The Governator uses his Veto

[Paelos]

...on making sure the Redskins stay in the game

Seriously though the story is mainly interesting because the governor is standing up to stupid political bans, and for this particular quote by the democratic rep supporting the bill.

"I wanted to get rid of all references to Indian culture and religion," she said. "It would be like the Pasadena Jesus Christs. People would be horribly offended."

In a world of bad analogies, that one is a winner! Just a reminder that there are no good slurs for Christians...unless it's in Arabic.

[HaemishM]

She would have been better served by calling her hyptothetical team the Pasadena Niggers. Of course, the whole argument is kind of silly, seeing as how it's just a goddamn football team. It's not like I'd give a shit if a team was named the Newton Rednecks or the Jackson Crackers.

But white people aren't allowed to be indignant at racial stereotyping, so what do I know?

[Paelos]

Funny you should mention that, but the Atlanta Crackers were my grandmother's favorite minor league team to watch when she was a girl.

[Alkiera]

Ahnold also vetoed the 'drivers liscenses for illegal immigrants' bill.  Apparently the 'R' next to his name isn't entirely for show.

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Alkiera

[Dren]

Well if she is having trouble with the name Indians, the analogy should be more like calling a team the Irish, the French, or the Americans, or some other vague term that covers a wide divigence of peoples.  The term Indian also covers Indians from, you know, India.

If she means specific tribes of Indians, then we could put an analogy together for just calling teams by their cities or states I guess.  Tribes were basically cities on the move (or not in some cases.)  I'm sure religion had something to do with tribes, but it wasn't termed that way.  It wasn't called the Apache faith.  As far as a Christian analogy?  Ever hear of the Saints?

If they are using actual slurs like Redskin, then I can see some problems like people have said above.  However, it sounds like this lady doesn't want any reference to the American Indian at all.  That doesn't make sense to me.  I suppose if they want to be completely forgotten as a race they can continue down this road.  Eventually, all they will be known for is what the public sees, Casinos.

Christian slur?  How about the Crusaders?  The Inquisitors?  The Lambs? How about the Lion's Dinner? (OK, yes, it is hard to come up with them.)

I'd think they'd follow the Fighting Irish's example.  You think Irish people like to see that little leprachaun guy on shirts, signs, the T.V.?  It isn't exactly flattering.  They put up with it because it keeps the Irish tradition in the minds of everyone watching.  It is smart in my opinion.

As far as the Jesus Christs?  I can't think of any teams that reference a specific person in the American Indian culture/religion that is pivotal to said American Indian culture/religion like Jesus is for Christians.  Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing some teams named The Saviors, or The Forgivers.  It wouldn't offend me in the least bit.

*Let's go Messiahs. Clap clap clap clap clap.  Let's go Messiahs.*

[HaemishM]

It's funny that I don't see anyone complaining about teams named "The Coyotes" since the Coyote is an important part of many Native American creation myths.

Redskins is a slur, but I don't think it's even that the word is a slur. I mean, people are still getting up in arms about the Atlanta Braves, and Brave was most certainly not a slur. It's just another example of people trying to control language.

[Alkiera]

I live in the home of the Americans...  They're a decent hockey team in the AHL, which is an acronym for 'We're Still Playing Hockey'.

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Alkiera

[Nebu]

Eventually I'll be rooting for the Denver Number 5's.  At least until people decide that teams named after numbers have racist/sexist connotations.

[Dark Vengeance]

I would think that they will have a pretty tough time getting such laws changed for HS teams when the NFL still has a franchise called the Redskins, and has refused to cave to pressure from political correctness activists.

That's by far the most reasonable name to change....but the Cleveland Indians? The Kansas City Chiefs? The Atlanta Braves? The Florida State Seminoles? Give me a damn break....it's bad enough that bullshit about PR and political correctness changed the aptly-named Washington Bullets into the Wizards.

