High Court rejects Indians' bid to declare Redskins name offensive

[sabra]

Source: USA Today

The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from a group of Native Americans who think the name of the NFL's Washington Redskins football team is offensive.

The high court on Monday turned away an appeal from Suzan Shown Harjo. That ends the latest round in the 17-year court battle between the Redskins and a group of American Indians who want them to change their name.

The plaintiffs sought to have the Redskins trademarks declared invalid.

They initially won — the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel canceled the trademarks in 1999.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/11/high-court-rejects-indians-bid-to-declare-redskins-name-offensive/1?loc=interstitialskip

[ensho]

1. how stupid of the supreme court

nt

[ShortnFiery]

2. Yes, at least Karma is making them play like crap. Well, they beat the Broncos but that

was after a four game losing streak. :P They probably had to sneak in the back way into Denver during the recent blizzard.

Too hilarious and heart-warming when The Detroit Lions kicked the "Washington D.C.'s ass."

I can't use that disgusting name nor support that gawd awful team.

[auditguy]

3. to be realistic

the US constitution doesn't really enumerate a 'right to not be offended'...doesn't seem to be an issue for any court, much less the Supreme Court

[ShortnFiery]

4. The word is GROSS. Every other decent team has thoughtfully changed their

name so as to not disrespect NATIVE AMERICANS.

May D.C.'s horrific football team remain crappy until they do the right moral act.

No joke, KARMA's biting them in the ass and it's a beautiful thing to behold. ;)

[Spider Jerusalem]

58. The Cleveland Indians?

The Atlanta Braves?

The Kansas City Chiefs?

[Vidar]

59. Though using Indian names, they don't have negative connotations.

"Redskins", however, is to Indians as n* is to African Americans.

[edwardian]

60. I invite you to join me

in the creation of the Chicago Darkies basketball team...

[Kurska]

71. In my fantasy basketball group there is a team called the "Nagasaki Fatmen"

I'm not sure how to feel about that.

[Sabriel]

76. That one's actually worse than you think

Fat Man was the nuke that was detonated over Nagasaki.

http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/twocities/nagasaki/image1.shtml

[WriteDown]

5. As an actual NA....

Meh. Although I'd be happier if they were doing better. Now the Cleveland Indian's mascot......

[damntexdem]

55. Well, I call them by their rightful name: The Washington Racists.

In this case, the football team. Without a recorded vote, we don't know which SCOTUS justices to refer to as the 'Washington Racists.'

[roguevalley]

69. If it were the New York N's, they would change it.

[Ter]

74. The SC would do the same thing

While that would be highly offensive, it's legal too.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. It upheld the First Amendment.

As it should. Remember, hate speech is protected too. The solution, of course, is if DC would like to VOLUNTARILY change their own name.

[Towlie]

10. You'd think they would, considering that the Bullets became the Wizards.

But even that created some controversy because Wizard is a rank in the Ku Klux Klan.

[Recursion]

11. I think Dennis Miller said it best about the Bullets

"The DC Bullets, in order to avoid associations with violent crime, have changed their name to the Northern Virginia Bullets."

[ShortnFiery]

16. WTF?

Dennis Miller? :wtf: is the least bit intelligent or entertaining about that right wing piece of human filth? :puke:

[Recursion]

20. He only became a right-wing POS after 9/11

In the 90's he was actually kind of sane

[paulsby]

56. ah, the ideological purity test

yes, god forbid somebody quote something funny said by a comedian, if the comedian isn't left wing

that's SACRILEGE!!!

ever read PJ ORourke? he's right wing (although definitely not a neocon) and he's hilarious.

[tonysam]

23. Yep. And why doesn't the Cleveland Browns change its name

because that can (mis)construed as offensive as well.

[dhpgetsit]

7. Something occurred to me as I was watching football on Saturday.

Is it offensive to the Irish to have a team called the Fighting Irish?

[ShortnFiery]

9. I'd rather be "a fighter" than called RED - SKIN.

Not even close with regard to derogatory interpretation.

[WriteDown]

14. They say a picture is worth 1000 words

[Recursion]

12. No, but if it were "The Micks" or "The Paddies" maybe

The "Tennessee White Trash" or the "Detroit N*****s" wouldn't fly either.

