(Allow me to preface my post with the following: I'm beyond tired but figured I'd chime in before going to sleep. Any misspellings, rambling(s), etc... please forgive them).
Here's my take on the "redskin" situation:
We've become accustomed to hearing it used in a harmless manner. We're desensitized, interpreting it's use in an entirely different context that what the word objectively means.
Do I, in the context it's used, think the term "redskin" is offensive? No. Not at all. However, that doesn't change the fact that the term, objectively, is a racist slur. Furthermore, it doesn't change the fact that many Native Americans find the term offensive. Do plenty of others not find it offensive? Yes. But many do, and this has to be considered should we practice some form of decency.
Suppose we take the slur "beaner" and applied it to a new franchise forming today. I tend to think that decision would be ridiculed given the offensiveness of that word. Now, if the team name stood, and over time was accepted and normalized, I believe stances would change. We'd view the team name as historical, and given its context, many of the arguments we hear today (with regard to the Redskins) would remain the same -- it's not meant to be offensive, it's merely a team's name. Does that ultimately change the fact that the word, by itself, is a racial slur? No. The same applies for the term "redskin", or any other slur for that matter.
The question I'd ultimately ask is this: would you feel comfortable calling a Native American a "redskin" to their face? I doubt many would answer 'yes' to this question, and I feel that is telling.
While the word in this context (team name) is harmless and benign in my opinion, it's ultimate, fundamental meaning is incredibly offensive to a group of people. While many Native Americans look at the context the word is being used in and are able to move beyond taking offense, many are not, and we cannot blame them for that. They look to the fundamental, objective meaning of the word and see it as offensive and upsetting. While one may not agree with their inclinations, I feel we should employ some empathy, put ourselves in their shoes and understand why they may be offended, and ultimately, see about taking this term out of the NFL.
Just my two cents.
That said, I think there are plenty of reasonable takes on the matter and I appreciate the majority of views offered thus far in the thread -- been a fairly pleasant read. Lots of civil discussion over a touchy topic. At the end of the day, I have a hard time telling a group of people what they should and shouldn't find offensive. I can't think of anything more arrogant and condescending than that.
