Another problem with the current name, just one more of a long list of problems, is how it relates to our fight song. There is significant history with our fight song, a history that we, as fans, should be proud of.
In the 1930s and 1940s, college football was a big deal, and pro football was in its infancy. People barely paid attention. To bring attention to the Redskins, a fight song was adopted. It was composed by Barnee Breeskin, and the lyrics written by Corinne Griffith, wife of the owner. The song, played during games, brought fanfare and excitement, similar to that of college games.
It brought enough excitement that it was one of the reasons the team began selling out by the mid-1960s, even without a winning season. And it was the first pro football team to do so.
You will note that the song and the rhythm of the lyrics match perfectly. Each musical note of the song is accompanied by one syllable. Each syllable of the lyrics is accompanied by one musical note. The song dances along by itself.
However, as wonderful as this fight song was, the team did not own it. Breeskin retained the rights to the song, even as the owner's wife had written the lyrics.
As time went on, Clint Murchison Jr, in the late 1950s wanted to bring an expansion team to Dallas. But the owner of the Redskins, George Preston Marshall, was adamantly opposed to the idea, and was determined to block the idea by voting against it. Breeskin, at this time, had a falling out with the owner, and contacted Murchison, offering to sell the song to him, which he could then use as leverage to change Marshall's vote. Murchison agreed and purchased the rights.
Murchison then used the song as leverage. If Marshall didn't change his vote, Hail To The Redskins would never again be played at a Redskins game.
Marshall couldn't allow that to happen. So he reluctantly agreed to vote for the expansion in exchange for gaining the rights to the fight song.
And the Dallas Cowboys were born.
My point is, the fight song is important! It was important enough to allow the creation of what would become our biggest rival.
If the song was important enough to allow the creation of the hated Dallas Cowboys in the late 1950's, it is important enough to protect in the 2020's. Because the way it is now is a joke. It's an embarrassment. It's enough of an embarrassment that, I think, most fans at games sing the fight song the old way with the old name.
But now, with the new lyrics, which has had any semblance of the team's native American heritage removed, while at the same time carelessly tossing in "Commanders" (three syllables) in place of "Redskins" (two syllables), is nothing short of a catastrophe. It just doesn't work. It's awkward. It's stupid. It's a slap in the face. It's a violation. It's a sucker punch.
We need to fix this.
We can do that by exorcising this ridiculous current team name, and perhaps, bring back a name that, at least in some implied way, honors native Americans. Or, as a bare bones minimum, bring back something with two syllables. And then, maybe, we can bring back our wonderful icon or something similar (see avatar).
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