[ShortnFiery]

13. True. "Redskins" is also on par with "The Gooks" and "Slant Eyes" not to mention

"The Drunkard Irish" ... any negative stereotype about ANY OTHER ethnic group would not remain.

[WriteDown]

15. Not so much...

Redskin is akin to being called Black or White. In fact I've never heard anyone actually refer to someone as a Redskin. I have heard offensive terms like Injun and Feather though.

[ShortnFiery]

17. Yes, so much. It's nice that others can describe what is and is not offensive about

people of other races. Most NA people are "less than" flattered. :eyes:

Oh, let's go ask the little Black, Brown and Yellow SKINNED people what they think? :crazy:

[WriteDown]

21. Considering its MY race...

I think I have more right than most. Let's break it down a bit further. The NCAA is located in INDIANA. In fact its headquarters are located in INDIANAPOLIS. I find this very offensive and that state and city should think of voluntarily changing their names. At least the Redskins portray themselves as warriors.

[ShortnFiery]

27. No, it's irrelevant. WTF? "Warriors" what are we now, street gangs?

Bull. There's nothing LAUDATORY about calling out another race's SKIN COLOR.

You know that, don't you? Deep down at least? Below SKIN deep?

[WriteDown]

31. Many NA's were fierce fighters who fought with honor...

Nothing wrong with taking pride in that. If they want to rename the team the Native Americans that would be fine with me. The Mohawks would be even better, but that may fall under the physical description category.

[LiberalFighter]

45. Hmmm maybe rename Indiana to Hoosier.

They can still call Hoosier the Hoosier state. Make it easier to remember their nickname too. It will screw up those quarters with Indiana on it though.

I wonder what Indianapolis should be called? Hoosieranna?

Maybe it should be Hoser and Hoseranna.


I always joked that the Indiana's state capital was called Indianapolis because it was easy to remember because they just added polis to the state name.

[WriteDown]

46. I like Hoseranna.

:)

[Zhade]

64. Yeah, you're so "native" you don't even realize the term comes from NA scalps sold for bounty.

So fucking transparent.

[WriteDown]

66. Fairly sure it comes from the color of our skin...

although I'm a tad more brown than red being from an Eastern tribe. Fairly sure our scalps weren't red. :eyes:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. Sorry but that is bullshit.

The term "redskin" has a very long, ugly history that goes back to bounties put out on native peoples. It is disgusting it is still being used as a team name.

On edit:

red·skin  (red'skin')   
n.   Offensive Slang
Used as a disparaging term for a Native American

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

[WriteDown]

22. Same with Indian, Pale Face...

I wonder when Indiana will voluntarily make the change.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

28. Paleface?

Not so much, actually. Kickapoo on my maternal side. "Redskin" is offensive. End of story.

[WriteDown]

29. To some maybe...

I can't say many on the reservation ever batted an eye about DC's team. The Cleveland Indian's were more of a topic. We also didn't discuss the Braves, or Chieftains much.

[ShortnFiery]

Wow! You don't note the difference between being "a chief" and being called "a RED-SKIN"?

You are hopelessly lost. There's no reaching you.

[WriteDown]

39. Thank goodness..

That a White person can tell an NA how to feel correctly. Our savage brains sometimes make it hard to come to the "right" conclusions.

[ShortnFiery]

41. Oh, so you speak for everyone and you obviously are not offended and can

conjure up all sorts of justifications? Give it up, you're digging the hole deeper. ;)

[WriteDown]

43. I said at the beginning I speak for me...

What are your thoughts on Indiana. I don't remember you ever posting your outrage about that state before.

[ShortnFiery]

36. You don't get it! Indians can't OPPRESS with term "pale face" because historically they have been

on the receiving end of OPPRESSION.

How many WHITE men have been denied employment because they were PALE FACE? Get it? It's typically those within the Caucasian race that have the power. Therefore, it's those in power who oppress. If you are disenfranchised, reverse discrimination does NOT mean squat. Why? You have NO POWER.

Gosh, can someone reach this person?!?

[WriteDown]

38. I was not trying to oppress anyone....

Not sure where you got that. I find the term Indian very offensive. I am still waiting for Indiana to make the change. Also Arkansas and Kansas should change their names as well since those were stolen from tribes.

