The Washington Redskins: The name

First off, I am a Washington Redskins fan and I have been since I converted from being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, sometime in the late '70s. This name change thing, is getting way out of hand. Normally, when a law has changed, what is still in use, is grandfathered in, until you make modifications. Like a home under an old code, has to update if rebuilt, etc. The name Redskins was not considered a slur until recently. Since the name is already in use, it should be grandfathered in, until the team moves to another venue. At the same time, the same with schools and the little football leagues around the nation.

Now, if the name Redskins is to be banned from use on a team in the NFL because it considered a slur by the Government, then the name Redskins should be banned from ALL sporting teams in the US, including the reservations.

U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton cosponsored a bill that would eliminate the NFL's tax-exempt status. Per Rick Klein of ABC News, Norton said her intent was to take that away from Washington "unless, and until, they decide not to profit from a name that has now officially been declared a racial slur."

This statement, along with the other senators who signed a letter to the NFL for the name change, shows the true nature of what this all about. Money! Keep in mind, this is being used to get the NFL involved. This can also affect the localities who have the youth league football leagues.
And on top of this statement, when is she worried about financially hurting a league for a name when she should be worried about the financial well being of our country?

There are two sides to a buffalo coin. The opponents of the Redskins name are now threatening the use of financial boycott to force the team to change the name. That, is a two way. Those that like the name can stop visiting the reservations as tourists. We can stop buying American-Indian made items. We can stop investing in American-Indian owned businesses. We can stop visiting the American-Indian owned casinos. The same can happen to those that support the name change.

Some sportscasters are refusing to type or say the name, some of the NFL referees are also not mentioning the Redskins name. That's their prerogative. They can only say offense and defense to reference the teams during the game and that would not matter.

There are plenty of names in the sport world that can be considered controversial, even as slurs. Since the Redskins are a high profile team, then it is understandable they are targeted. With the opposition of the name proposing the name is offensive to them, would lead you to believe that this is no more than a diversion so they can make money using the redskin name as their moniker.