While I hide under the nearest table at the revelations from the McDonnell trial (Would you buy a used anything from Jonnie Williams? Let’s pray the jury doesn’t either!) and continue to pray for an acquittal for BOTH Bob and Maureen McDonnell, I sometimes have little time and lots of blogging. So here it goes!
Here is a website that supports the Redskins name (as I do) and a few highlights!
More than a decade ago, in the authoritative linguistic survey “I Am A Red-Skin: The Adoption of a Native American Expression (1769-1826),” Ives Goddard—the senior linguist and curator at the Smithsonian Institution—concluded that the word “redskins” was created by Native Americans, and that it was first used as an inclusive expression of solidarity by multi-tribal delegations who traveled to Washington, D.C. to negotiate national policy towards Native Americans. “The actual origin of the word (redskin) is entirely benign,” Goddard is quoted as saying.
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The Redskins logo in use today was first designed in 1971 in close consultation with Native American leaders. Among those who unanimously approved and voiced praise for the logo was Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, a former President of the National Congress of American Indians and Chairman of the Blackfeet Nation. Years earlier, Mr. Wetzel had been deeply involved with U.S. President John F. Kennedy in the movement for civil liberties, civil rights, and economic freedom for all. In 2014, Mr. Wetzel’s son Don commented, “It needs to be said that an Indian from the State of Montana created that [Redskins] logo, and did it the right way. It represents the Red Nation, and it’s something to be proud of.”
and one more!
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Between October 2003 and September 2004, the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania (under the direction of a former Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times) conducted a national survey of people self-identifying as Native Americans throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states to gauge responses to the Redskins name. More than 90% of respondents polled said the name was not offensive.
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Recently, the Navajo Code Talkers—who were instrumental in coding communications during World War II — have publicly announced their support for The Washington Redskins’ use of the Redskins name.
Now let’s make one thing straight: It’s Saints first, Panthers second and Packers third as far as I’m concerned. But Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins must not give in to a vocal minority and change their name.
Article written by: Elwood "Sandy" Sanders
About Elwood Sanders
Elwood "Sandy" Sanders is a Hanover attorney who is an Appellate Procedure Consultant for Lantagne Legal Printing and has written ten scholarly legal articles. Sandy was also Virginia's first Appellate Defender and also helped bring curling in VA! (None of these titles imply any endorsement of Sanders’ views)
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