Ann Althouse is discussing the issue of whether ethnic names and their accompanying logos for sports teams are offensive. With the national debt exploding and foreign affairs unraveling, I confess this issue has not been high on my list. I would note, however, that amid the outcry over the Washington Redskins, there is a high school team in Arizona that has received less attention.
An interesting topic. I like to try to understand cultural norms and memes as they pass through history. Given the age in which the Redskins got their name, it's not at all surprising they chose it. The Lone Ranger was a popular radio show, kids all played cowboys and Indians. The team tried to plug into the popularity of the idea of the old west.
ReplyDeleteNowadays we're as far removed from that world as in the 30s they were from the American Revolution. If the Washington team were to start now, there's absolutely zero percent chance they would be named the Redskins aside from any cultural offense the name might bring. And of course the tide of history is pushing against the idea of offending anyone - this born through Rousseau and Montesquieu.
The way I look at the world, this kind of dispute are ripples of a much larger pond, the working out of the implications of compassion and humanism born during the enlightenment and not entirely embraced by all at this time. Given the recent track record, I don't see how the name will possible stick - too many of the elite (especially in Washington) agree with the world view which is closest to the compassionate Rousseauian one.
If Daniel Snyder were really smart, he'd make a virtue of necessity and embrace the change. Imagine the new merchandise he'd sell after the new name was launched! Maybe he could take a page from the founders of the franchise and plug into a popular cultural meme of the day and name the team the Zombies...
Dan,
ReplyDeleteI really like the Washington Zombies.
Closely following in contention could be the Lobbyists, Insiders, Pundits, Elite, and Shut-Downs.
Michael