Some nights ago I watched the John Stewart show, and saw the heated debate between Washington Redskins fans and a Native American coalition. As a Mohawk I want to side with the Native Americans. Okay, I admit I'm not full-blooded, but there is enough American Indian in me to rouse my awareness that something is very wrong here. Look at it this way. In this age of political correctness, would anyone really think of naming a baseball team The Atlanta Pickaninnies? Would you call a Japanese baseball team the Tokyo Slanteyes? Of course not! But when it comes to American Indians, "redskin" is a derogatory term. Remember the old Western movies? There's always a curmudgeon pioneer who is forever calling Indians "Ya dirty redskins! I'll git ye!" So why in the name of all that's holy would you not only name a team "The Redskins" but also put up an argument about keeping this--okay, this insulting nickname? The name insults American Indians, full-blooded, half-blooded or what have you. And it insults me and that part of my heritage! Change the damn name and have done already. Just my humble opinion--with respect to all those ardent Washington Redskins fans out there.
Wilbury--I think it's insulting. It would be like calling a Latino-American "Pancho," or an African-American "Rastus." When I was in high school some of the boys called me "Princess Flashing Beaver." How do you think I felt? People also have the tendency to call a Native American "Chief." Even if he's not. That's also pretty damn derogatory.
