Thursday, October 10, 2013

'Redskins' name causing discrimination against ethnic groups


 Letter from Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to fans


Category of problem: Discrimination/Athletics

Level of problem: State

This is a potential policy that is being considered to help a problem/issue that individuals/families face.

This affects some individuals based on ethnicity and whether a sport’s team should have a name pertaining to a certain demographic.

My views on the issue/policy: I am not a fan of the Washington Redskins but after 80 years of professional athletics, the name ‘Washington Redskins’ is just now an issue. I do not think the name should be changed and I don’t think politics should get in the way of that. Just like what the owner stated in the article, it is what’s on the field that the team focuses on. It is the sport, the fans, the history, and accomplishments of the team that make them a team, not a race or discrimination. The history of the name does go back when the Redskins were first started but with no intention to cause harm to individuals of the Native American decent or any other background for that matter. I think that if the Redskins are forced to change their name, then every high school and collegiate athletic team with a heritage name or something that the public finds discriminatory should be changed as well. I know of a town in Texas that is the ‘Indians’, but no controversy has taken place in that town. Not to mention, the Redskins don’t discriminate against their players, coaching staff, or fans, so what makes the public think that this name was intentional to cause issues. President Obama made comments on the news involving this issue stating that it’s very discriminatory and if he were the owner, he would change it immediately.

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