March 24th: A Letter from Dan Snyder

[Ax]

Well, I think this a no-lose situation. Like Mike said, those that are helped will win.

It IS the best route for the Redskins organization to take. Damn the assholes screaming "motives!!!"

My hope is that Snyder's people, will create, and run, an organization that gets things done, and is not corrupt. As sadly, too many so called Indian charities are.

I also love the term, Original Americans. Native American has always been an incorrect, even though widely accepted term, to describe Original Americans.

PS ~ Even if Dan Snyder discovered a cure for all cancers, and gave it to the world, there would still be losers calling for him to be tarred and feathered.

 

[tshile]

Why is Native incorrect?
It's a synonym for original.

 

[Ax]

Why is Native incorrect?
It's a synonym for original.

Everybody born in America, is a native American. But not everybody is Indian. Indians are the acknowledged 1st Americans.

1st=original.

That's why.

 

[tshile]

Everybody born in America, is a native American. But not everybody is Indian. Indians are the acknowledged 1st Americans.

1st=original.

That's why.

Well, that's just one of the definitions of Native. One of the others is being indigenous. They're all synonyms... Native is not incorrect...

Also, it's used to refer to a race of people. So while an individual born in America is native to America, their race (which is the context in which the phrase is used) is not native to America.

 

[tshile]

Open question posed to all name-change proponents:
How much time and/or money have you donated to Native American causes?

So far everyone I've asked has had the same answer: none.

Bet if likes and retweets could be turned into money and time donations we'd have solved the problem. People love liking on facebook and retweeting stuff, but when it comes to actually doing something, that shit's for the birds.

 

[Shi no Tenshi]

Everybody born in America, is a native American. But not everybody is Indian. Indians are the acknowledged 1st Americans.

1st=original.

That's why.

The main reason I use Native is because that is how most of us refer to ourselves. It's been the common colloquialism for any of the tribes I've met, honestly. I do know there is a push for other words to be used, such as First Nations; I see the Original Americans moniker coming from that sentiment.

 

[fansince62]

No, it doesn't matter, but for a different reason.

The people that want the name changed aren't interested in anything other than having the name changed. They're the equivalent of political extremists - it's their way or no way, because their way is the only right way. There is no compromise possible. They're not interested in it.

I'm curious how many of those people have donated their time and money to help with the issues the Native Americans face - anecdotally I don't believe anyone I know that's demanding the name be changed has donated any of either.

To play a game you have to understand the rules - the rules for this game are that one side wants the name changed and that's all that will make them happy.

Whether it's genuine or not has no bearing, because these people don't care about the plight of the Native Americans or whether or not someone is putting in effort to fix it or how those efforts are going. They're interested in having the name changed.

First thing this morning someone I know commented on the letter and already started attacking the idea. I told him I didn't want to hear it - there's no pleasing his kind on the issue and I'm just flat out not interested in their opinions on it anymore.

The best we can hope for is that this sort of thing is successful so that it erodes away the support from the Native Americans to have the name changed. The less support the people calling for the name to be changed have from the community the name supposedly disparages the better for those of us that want the name to stay.

Engaging those people on the topic of this foundation is a losing proposition though. The other side has to be interested in conversation, and open to compromise, otherwise it's just a waste of time and you only risk making yourself look bad.

The people being helped probably don't care, but again they aren't the people bitching about the name to begin with. They recognize they have far more serious issues.

I like this post and will add my twist. the other aspect I don't fall in line with is that this SHOULD have been done. agree with Mike's thought that if one just looks at outcomes it's a good thing. but there are alternatives. Henry is correct, IMO, in seeing this as a pretty smart PR move. Couple that to Mike's thought and I can't find fault.

no disrespect to anyone...but the plight of Native American tribes isn't my issue. When it comes to charity, my family focuses on Wounded Warriors and Special Olympics. That is our choice. That is where limited resources go. This country has an enormous heart - it's the judgmental part that SOMETIMES goes off the rail.

