The Kansas City Star refuses to publish 'Redskins'

That's a cheap shot, and you know it.

 

That's one vote for cheap shot.

 

If it was cheap, LTL got a lot for his money

 

My stepdaughter is 1/16th Native American. I don't give two ounces of shit about schools/teams that use Indian-type nicknames.

My wife was really close to my stepdaughter's great-grandfather (who was half Native American). I once asked her if she knew his stance on this issue. She laughed, because he used to help her and her friends out every year with their homecoming parade float. The school she attended has the nickname "Indians" and the floats always had some kind of Indian theme. My wife's exact words were, "I don't think he ever thought about it."

Maybe I'm just an insensitive asshole, I don't know. But I do know that I live with - and have raised for 13 years - someone who has more Native American blood than the people who start these crusades. I figure if she and the others in her family tree that have Native American blood don't care, why should I?

 

You know, I've known black people who aren't offended by the n-word or being called colored. Should we throw those onto a team name? I mean, some people aren't offended, so that makes it OK, right?

 

The issue to me is that "Redskins" is a perjorative in the same vein as "faggot" would be for a gay man or the n-word would be for a black man.

The Redskins should change their name in my opinion. However, if a majority of Native Americans were to vote to let the name remain, I'd be willing to go along with it.

 

Assuming you're not black, go up to any black person and drop the n-word. Or better yet, start an adult flag football team, youth football team and use the n-word in the team name. See how many people get offended.

The n-word and "Redskins" is a bit like apples and oranges, yes? I mean, to me, the n-word is about the most disgusting word in the English language. It makes me sick even thinking of the word. Say the word "Redskins" and most people will think of RG3 or the local high school. Maybe that's not right. But again, I had a similar argument with a person once who shot at me, "How many Indians do you personally know?" When I told him I was raising a girl who has more Indian blood than most people in this country do, the conversation ended. My daughter is proud of her Indian heritage, as am I. I've tried (unsuccessfully so far) to get documentation of her Indian heritage, because of the benefits she could qualify for.

 

So since you and yours don't see the offensive connotations, screw the rest of the world that does? Got it. Your life experience is the only one that counts. Screw the Native Americans who find it offensive (and, yes, I know some; I live in Oklahoma so I know plenty of folks with Indian heritage). They're opinions don't matter.

 

The only experiences that should count are those that lend themselves to conclusions I agree with.

 

Did I ever say their opinions don't matter? Please point out to me where I said my opinion is the only one that matters. The rest of the world does not disagree with me or disagree with you. We have our stated opinions. You disagree with me. Fine. I respect that. I simply think the Star's decision not to publish the nickname of Washington's NFL team is a bit lame.

 

Maybe I read that wrong, but seems to totally discount the opinions of anyone you don't know. I hope you aren't a writer, because if that's not what you meant, clear communication isn't your strong suit.

And FYI, at some of these papers, and in cases here in Oklahoma outside of newspapers, "people who start these crusades" probably have more blood (or minimum as much) as the people you mentioned.