh* But then again, we wiped most of the Indians out so we don't know much about their individual cultures to begin with.