When I wrote this blog originally, I did so with the intent of doing my research. My belief at the time was that with the research I'd done, that the name and mascot were decided/given with consent from and in approval of Native Americans. I do admit, that while I personally may feel that a sports team is a thing of pride and celebration, it's not my place to decide what's acceptable to another group of persons which whom I am not a "member" of. I don't like when men try to tell me how I should think and feel about something as a woman, so it's not my place to tell Native American persons or anyone else whether or not they should be offended by a sports team name, or mascot, or anything of the sort. I've came to this conclusion ages ago, just haven't updated this blog post in making this clear. Even though I made a decent effort back then to research things before opening my mouth, I've gotten much better at doing better research and analyzing and breaking things down than I was then.
I think for the time being I will leave the original blog in its original published form below without edits. I think it is important for us all as people to be able to own our past and present, and keep ourselves open to being able to grow and evolve as people over time. Even though I know personally that I never in my life would ever intend at all to be hateful or hurtful to another person and that deep down inside I suppose I'm a hippie who just wants everyone to be able to get along, love one another (not in that way you perv! Ok I'll see myself out haha), respect one another, and hug everyone I greet, that doesn't mean that I'm immune to ever saying anything that could be hurtful to another. Even if that's never anything I'd ever want to do, we all have different journeys, different life experiences, and you never know what another's story is unless you talk and share, right?
*****END IMPORTANT NOTE*****
Ok so I borrowed the idea for that title from someone else, but it fits. I was also going to write about this before, but I either got distracted or figured I'd just let it pass. I should have thought better, it hasn't passed. What I'm talking about is this big hoopla about the "offensiveness" of the team name for the Washington Redskins, and the wimpification of America. (I was going to use the title with pussification instead of wimpification, but I'm attempting to keep the swearing at a minimum heh.)
As some of you know I'm a Redskins fan. We may not have done too well last season but I bleed burgundy and gold. What prompted me today was the letter written from owner / president Bruce Allen directed to Senator Harry Reid. In this letter, Mr. Allen addresses the senator and states how Senator Reid must not really have been provided "all of the pertinent facts and true history of the Washington Redskins." The Redskins have been around for over 81 years, have played in 11 NFL Championship games and have won five World Championships. There is quite a bit of information in the letter attesting to not only the history of the sports team, how the name came about, how the logo was designed and approved by Native American leaders, a poll which reports that the majority of Native Americans do not find the name offensive, how the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation provides resources and opportunities to those in need (including over one thousand tablet computers which were distributed to Native American students, amongst other things), and a wealth of other interesting information.
What I find to be interesting is the fact that no one has brought up how the name was "offensive" over the course of 81 years... until recently. It would seem as though a few people woke up one day and were like "Hey! I suddenly find this to be offensive! I didn't yesterday, but something has came to me overnight and made me realize how racist this is and I'm mad RAWR!"
What is wrong with you America? Why do we continue to allow congress, or other persons in "superior" positions to tell us what does and does not offend us? Words are words, and the only way they are hurtful is if we give them the power to harm us. Now, I'm not saying by any means that words said with intent and purpose of being hurtful are ok, because the intent or emotion in how the word(s) were said to carry some importance in certain circumstances if you allow them to. Why though, are you allowing people to tell you that something is intended with harm, when previously there was no harm intended? Why are you allowing them to go "Hey, you know, you should really be offended by this!", and why are you then going "Hey you're right!! Why haven't I been offended by this before! I'm angry now!" And more importantly, why the hell is this even being a decision congress is considering anyway? Don't they have more important shit to do than this like, making a budget, doing something about our fucked up economy, getting people back into work, etc? Shouldn't this be something handled in the league?
And also, are sports teams not something founded on pride? I can't for the life of me think of a single sports team that was not founded on pride for their team and what they stand for. Who the heck puts together a sports team and goes "Hey! I really really freaking hate / despise _______. Let's call ourselves that!"
