Redskins Offseason Thread

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by MTK

I applaud what the Indians are doing. I’m starting to think the Skins could benefit from a fresh start, new name, new uniforms, maybe new karma?

I'm really interested in reading you guys' takes on this matter.

Not being American makes it difficult to have an opinion. I tried to read a lot about it.

It's quite clear it wasn't controversial at all when the name first changed from Braves to Redskins.
I even read article saying there's a controversy on wether the word Redskins comes from a slur used by Europeans to design the Natives or a translation of a word the Natives used to talk about themselves, through the french "Peaux Rouges".

On the other hand, the Washington Post poll claiming 90% of the Natives don't find the Redskins name offensive apparently wasn't really reliable (only 500 respondent, self identified as Native Americans via telephone with no checking of that self identification).

All the articles I found were quite evidently written by somebody supporting one or the other side of this controversy. Hard to make an opinion from these.

At this point, wouldn't one solution for the Redskins be to fund a study, conducted by an independent institution, asking, for say, 2000 truly identified and randomly selected Natives (not voluntaries to respond to the study) if they find the name offensive ?

That way if it turns out the majority of them doesn't find it offensive, it shuts critics up, if it turns out the majority of them does find it offensive, the team can go back to being the Braves without looking like they gave up to a loud minority.
How dumb is this idea?