Panelists at Indian museum forum team up against Redskins name

 

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian for a discussion of sports teams’ use of racially insensitive imagery that, as such discussions often do, turned into an ongoing complaint against a certain Washington football team’s continued use of a certain Indian-inspired nickname.
Few seats were empty in the Rasmuson Theater at the museum, which hosted a daylong forum to discuss the stereotype perpetuated by American Indian mascots, who is to blame for their use, and how — or whether — the practice can be stopped.
Much of the discussion focused on the Washington Redskins.
“What better common bond can you have than a sports team you want to support wholeheartedly,” said Robert Holden, deputy director for the National Congress of American Indians. “But I cannot in good conscience support the local football team. We cannot feel a sense of community in that regard.”
The franchise has used the name Redskins since 1933, when the team played in Boston. Officials have said they have no intention of changing the name, which has been the subject of a long-running federal trademark lawsuit and several popular resolutions by local government bodies.
During a press conference before the Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that the team name can spark affection and anger, but that Redskins owner Dan Snyder was proud of the name and its heritage.
“I believe fans are, too,” Mr. Goodell said. “I also understand the other side of that. I don’t think anybody wants to offend anybody.”
Mr. Holden, a Choctaw/Chickasaw Indian, said Mr. Snyder can keep his sentiments.
“I don’t think the owners understand that they’re not honoring us,” Mr. Holden said. “If they’re still saying that, please, take it back. Honors like that we don’t need, we don’t want.”


E. Newton Jackson, a professor of sports management at the University of North Florida, said that one reason some fans have resisted changing the name is that they confuse loyalty to the name with loyalty to the team.
“A lot of institutions have not quite accepted the dialogue that there are some issues with race and ethnicity,” he said.
The issue around the Redskins‘ name recently flared up after several commentators called on the team to change it. D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray during a recent press conference avoided using the word “Redskins” while discussing whether the team would ever call the District home again and added that before any hypothetical move back to the District, he would want to sit down with the team to discuss whether a change could be made.

Eileen Maxwell, spokeswoman for the American Indian museum, said the forum had been scheduled for November but the gathering was canceled as a result of Superstorm Sandy. She said the discussion on the Redskins‘ name was not originally on the agenda, but after the recent attention, forum organizers decided to “go for it.”
Ms. Maxwell said neither Mr. Snyder nor any other member of the Redskins‘ organization was invited to appear on the panel, but had they attended they would have been welcome.
“We know his point of view,” Ms. Maxwell said of Mr. Snyder. “He has his philosophy, and he gets out that message regularly.”




Deuteronomy 28:37-  And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee.

2 Peter 2:3-  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:

Wisdom of Solomon 15:12-  But they counted our life a pastime and our time here a market for gain for say they we must be getting every way though it be by evil means

 Ecclesiasticus 20:9-  There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things and there is a gain that turneth to loss