 

[Elephant]

Well, Florio and Oneida are already out banging their drums in response to Snyder...pretty much what McD5 said they'd do...not that anoyone else didn't think they would.

While focusing on a charitable campaign, if Snyder were smart, he'd have a behind the scenes smear campaign of his own going on Florio and Oneida. Nothing works better than discrediting your opposition in today's political landscape!

 

[Shi no Tenshi]

Well, Florio and Oneida are already out banging their drums in response to Snyder...pretty much what McD5 said they'd do...not that anoyone else didn't think they would.

While focusing on a charitable campaign, if Snyder were smart, he'd have a behind the scenes smear campaign of his own going on Florio and Oneida. Nothing works better than discrediting your opposition in today's political landscape!

I honestly think he's best off continuing to ignore them at this point. If he continues to directly improve lives on the reservations, all it will do is make those sort of people appear more and more petty. Over the long term, that has better effects.

 

[Bulldog]

Funny, I thought Indians were from Southwest Asia

The only reason tribes were called Indians is because some lost European explorers thought they had sailed to Asia, not realizing of course that there was a continent between them and the Pacific.

Look, the foundation idea is not going to work. It worked in FLA with Florida St because their nickname was referencing ONE tribe and once they worked out an agreement with the Seminoles the issue was closed.

Here, Redskin potentially refers to ANY Native Anerican. So even if 99% agree that the foundation is worthwhile and the term is not to be construed to be derogatory, all you need is the Oneidas to persist in their campaign and the issue is not going to go away.

 

[tshile]

I like this post and will add my twist. the other aspect I don't fall in line with is that this SHOULD have been done. agree with Mike's thought that if one just looks at outcomes it's a good thing. but there are alternatives. Henry is correct, IMO, in seeing this as a pretty smart PR move. Couple that to Mike's thought and I can't find fault.

no disrespect to anyone...but the plight of Native American tribes isn't my issue. When it comes to charity, my family focuses on Wounded Warriors and Special Olympics. That is our choice. That is where limited resources go. This country has an enormous heart - it's the judgmental part that SOMETIMES goes off the rail.

It's a good PR move, but as Boone pointed out and I agreed with early, it's only a good PR move if it's done right.

Snyder is good with charitable foundations. He has an amazing platform that reaches many people on a regular basis. As someone who's on all the email blasts from the team, as well as text messages, and someone who goes to the stadium and other team-sponsored events I see it on a regular basis. Book/food/clothing drives, the support for the military, and don't forget Mrs. Snyder is the one who started the breast cancer awareness program and look at what that's turned into.

I firmly believe in 10 years this foundation will be a staple of the franchise and it'll be another item on a list of reasons to be proud to support the franchise. I realize that on-the-field-play hasn't been one of them, but there are plenty of other reasons to be proud if you're willing to actually look for them. There are a lot of people that have been bettered by this organization, as well as its fans, and their willingness to give time and money to causes they find worthy.

As for the plight - I'm with you, it's not of my concern either. Nor is it of the concern of majority of the people in this country. They can say otherwise, but their actions are the only measurable metric and they prove that we just don't actually care enough to do anything.

But the first time I get an email prior to a home game saying they'll be taking donations, in the form of items and money, I'll be one of the people dropping things off in the boxes outside of the stadium and saying hi to the people working those areas.

Because that's how our fans actually roll, regardless of what the actionless critics have to say.

 

[Bulldog]

Of course the irony is that 80% of the politicians screaming about the name haven't done a damn thing about Native American issues in their careers.

 

[tshile]

Look, the foundation idea is not going to work.

If work is defined by "make the name change critics go away" then you might be right.

But it seems to be the mission statement of the foundations is to work towards bettering Native Americans, in which case work means helping those groups of people. I see no evidence to date that it won't work, and plenty of evidence to support the idea that it will work based on Snyder and the organization's past charitable adventures.