[Zhade]

65. I'm guessing that person's NA the way I'm the pope.

NT!

[WriteDown]

67. I sure had them fooled when it payed for college.

:)

[proteus_lives]

70. It's alway made me laugh that our state's name means "Land of the Indians"..

When NAs make up about 0.3% of our population.

[Thothmes]

61. They still refer to it as a paddy wagon dont they.

[petronius]

72. Huh, I never realized that's what it came from

Guess I've learned my one new thing for today... :)

[Recursion]

75. I recall there's some debate on what era that comes from

Whether it's called that from the time that it was mostly filled with new Irish immigrants being arrested for vagrancy, or from the time it was driven by those immigrants' children who had taken over the police forces in East coast cities (basically, which act of "Gangs of New York" is it from?)

[dflprincess]

63. Besides, at the time Notre Dame took the "Fighting Irish" name

the majority of the staff and student body were or Irish descent - so it was mainly Irish who decided to call the teams by that name. Besides, at least in my family, there seems to be some perverse pride in that stereotype.

If a school with a student body made up of Native Americans chose to call itself the "Fighting Sioux" (or whichever Nation would be appropriate) that would be a whole different thing than a bunch of non-Indians coming up with the name (ala North Dakota). Though I can't imagine any school calling itself "Redskins".

[caraher]

19. "Fighting Irish" does annoy me

I'm Irish, raised Catholic, and I am annoyed by the drunken brawler stereotype the Notre Dame mascot represents. But I don't lose any sleep over it, and it helps that even though I'm not among them there are some who embrace the "scrappy underdog" positive image also present.

I'm more annoyed by the nun I knew in high school (and the many like her) who seemed to think God cared which team won a football game...

The "Redskins" name strikes me as much worse, and the Cleveland mascot is off the charts...

[ShortnFiery]

24. Yes, but after a mixing sort of time in the 1800s The Irish had their niche in the North East.

Often-times they found lucrative positions on Police Forces. My great grandfather was part of that network.

My point: Our kind (Irish) do not have A LONG HISTORY of being disenfranchised. We made a place for ourselves.

Having "Irish Blood" coursing through my veins as well, I can't say that I know one other person of Irish descent who would be OFFENDED to be called "Fighting" such a s "The Fighting Irish" of Notre Dame.

Hum, could ya be pullin me leg some? ;)

[WriteDown]

26. Hmm, you say you're short....

Do you look like this?

[ShortnFiery]

30. Nope ...

I'm - get ready for this - BLACK IRISH (brown hair) and only a quarter at that. Too much German and English mix with my background for me to "get my Irish up."

My ancestry is Heinz 57 European but MY PRIDE is 100% toward being a USA Citizen.

[WriteDown]

32. So much for you granting wishes. nt

[caraher]

35. No leg pulling...

but there's a reason I said "annoyed" rather than "offended." It's a mild negative reaction...

[WriteDown]

25. You kind of get it...

The name Redskin isn't great but they are portrayed as warriors so its somewhat tolerable and most NA's are happy for positive exposure. The Cleveland Indian Mascot is just unbelievable.

[ShortnFiery]

34. Bullshit! What's up with this "warriors" as honorable negates the FILTH = Red-skin?

No, it does not. But keep telling yourself that because it makes you feel less guilty,

Warrior? :eyes: ... to some White Folk that only equates to SAVAGE to be exterminated.

[WriteDown]

37. What's up with Irish people being prortrayed as short, drunk,

ready to fight? I am always amazed when the White man tell me what is offensive. Thank goodness they came to teach us the right ways of doing things.

[ShortnFiery]

40. That's the LARGE point that is lost on you. You and I - white and Irish descent, as a culture

and as a race have NOT been UNDERPRIVILEGED as a class of people. Sure, during the 1800s there was some scrapes/competition for resources between European Immigrants within the big cities.

However, and this is IMPORTANT, we - THE IRISH - have not, as a cultural group, been forced to become second class citizens in the USA.

Therefore, we, having achieved close to equality with the other cultures, should help those cultures who are still struggling for equality.

