OPINION:
The political correctness police have started their ritual (it happens about every 10 years or so) of beating the drums to change the name of the Washington Redskins to something less “offensive.” I suggest the new name of the local NFL team be the Washington Thinskins.
This hypersensitive crowd is always looking for some reason to be offended or, more accurately, seem offended. No one names their sports teams after something to be disliked, and that is the case with these other professional sports teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Blackhawks. Are the automobile names Jeep Cherokee and Pontiac Aztec also so offensive? There are many NFL team names that may be offensive to thin-skinned and hypersensitive people: atheists dislike the Saints, socialists despise the Patriots, short people should be offended by the Giants and Titans, environmental activists dislike Chargers, Jets and Steelers, and so on. Where and when does such ridiculousness stop? If the name of the Redskins is changed, then so should the Blackhawks, Braves, Chiefs, Indians, Warriors and all others be changed.
As a native Virginian, I am often offended by American Indians calling themselves “Native Americans,” a group of which I am also a part. As a result, every time I am asked about race and “Native American” is one of the choices, I indicate that I am a Native American — born in Virginia but not an American Indian.
CHARLES H. CUNNINGHAM
Fairfax
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