Go, Thinskins!

The controversy continues. What I can’t figure out is why no one points out that in 2004 they did a poll on full-blood Native Americans and asked if they were insulted over the Redskins name.  90% weren’t.  You’d think that would be the end of the matter, but it keeps going.  The Redskins owner has no intention of changing the name, so you’d think that would end the matter.  But it keeps going. You don’t demand Red Lobster change their name, do you?  Moreover, I remember reading—but I can’t recall source—how some tribe on the east coast called themselves Redskins prior to the coming of Europeans.  Astounding! How could you tell the subtle skin tone when that’s all you were used to?  Plus, a cosmetics field rep once told me that Indians do not have a red tone, but more of a reduced yellow, which makes them somewhat olive, like Italians and Greeks. 

            So who doesn’t like this?  Has to be progressives who think they have discovered a racist moral lapse, and typically, are out to prove their superiority to the world.  But then those same people go around labeling everyone as white or black in an attempt to use group politics (group in Italian is fasci which labels the type of socialism that tried to be popular by using group politics to control people).  I rather liked Rush Limbaugh’s quip that they should rename the team the “Thinskins” in honor of those who don’t like “Redskins”.

            Not the first time controversy has surrounded a Washington team.  The old Washington Bullets were an also-ran until that year they became the only team with a losing record to win the NBA.  Their coach had grown up around opera as a child and he famously said, “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings.” Indeed it wasn’t over for the Bullets who hit a hot streak at the end of the season, made the playoffs and managed to win it all.  Thereafter, the team became the center of attention and the Thinskins made management change the name.  Argus Hamilton said it well.  “Because of controversy surrounding the suggestion of criminal activity in the name of the Washington Bullets, hereafter the team will be known simply as The Bullets.”
           Okay, so it's the Washington Chippewattomies.  Next is to change the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  Why are we so prejudiced to think that Irish fight?  Why pick on the Irish? Maybe it should be the Formerly Pugnacious Potato-Eaters.  And  maybe the Bethany Mad Swedes should be the Sanity-Challenged Northerners.