Maybe I just don't get it being a white girl. I wouldn't care if they were the Washington Palefaces, Washington Rednecks, Washington Vaginas, etc. It's not like they're the Washington Savages or the Washington Injuns. And according to that letter, one of the foremost scholars of Native American languages, a Smithsonian Institution senior linguist Ives Goddard spent several months researching the entire subject and concluded that the world "redskin" originated "as a Native American expression of solidarity by multiple tribal delegations that traveled to Washington to negotiate Native American national policies." (There's more in the letter, read it if you haven't.) But what I don't also get is why are there no other teams under attack? What about the Kansas City Chiefs, or the Atlanta Braves, or the Cleveland Indians? And really, if you're going to attack the Washington Redskins to change their name, you cannot stop just there. You cannot force one team to change their name, and not go after all of the other "Redskins" across the nation. There are TONS of elementary, middle and high schools with Native American inspired names and mascots, and countless other things as well. You cannot force one to change their name and leave the rest alone. You're offended by all or you're offended by none... period.
And what's next? Are vikings/descendants of vikings going to start suddenly becoming offended by the Minnesota Vikings? Are gays suddenly going to realize that the Green Bay Packers could be taken as an offensive term to homosexuals? Or what about Blacks or Hispanics suddenly finding the Carolina Panthers or the Cleveland Browns to be an offensive team name? Are religious people suddenly going to become offended by the New Orleans Saints? Are workers or families or descendants of steel workers going to become offended by the Pittsburgh Steelers? Are southerners going to suddenly find the Dallas Cowboys to be a negative stereotype on southern persons? Do you see how ridiculous this is?
My point is, this political correct bullshit is getting out of control. Yes, no one should intentionally spew forth hatred or callous remarks toward one another. There is no reason to hate one another based upon where we're from or what color our skin is. But this is sports people!! Sports teams are about pride! Pride for your team! Pride for your "homeland"! (And by homeland, I mean anything in which you deem to hold meaning in a "homey" type way to you, whether that's your state of residence, state of origin, or your people.) Do you cheer on something you hate or have no respect for? Hell no you don't! You cheer for what you love, what you're proud of, something you stand for... you cheer for positive things! You probably wouldn't cheer for the Alabama Angry Bees if you were terrified of, deathly allergic to, or hated bees would you? Ok maybe you'd be a little conflicted if you were proud of your Alabama heritage or something, but still.
Wake up America. Stop allowing yourself to get so riled up and distracted with hate. Stop allowing America to become "pussified". We've become a nation who cries and demands everyone else conform because a couple of people allow themselves to get all butt hurt and offended by small shit. I still stand by the suggestion I've had in a few of my blogs about a Helmet Program of some sort. I think if I ever hit the lottery I'm really going to look into starting a non-profit organization for handing out helmets to our more "special" citizens. You know, the ones who want to take everything away from everyone else because every little tiny thing they don't agree with hurts their precious little feelings? We can even add a level of customization too. Like, if you want rainbows and butterflies and unicorns and fairies and gumdrops and lollipops on your helmet, you can totally have them.
In God We Trust on our money offends me, I'm an atheist!" Get the fuck over yourself. I don't care if my money is covered in rainbows and some dude firing a rifle into the air while corn holing a bear and eating kittens while standing on a steaming pile of elephant dung. It buys me the things I need. It pays my bills. I don't care what it looks like.
I think birth control is evil and no one should ever be allowed to have access to it because it's evil and and un-Godlike! Again, get over yourself please. Most women I know that take it, don't take it to prevent pregnancy, but to regulate their cycle and alleviate their menstrual symptoms. No one is forcing you to take it, and just because you don't believe in it, doesn't give you the right to tell other people what they can and cannot do with their own bodies, and does not give you the right to invade your opinion into the private decisions made by a woman and her doctor. You want me or anyone else to respect your beliefs?? You need to respect my own as well.
Well I find the term "illegal immigrant" offensive!! We should change the name!! Freaking really?!?! STOP BREAKING THE LAW THEN ASSHOLE!! It's not an offensive term, it is exactly what it is!! You're an immigrant, and *gasp* you're here illegally!!!! (I seriously facepalmed harder than I've ever facepalmed before at that one.)
