OPINION:
Last week, The Washington Times published an editorial about the “NFL football team formerly known as the Washington Redskins,” and how, “after two seasons of namelessness” it will finally reveal its new name tomorrow on Groundhog Day.
The piece predicted the date may be a “smoke signal” the team will become the Washington Groundhogs since “the team’s offensive linemen for 40 years have been affectionately referred to as ‘the Hogs.’” Okay, that’s cute, but as a Jewish American, I have an alternate proposal with more tour de force that is long overdue.
For the past century, many groups have been honored with team names:
The Atlanta Braves, Boston Celtics, Chicago Blackhawks, Cleveland Indians, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Knicks (Dutch nickname), New York Yankees, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ole’ Miss Rebels, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Texas Rangers and even the Washington Senators. If we count school teams, there’s even the Athenians, Britons, Mighty Arabs, Norse, Samurai and Scots.
From the American Revolution to the Civil War, raiders to soldiers, and Native American warriors to gunfighters in the Old West — and let’s not forget corrupt politicians (senators), everyone got their due.
Well, I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore. Okay, I’m not mad, but I’m annoyed. Well, mildly annoyed. I’m Jewish, remember? We don’t really get angry. We find solutions.
We’re a tribe who has fought long and hard for many millennia, and emerged victorious many times despite insurmountable odds while making significant contributions to America’s history.
So it’s enough with the exclusion. We deserve a sports team.
Now before you get all PC on me and say, “but, Jews are a religion, JSS” (my friends sometimes call me by my initials — just go with it), it’s not the same as honoring fighting groups like the Yankees or Rebels. A religion should be off limits. Oh yeah? Well, I’ve got three words for you:
San Diego Padres.
Yeah, that’s right. Even the Christian clergy has its own team, and their logo was a monk swinging a baseball bat. And then there’s the University of Pennsylvania football team, the Quakers.
So listen up, people. For 5,000 years we’ve endured slavery and tyranny, but we survived and overcame our oppressors. If you want an underdog team that doesn’t ever give up, take a look at our tribe.
A long, long time ago Moses led thousands of Israelites out of Egypt to freedom. Pharaoh Ramses, his army and war chariots tried to stop us. They failed.
In 853 B.C. the Israelites fought in the Battle of Qarqar between 11 kingdoms — with 10,000 troops and 2,000 chariots.
In 721 B.C. the Assyrian Army failed in their attempt to siege Jerusalem.
In 164 B.C. Judah Maccabee led a national liberation movement named after him — the Maccabees — against the Seleucid Empire, which led to the celebration of Hanukkah and the establishment of the first Jewish homeland, the Land of Israel.
In 73 A.D. during the First Jewish-Roman War, Jews defeated a Roman garrison, settled atop a mesa called Masada and fought to the death. The Jewish-Roman Wars lasted 70 years despite Rome’s power.
In 132 Simon bar Kokhba (“Son of the Star”) successfully led a heroic revolt against the Romans and established a Jewish state for three years.
In 351 Jews became frustrated with Constantius Gallus enabling their persecution and led an assault on Roman garrisons, conquering some of their cities.
In 380 the Himyarite Kingdom abandoned polytheism and converted to Judaism and remained as such for about 143 years.
In 1086, thousands of Jewish soldiers courageously fought in the Battle of Zalaka in Spain.
In 1189, Jews were massacred in England and expelled in 1290. During the First Crusade, Jewish soldiers fought alongside Egyptians to defend Jerusalem.
In 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition, and 1536 during the Portuguese Inquisition, Jews faced expulsion for clinging to their religion.
In 1772 some Jews who emigrated to the British Colonies joined the Sons of Liberty. They were attracted to the idea of separating church and state. In 1773, Francis Salvador, a Jewish-Briton became a respected Colonial legislator in Charleston. He was killed in 1776 while fighting in battle for American independence.
In 1776, a Polish Jew named Haym Salomon became one of the greatest financiers of the Revolutionary War cause. He saved American prisoners of war and supplied George Washington with desperately needed supplies in 1781 before the final Battle of Yorktown. He said he wanted nothing for himself, only something for his people.
Since then, Jews have made many contributions to our nation. We love America because its values coincide with the values of freedom and justice found in the Old Testament and Torah. This is all the more reason it would be appropriate — and an honor — to have the team that plays for our nation’s capital city named after our heroes.
Because having a team named after your people isn’t racist. It was always meant to be an honor, and still is. The Florida Seminoles who embrace my alma mater at FSU have said as much in a declaration they published in 2005. The Maccabees could be an unrelenting fighting force on the playing field for the District of Columbia, and something both Washingtonians and Jewish Americans can be proud of.
Now let’s go win some ball games.
• Jeffrey Scott Shapiro served as an assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia from 2007 to 2009. He is a practicing lawyer and the assistant commentary editor for The Washington Times. This column is dedicated to his late uncle, legendary basketball coach and eternal New York Knicks fan, Stan Kellner (1934-2011).
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