Washington Redskins Name & News 2014: 50 US Senators Send Letter to NFL Urging League to Change Name
More and more, the United States Government and the American public are voicing their displeasure with the NFL team that plays in the nation's capital, the Washington Redskins.
In a letter addressed to the National Football League on Thursday, 50 U.S. senators urged Roger Goodell and the league to change the team name from "Redskins" to something different. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has already said multiple times that he has absolutely no plans to change the name in the future. Many people feel that the term "Redskins" is offensive and prejudice against Native Americans and needs to be changed immediately.
Despite the ongoing efforts by many, it doesn't appear as if a name change will be taking place any time soon.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder are both against the name change and instead feel that name honors Native Americans. However, many others clearly feel differently about the issue. Various protestors have come to games holding up signs and websites have been made attempting to persuade the team to change the name. However, according to a recent ESPN Sports Nation poll, more than 66 percent of voters across the world felt the name should not be changed. Although 50 U.S. senators signed the petition to have the name changed, we must also remember that 50 other senators did not sign the letter and were not on board.
Other teams in professional sports have been brought into ethical question as well. Teams such as the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Blackhawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Braves, and multiple collegiate athletic programs have been criticized for having racially insensitive or offensive team names.
The best way to protest against the Redskins to get a name change would be to not attend games. By attending games you're supporting Daniel Snyder and the Redskins franchise financially. It comes as no surprise that old school football fans -- especially Redskins fans -- want to keep the name the same because that's what they're used to. Arthur Halibritter, the CEO of the Oneida Indian Nation, has been the leading protestor for a name change and believes the name is an offensive racial slur.
What do you think? Do you believe the Redskins should be forced to change their name?
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