Ugh I could go on and on. Please, I beg you people... grow some skin please? The world is not out to get you. In fact, most people do not wish any ill will or harm upon you, so stop thinking that everyone is trying to hurt your precious self with every word they mutter. Stop for a moment, pause, and consider the intent behind the words. Are they aimed directly at you? Is this person actually intending to offend or hurt me? Hint: most of the time they're not, it's just that they *gasp* have a different opinion/belief/feeling than you do. And hey, just because someone is different, does not mean they're a bad person. Just because they feel differently than you do, does not mean that they are a bad person. Stop trying to ruin or take shit away from the rest of us because you're paranoid that anyone different than you is out to get you. And why is it that the minority (and I'm speaking not in race but in terms of opinions or beliefs) seem to always be the craziest, loudest mofos there are?!?! How can so few noisy mother fuckers cause so many headaches for the rest of us who just want to live and get along? Oy vey!
Ok so I borrowed the idea for that title from someone else, but it fits. I was also going to write about this before, but I either got distracted or figured I'd just let it pass. I should have thought better, it hasn't passed. What I'm talking about is this big hoopla about the "offensiveness" of the team name for the Washington Redskins, and the wimpification of America. (I was going to use the title with pussification instead of wimpification, but I'm attempting to keep the swearing at a minimum heh.)
As some of you know I'm a Redskins fan. We may not have done too well last season but I bleed burgundy and gold. What prompted me today was the letter written from owner / president Bruce Allen directed to Senator Harry Reid. In this letter, Mr. Allen addresses the senator and states how Senator Reid must not really have been provided "all of the pertinent facts and true history of the Washington Redskins." The Redskins have been around for over 81 years, have played in 11 NFL Championship games and have won five World Championships. There is quite a bit of information in the letter attesting to not only the history of the sports team, how the name came about, how the logo was designed and approved by Native American leaders, a poll which reports that the majority of Native Americans do not find the name offensive, how the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation provides resources and opportunities to those in need (including over one thousand tablet computers which were distributed to Native American students, amongst other things), and a wealth of other interesting information.
What I find to be interesting is the fact that no one has brought up how the name was "offensive" over the course of 81 years... until recently. It would seem as though a few people woke up one day and were like "Hey! I suddenly find this to be offensive! I didn't yesterday, but something has came to me overnight and made me realize how racist this is and I'm mad RAWR!"
What is wrong with you America? Why do we continue to allow congress, or other persons in "superior" positions to tell us what does and does not offend us? Words are words, and the only way they are hurtful is if we give them the power to harm us. Now, I'm not saying by any means that words said with intent and purpose of being hurtful are ok, because the intent or emotion in how the word(s) were said to carry some importance in certain circumstances if you allow them to. Why though, are you allowing people to tell you that something is intended with harm, when previously there was no harm intended? Why are you allowing them to go "Hey, you know, you should really be offended by this!", and why are you then going "Hey you're right!! Why haven't I been offended by this before! I'm angry now!" And more importantly, why the hell is this even being a decision congress is considering anyway? Don't they have more important shit to do than this like, making a budget, doing something about our fucked up economy, getting people back into work, etc? Shouldn't this be something handled in the league?
And also, are sports teams not something founded on pride? I can't for the life of me think of a single sports team that was not founded on pride for their team and what they stand for. Who the heck puts together a sports team and goes "Hey! I really really freaking hate / despise _______. Let's call ourselves that!"
Maybe I just don't get it being a white girl. I wouldn't care if they were the Washington Palefaces, Washington Rednecks, Washington Vaginas, etc. It's not like they're the Washington Savages or the Washington Injuns. And according to that letter, one of the foremost scholars of Native American languages, a Smithsonian Institution senior linguist Ives Goddard spent several months researching the entire subject and concluded that the world "redskin" originated "as a Native American expression of solidarity by multiple tribal delegations that traveled to Washington to negotiate Native American national policies." (There's more in the letter, read it if you haven't.) But what I don't also get is why are there no other teams under attack? What about the Kansas City Chiefs, or the Atlanta Braves, or the Cleveland Indians? And really, if you're going to attack the Washington Redskins to change their name, you cannot stop just there. You cannot force one team to change their name, and not go after all of the other "Redskins" across the nation. There are TONS of elementary, middle and high schools with Native American inspired names and mascots, and countless other things as well. You cannot force one to change their name and leave the rest alone. You're offended by all or you're offended by none... period.