If you look at the Skins' logo, it has altered between showing a tasteful profile of a Native American face, and a spear that is identical to the one used by Florida State. The Chiefs have had a very attractive arrowhead logo for their entire existence. The images used by the Braves are tasteful, leaving only the Indians caricature logo as even remotely objectionable IMO.

Personally, I'm waiting for someone to object to the use of animal nicknames, or nicknames like the Miami Hurricanes, or even right-wingers claiming that team names like the Magic or Devils are a means of promoting the occult.

Then I can get them all together in a room, say "fuckin psychos", and address this ridiculous issue all at once.

Bring the noise.
Cheers.............

[El Gallo]

I think the term "Redskins" and the Cleveland logo are over the line.  Of course, if I owned the 'skins I would change my name, colors and/or logo every 5 years just to rake in the extra sales of jerseys/t-shirts/giant foam "we're #1" hands, etc.

The Salamanca reservation's high school in southwestern NY calls their teams the Hillbillies, and have a buck-toothed white guy as their logo.  At least they used to (my wife is from up that way).  I always found that to be worth a chuckle, a subtle dig against the local white schools that use indian names.

[WayAbvPar]

it's bad enough that bullshit about PR and political correctness changed the aptly-named Washington Bullets into the Wizards.

I am actually mildly surprised that the Christian fundamentalist lobby hasn't been up in arms about that- Wizards are a reference to the occult, after all.

I am actually serious. Members of my family are seriously against this kind of thing- they home school their kids, won't allow them to see movies or read books like Harry Potter, etc. I had to play D&D on the sly when I was a kid for fear of punishment.

[Nebu]

You have to admit though, having a franchise named the Satan Worshippers would get so much free press that you'd never have to spend a dime on marketing.  I also bet the shirts, jersey's and big foam hands would fly off the shelves.  

Goth cheerleaders ftw.

[Train Wreck]

I am actually serious. Members of my family are seriously against this kind of thing- they home school their kids, won't allow them to see movies or read books like Harry Potter, etc. I had to play D&D on the sly when I was a kid for fear of punishment.

Most of them I know that have this attitude don't mind magic in fairy tales and Disney cartoons, etc.  The stuff they grew up with is fine; everything else is bad bad bad.  I would have more respect for someone that doesn't pick and chose what is acceptable and what isn't.

[Righ]

Some stupid white men decided to build a nation based on equal opportunity, but decided to limit the equality to religion, not race. A few years later, after the white people had largely come to terms with accepting other races as equal, some stupid native Americans decided to protest against sports teams that were largely named in their nations' honor. You see, the fact is that the Redskins may have an offensive name today, but the sentiment of naming the team after a formerly acceptable term for a native American wasn't to deride them, but to honor them. The teams wanted to liken themselves to the proud, spirited and athletic indiginous people that they admired.

Calling a sports team comprised of native Americans the Hillbillies is funny, but it misses the point entirely. The Redskins should consider a name change, but they should pull a publicity coup by asking the Indian nations of Washington (Chinook,  Duwamish, Snoqualamie, etc) to find a name for the sports team that best honors the indiginous people of the area.

[Tairnyn]

You have to admit though, having a franchise named the Satan Worshippers would get so much free press that you'd never have to spend a dime on marketing.  I also bet the shirts, jersey's and big foam hands would fly off the shelves.  

Goth cheerleaders ftw.

That makes me wonder if the New Jersey Devils missed the boat.

[Arcadian Del Sol]

it's bad enough that bullshit about PR and political correctness changed the aptly-named Washington Bullets into the Wizards.

I am actually mildly surprised that the Christian fundamentalist lobby hasn't been up in arms about that- Wizards are a reference to the occult, after all.

I am actually serious. Members of my family are seriously against this kind of thing- they home school their kids, won't allow them to see movies or read books like Harry Potter, etc. I had to play D&D on the sly when I was a kid for fear of punishment.

They certainly do lobby against it, but it doesn't get any media coverage. Only certain viewpoints get airtime on the network news.