 

[ntotoro]

I just wish we would all stop putting labels on our races like anyone outside of this country recognizes them. If a black man from Atlanta goes to Kenya and says he is "african american" that Kenyan is going to look at him like he is crazy.

What really made me realize how awry political correctness had gone was when Lewis Hamilton won the F1 championship. The local news said he was the first "African-American" F1 champion and I'm sitting here actually talking to the TV, saying "Uhm... he's English and I doubt he calls himself African-English."

Nick

 

[DieselPwr44]

But the idea that he 'owes' Native Americans one damn thing because some political activists are trying to manufacture an epithet out of a proud NFL team name is ludicrous. He owes them nothing. And he doesn't deserve to be judged on his efforts to 'support' Native Americans any more than any of us do.

This^^

Now all of you watch and see this lesson magnified: You never give in to the PC Crowd...because no matter what you do, it's never enough.

 

[CounterTrey]

The "Snyder has said he's honoring and knows nothing about them" angle is a false premise since we have zero knowledge whatsoever what he does actually know or what he's said to Indians. That's a major reach. Talking about how he's done bubkus is kind of pointless since the obvious follow up question is what has anyone else in the NFL/football community done? Furthermore, this entire line of thinking comes from an angle that implies that Snyder is responsible for the name of the team instead of a few Indians almost a hundred years ago. He didn't name the team so why does he have to show tangible signs of "honoring them"? Why does that have to be a physical act with tangible items as a byproduct? You can honor someone with words or a commitment to fight what 90% has said over and over and over they don't want changed. This is exactly the problem with the whole debate. Snyder is being saddled with a lot of bullshit that he has absolutely nothing to do with and never did. Couple that with a revisionist history about the nature of the word (a slur) and an entire industry (the Dictionary folks) colluding with the PC crowd and we get this perfect storm of PC Clusterf%@#.

To me it's a perfect case study on the FUBAR nature of political correctness and how it can literally ruin a society. It's a true microcosm of why our society here in the U.S. is going down the tubes.

 

[ntotoro]

This^^

Now all of you watch and see this lesson magnified: You never give in to the PC Crowd...because no matter what you do, it's never enough.

Give an inch to the PC crowd and they'll demand a mile. Once you take one step down that road, no one will let you turn back. Doesn't matter what the situation is. People who have history of apologizing for every perceived offense (whether right or wrong) can never escape it and someone will always look for the next controversy.

Nick

 

[Henry]

Funny, I thought Indians were from Southwest Asia

The only reason tribes were called Indians is because some lost European explorers thought they had sailed to Asia, not realizing of course that there was a continent between them and the Pacific.

Louis C.K. - Indians - YouTube

 

[tshile]

before one penny is collected, before any announcement of who is going to get a single donation.....its being shredded for not being able to work.

what is wrong with letting it happen and then looking at it objectively before deciding if its a failure or not?

well they've already done things. they've been working on this for months and have collected and distributed things. they're just now announcing the foundation and opening it up to the public.

 

[Ax]

Well, that's just one of the definitions of Native. One of the others is being indigenous. They're all synonyms... Native is not incorrect...

Also, it's used to refer to a race of people. So while an individual born in America is native to America, their race (which is the context in which the phrase is used) is not native to America.

I know. But #1 on my list of definitions is...
na·tive
ˈnātiv/
noun
noun: native; plural noun: natives

1.
a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth, whether subsequently resident there or not.
"a native of Montreal"
Just a little pet peeve of mine. Nothing big.

The main reason I use Native is because that is how most of us refer to ourselves. It's been the common colloquialism for any of the tribes I've met, honestly. I do know there is a push for other words to be used, such as First Nations; I see the Original Americans moniker coming from that sentiment.

Yeah, I accept that it is what it is.

But, to expand on my pet peeve part of it.
The blanket use of "Italian American", or "African American" etc..., are also incorrect most of the time.

If earliest man can be traced to Africa, then everybody on the planet is African American.

Again, no biggie. But I'm thrilled with the new organizations name, Original American.