And what's next? Are vikings/descendants of vikings going to start suddenly becoming offended by the Minnesota Vikings? Are gays suddenly going to realize that the Green Bay Packers could be taken as an offensive term to homosexuals? Or what about Blacks or Hispanics suddenly finding the Carolina Panthers or the Cleveland Browns to be an offensive team name? Are religious people suddenly going to become offended by the New Orleans Saints? Are workers or families or descendants of steel workers going to become offended by the Pittsburgh Steelers? Are southerners going to suddenly find the Dallas Cowboys to be a negative stereotype on southern persons? Do you see how ridiculous this is?
My point is, this political correct bullshit is getting out of control. Yes, no one should intentionally spew forth hatred or callous remarks toward one another. There is no reason to hate one another based upon where we're from or what color our skin is. But this is sports people!! Sports teams are about pride! Pride for your team! Pride for your "homeland"! (And by homeland, I mean anything in which you deem to hold meaning in a "homey" type way to you, whether that's your state of residence, state of origin, or your people.) Do you cheer on something you hate or have no respect for? Hell no you don't! You cheer for what you love, what you're proud of, something you stand for... you cheer for positive things! You probably wouldn't cheer for the Alabama Angry Bees if you were terrified of, deathly allergic to, or hated bees would you? Ok maybe you'd be a little conflicted if you were proud of your Alabama heritage or something, but still.
Wake up America. Stop allowing yourself to get so riled up and distracted with hate. Stop allowing America to become "pussified". We've become a nation who cries and demands everyone else conform because a couple of people allow themselves to get all butt hurt and offended by small shit. I still stand by the suggestion I've had in a few of my blogs about a Helmet Program of some sort. I think if I ever hit the lottery I'm really going to look into starting a non-profit organization for handing out helmets to our more "special" citizens. You know, the ones who want to take everything away from everyone else because every little tiny thing they don't agree with hurts their precious little feelings? We can even add a level of customization too. Like, if you want rainbows and butterflies and unicorns and fairies and gumdrops and lollipops on your helmet, you can totally have them.
In God We Trust on our money offends me, I'm an atheist!" Get the fuck over yourself. I don't care if my money is covered in rainbows and some dude firing a rifle into the air while corn holing a bear and eating kittens while standing on a steaming pile of elephant dung. It buys me the things I need. It pays my bills. I don't care what it looks like.
I think birth control is evil and no one should ever be allowed to have access to it because it's evil and and un-Godlike! Again, get over yourself please. Most women I know that take it, don't take it to prevent pregnancy, but to regulate their cycle and alleviate their menstrual symptoms. No one is forcing you to take it, and just because you don't believe in it, doesn't give you the right to tell other people what they can and cannot do with their own bodies, and does not give you the right to invade your opinion into the private decisions made by a woman and her doctor. You want me or anyone else to respect your beliefs?? You need to respect my own as well.
Well I find the term "illegal immigrant" offensive!! We should change the name!! Freaking really?!?! STOP BREAKING THE LAW THEN ASSHOLE!! It's not an offensive term, it is exactly what it is!! You're an immigrant, and *gasp* you're here illegally!!!! (I seriously facepalmed harder than I've ever facepalmed before at that one.)
Ugh I could go on and on. Please, I beg you people... grow some skin please? The world is not out to get you. In fact, most people do not wish any ill will or harm upon you, so stop thinking that everyone is trying to hurt your precious self with every word they mutter. Stop for a moment, pause, and consider the intent behind the words. Are they aimed directly at you? Is this person actually intending to offend or hurt me? Hint: most of the time they're not, it's just that they *gasp* have a different opinion/belief/feeling than you do. And hey, just because someone is different, does not mean they're a bad person. Just because they feel differently than you do, does not mean that they are a bad person. Stop trying to ruin or take shit away from the rest of us because you're paranoid that anyone different than you is out to get you. And why is it that the minority (and I'm speaking not in race but in terms of opinions or beliefs) seem to always be the craziest, loudest mofos there are?!?! How can so few noisy mother fuckers cause so many headaches for the rest of us who just want to live and get along? Oy vey!
yet another great blog ! Good job Nikki I am with you %100 ! Get over your selves ppl and just move ON with YOUR lives and stop being to " picky" about stupid crap .
ReplyDeleteSlightly ironic warnings about hatred.
ReplyDelete