Names have meaning and value. Parents try hard to find the perfect name for their beloved offspring. Pet owners challenge themselves to find a name for their pet that expresses their affection for them and the attributes that make them so lovable.
Athletic teams also choose their names carefully. Now, a team whose team name has been the same for more than 81 years is being asked, urged, demanded to change their name for fear it might offend some members of a group that has been identified with the name.
The team was the Boston Braves but changed it to the Redskins to honor its beloved coach who was part American Indian. They are now the Washington Redskins and are now being asked to find a less offensive name.
There is no doubt that the American Indian has been mistreated since the 16th century by Europeans who migrated here hoping to start new lives in a new world. The settlers stole Indian land, killed their people and forced the survivors to live in substandard conditions on Indian reservations. When some of the reservations were found to have oil, the government withheld billions of dollars owed for access to the black gold.
The name “redskin” is not one that American Indians enjoy or identify with. To some it is racist and should have never been used for a team name. It should be changed, some say. A number are also offended by the name “Indian” or “Brave” preferring to be called Native Americans not to be confused with the term “native Americans” which refers to anyone born here.
But what about other team names? Are some of them also possibly offensive and needing to be changed?
The Cleveland Indians should be the Cleveland Native Americans. The Cleveland Browns should have a color blind name not one that could upset Latin Americans. The Cincinnati Reds should have a less communist sounding name that might also upset Native Americans. The Atlanta Braves should be the Atlanta Courageous. The New York Yankees’ name might offend Southerners still remembering what the Yankees did in the 1860s. And what’s with the Red Sox and White Sox? Should the Golden Gate Warriors be the Peacemakers? And why do the Clippers have a name used for NFL players who make illegal tackles or is it after coupon clippers, which would surely offend the 99%? And there are two teams called the Giants. How does that make short people feel? Does size really matter? Then there’s the 49ers. So people 50 and over should feel old? Isn’t that offensive?
What about the Dodgers? Are they tax dodgers, artful dodgers or do they dodge all rules? Is this what we want our children emulating? Aren’t parents upset? The Chicago Cubs seems like an OK name until you talk to some Boy Scouts. Why not the Chicago Scouts, instead? Chicago also has the Bears. The name sounds like people are naked or are tolerating something difficult. Shouldn’t G-d fearing people find this objectionable? And don’t the Baltimore Orioles sound too much like Oreos, a term also used to question a person’s racial soul? The Oakland Raiders should change their name so as not to offend corporate raiders or those who raid their refrigerators late at night and wonder why they are gaining weight. They should be able to watch the game without feeling guilty.
And the two teams that call themselves the Cardinals should change their name so as not to offend Catholics who saw their cardinals cover-up sex abuses against their children in order to save the "good" name of the Church or atheists or those who believe in the separation of church and sport. The Kings should find a new name as well. America is a democratic republic. We revolted against the King in 1776. How would DAR members whose ancestors gave their brave lives fighting the King feel to hear people cheer for his namesake? The Jets' name must be changed so as not to offend the Puerto Rican - Americans who still feel unfairly stereotyped by the "West Side Story" anti-Puerto Rican gang by that name. Surely they don't want to hear "Here come the Jets..." anymore.
We must be much more sensitive to the possible feelings of our people.
What if we only used the name of the city the team plays in? If there are more than one team in a city as is the case in New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, the name could be followed by the sport name as in Football or Baseball, to avoid possible confusion. This would ensure that no one is offended or hurt by the team name.
See, every problem has a solution.
Let's hope it doesn't offend anyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment