REDSKINS
"A rose by any other name would smell
as sweet." – William Shakespeare.
So if the Washington Redskins change
their name, will they still stink?
Pressure has been building for this NFL
franchise to change its nickname to something more politically correct.
The team has been called the Redskins
for 80 years and it was never an issue until recently. While activists have
been successful in many schools and colleges in getting sports programs to drop
Native American/Indian nicknames, big league teams seemed immune to politically
correct pressures, and Redskins, Braves, Indians, and Warriors still competed
with their long-time nicknames.
The nicknames, ironically, were meant to
HONOR Native Americans, not disparage them. Inevitably, some malcontents were
“offended” by some of the caricatures portrayed and adjustments were made. For
example, Chief Noc-a-homa, the Atlanta Brave mascot, retired for good. Teams
tried to compromise.
And most Native Americans were not
offended. A Sports Illustrated survey found that almost 80% of American Indians
supported the nickname associations. Indeed, the sign outside a high school on
a Navajo reservation proclaimed “Welcome to the Home of the Redskins.”
What’s really troubling is that this is
yet another example of a small minority of activists defining the issue on
THEIR terms, i.e. “Redskin” being insensitive or worse. So they try to impose
their perspective on everyone else.
This nonsense has been going on for far
too long. It’s tough to counter it, because the activists are so quick to play
the “racist” card, and who needs that?
Shockingly, the federal government has
now taken sides, led by President Obama, who presumably has more pressing
issues to deal with.
Michael Galo reported in “Athletic
Business” that the United States Patent and Trademark Office cancelled six
federal trademark registrations for the name of the Washington Redskins, ruling
that the name is "disparaging to Native Americans." Due to its
"disparaging" nature, the name cannot be trademarked under federal
law which prohibits protection of offensive or disparaging language. The
decision allows anyone to use the "Redskins" name on merchandise or
other memorabilia, without needing permission.
So a team that honors Native Americans
with a nickname that most Native Americans support is losing trademark property
rights. It’s outrageous.
When are we going to stand up to these
activist bullies? Appeasing them simply encourages them to continue their moral
preening as they target their next victims. School boards and timid college
administrators usually acquiesce to the unhappy braying of the politically
correct, but kudos to Washington Redskin owner Dan Snyder for standing firm.
Property rights, freedom of speech, and
tolerance of different perspectives are hallmarks of a great America. Too many activists
in Washington—and
Concord—have been successful at eroding these rights. If we let them get away
with it, then we only have ourselves to blame.
CUPCAKES AND BEER
Along the same lines as above …
For generations youngsters celebrated
each other’s birthdays at school with cupcakes. But no more. Due to the First
Lady’s crusade for “healthier” eating, some schools told students that birthday
cupcakes are now forbidden, due to nutritional concerns.
Where will it end?
And …the Orange County Register recently
reported the firing of Jay Creps, who led Chatsworth School's softball team to
the L.A. City Section Division 1 championship game. Principal Tim Guy canned
him after a parent turned in a photo of him drinking beer out of a bottle
during a team bonding party at his home that was attended by parents and
players in either 2012 or 2013. So now you can get fired for having a legal
libation in your own home? Granted, Creps may have been better advised to have
had a soda. But SODA POP is now forbidden in many schools. Too much sugar, the
First Lady will tell you.
Where will it end?
ON A HAPPIER NOTE …
… the Orange County Register also
reported that more than 500 baseballs and softballs,
60 bats, 20 batting tees, umpire gear and other items were donated to the local
Banning-Pass Little League by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The gear
represents a $5,500 gift from the tribe to the league, according to a news
release from the tribe.
One of the teams in the Banning-Pass Little League is known as the
Indians. Presumably they won’t need to change their name!
