Redskins Offseason Thread

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by FrenchSkin

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?

CNBC and others followed up the WaPo poll with additional polls, some with more responses, and still found a mix of 85/15 and 80/20 in favor of those saying they're not offended. The opinions of the Native American population continue to reflect those of the broader population.

To me it's simple: the party that stands to be potentially injured by the name is the Native Americans. If you poll them, and you get close to 50/50, then I'd say that calls for a change.

But as long as every poll comes out saying that it doesn't bother the majority of them, then it's fine. I'm not interested in satisfying a whiny minority. I'm interested in what the majority of their ethnic group thinks.

The name should stay unless they say otherwise.