Poll finds large majority of Native Americans are OK with “Redskins”

[WillowTree]

31. I don't use euphemisms to refer to people.

Last edited Fri May 20, 2016, 01:29 PM - Edit history (1)

But I do think that a percentage of the populace that may even be approaching a majority has become too........you'll excuse the expression.......thin skinned about just about everything. People are looking for reasons to be offended/insulted/outraged anymore.

How often right here on DU do we see thread headings asking "Should I be offended by _____?"? Hint: If you have to ask, the answer is "NO".

Just yesterday there was the ridiculous story about how African Americans feel intimidated when they go to national parks. "Why?" you ask. Because there are usually many trees there. And what's the problem with trees? They remind them of lynchings. Really. People have to be actively, stubbornly looking for something to be miserable about for their minds to go anywhere near such a conclusion. I'd be surprised if one half of one percent of all people of color in this country have the time or inclination to look that hard to find a reason to be offended by TREES. But there it is, put out there as fact by a few malcontents who apparently ran out of anything legitimate to gripe about.

Truth is, there is no moral or constitutional right bestowed upon anyone to never be offended by anything. If I went around getting all offended by everything that I see or hear that I find offensive, I'd be pretty unhappy most of the time and I just don't choose to live that way. And I have no sympathy whatsoever for those who do.

There are words that can only be used to be demeaning and offensive. Most of us know what those are. But.......and I'm saying this as nothing more than my own personal opinion.......sports teams like to choose names to portray themselves as tough and fierce and intrepid to their opponents. (Which doesn't explain the Miami Dolphins, of course. And what the heck is up with Browns?? Ah, but I digress.) I don't see those as demeaning qualities. I don't think that names like Rams or Bears or Jaguars or Falcons were chosen to demean rams or bears or jaguars or falcons. Same goes for cowboys, buccaneers or 49ers. And I don't see the term "Redskins", when used in this context, to be demeaning toward Native Americans.

And apparently neither do a lot of Native Americans.

YMMV.