Tradition is no excuse for continued NFL racism
While the NFL is plagued by new issues, including problems with players engaging in domestic abuse and drugs, there is one old problem still hanging around.
What to do about the name Redskins.
The popular show “South Park” leapt into the controversy by tackling the name and the problem with it in the season premiere on Sept. 24. In their typical manner, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone lampooned the team’s refusal to realize how harmful the use of the name is since their focus is squarely on profit.
“South Park” wasn’t the only one to cast the issue in a slightly humorous light in order to educate viewers about the seriousness of using the name. “The Daily Show” had a segment on the issue just a day later, where they spoke to both Native Americans who were upset and fans who didn’t see the problem.
They all said things we’ve heard before about it being tradition and not offensive.
Washington needs to change the name, and they need to do it now.
The fact that in 2014 a team is using a racist term as their team name is disgusting.
You don’t see other teams using racist words as their names.
There would not be a team using the N-word as a name.
So why is Redskins still around?
We’re in the 21st century and continuing to shrug off things that are inappropriate, racist or put down a particular group will never allow us to actually move on and come to a point of acceptance for all.
Because as with the domestic abuse scandal, NFL profits and the lining of player and administrative pockets always trumps any other concerns.
There are teams that have names that reference Native Americans though, such as the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Indians.
They’re not under as much fire as Washington at the moment, because complaints and outrage led to them making strides to be more racially sensitive.
In 2000, Cosumnes River College officially changed their mascot from The Chiefs to the Hawks, after numerous complaints since 1970, according to an article from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
It might seem like a simple matter, compared to the other issues plaguing the NFL as a whole, but it does matter. We’re in the 21st century and continuing to shrug off things that are inappropriate, racist or put down a particular group will never allow us to actually move on and come to a point of acceptance for all.
Throwing around the term tradition doesn’t excuse it. It was pretty much considered tradition to enslave people at one point in our history or to keep women from being part of anything outside of the home or to push the native people off their land because we wanted more.
They’re all traditions that were abolished once society realized that they were hurtful to individuals as well as the common good. Just like using terms like Redskins as a team name.
By the way, for those claiming that it’s just a 2013-2014 politically correct minded liberal fueled issue, it’s not. According to an article from The Washington Post the use of the term as a name has been an issue since the 70s.
So cut the crap NFL, Snyder and Washington fans that refuse to acknowledge the hurtful nature of the word, and let the name be changed. Enter the 21st century at last.