[WriteDown]

42. What's this WE stuff?

I spent a good part of my life on a reservation. I just recognize the big issues. Some hate the word Redskin, some hate Indian, some even hate Native American. Like I've said in the past, my people would be better served by putting all their efforts toward ending things like the Cleveland Indian mascot.

[ShortnFiery]

44. Perhaps you should go lead them instead of fighting with us. We are not your enemy

In fact, many of us do give a damn about respecting the culture of American Indians.

We're arguing past each other.

[WriteDown]

47. I try believe me.

We have bigger problems though. Alcoholism, diabetes, education. Its a long road ahead.

[ShortnFiery]

49. Best Wishes.

I lived adjacent to the Sioux Reservation in the Dakotas. I have great respect for the Native American Culture. Take care and yes, I do respect your opinion. :hi:

[WriteDown]

50. Appreciate it.....

Now we just need our resort that Bushler screwed us over. Get some jobs up there. :)

[auditguy]

52. excellent point...WriteDown..

it seems to me that as long as 'Native Americans' are beset with serious issues like alcoholism, employment etc...the issue of the name of a sports team would have to work out for years to even become trivial...

and..back to the topic of the original post...the courts have no business getting into matters where someone is offended..

[ShortnFiery]

48. p.s. I live on the outskirts of D.C. therefore, the term "redskin" is that which offends me...

on a personal level. :shrug:

[Ferret Annica]

51. Whatever you say, you pasty face Patty

Hey, don't get too offended, my last name is McCarthy after all. ;)

[paulsby]

57. ever see the mascot?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NDLeprechaun.svg

i can't recall any protest about this mascot.

PJ Orourke makes fun of the whole controversy in one of his books (mascots). can't remember which

iirc, he says the fighting irish mascot isn't offensive and looks just like his uncle mike

[eringer]

8. I hope they got season's tickets out of their decision

Team has a terrible owner (Snyder). Thinks he knows how to run a football team. He has reduced the current coach (Jim Zorn) to a cigar store indian hoping that he will quit so he doesn't have to pay him the rest of his contract. I must admit that I admire Zorn for sticking it to the owner and getting a fat paycheck for reading the Washington Post all day. In the interim, however, the fans are going to pay a high price. Fortunately, I gave up my season tickets when the signed Zorn.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsMQbedCZj0&feature=player_embedded#

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

This week is our fourth quarter 2009 fund drive. Democratic Underground is
a completely independent website. We depend on donations from our members
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[Ozymanithrax]

53. In old movies, Red Skin was a common slur for indian, as in...

theiving red skin...
murdering red skin...
savage red skin...

But it fell out of common use by the early 70's, not long after the death of John Wayne.

[Libertas1776]

54. What if they changed the mascot to

a potato, so can you can keep the name without offending an entire race of people. :sarcasm:


It's a stupid name and I wouldn't shed a tear if they changed it, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. I remember the name of the sports teams of the High School I went to; the Flaming Arrows. I guess the name isn't really offensive to Native Americans (another certain group, maybe) but there is nothing worse than having to see a pasty white kid wear a big war bonnet while rallying your team.

[Ignis]

62. Lots of Ignoreds arguing that "Redskin" is inoffensive.

Sometimes, the system really does work! :)

[slackmaster]

77. If you already have them on Ignore, how do you know what they are writing?

:dunce:

[Ignis]

79. Because I can see the responses.

When multiple DU posters are arguing, "But the term 'redskin' is offensive to many Native Americans" over and over in response to a string of Ignored posts, it doesn't take Hercule Poirot to deduce what's being said by Ignored.

Also, many people use quotes from the post to which they're responding.

But Y:dunce:MMV.

[AlphaCentauri]

68. next step buy the team and change the name

[Ter]

73. Why did it even make it to the SC?

On what grounds is it unconstitutional?

[Romulox]

78. This question in this case was the interpretation of the Trademark Act, not the Constitution...

The question for the courts was interpretation of a federal law that allows cancellation of a registration "at any time" if the trademark comprises "matter which may disparage ... persons, living or dead ... or bring them into contempt, or disrepute."

http://www.lineofduty.com/content/view/105608/108/

http://www.bitlaw.com/source/15usc/1052.html#%28a%29

[beyond cynical]

80. Some folks have way too much spare time.

No wonder I'm a cynic...