Offensive Team Names

[j'nuh]

You know that no one is forcing you to post in this thread?

 

[austingtir]

You know that no one is forcing you to post in this thread?

And no ones forcing you to read our disgust at you posting in it either.

 

[smartcooky]

Its the weekend! Going to drink some ale of colour and remember what life was like when i didnt have some real problems in my life like the people who think a name of a rugby club is a real problem when it really ****ing isnt

Would that be brown ale, black ale or pale ale?

Just askin'

 

[gaston le gaff]

The "BLACK" stuff of course

 

[Groundhog]

 

[McTallshort]

Would that be brown ale, black ale or pale ale?

Just askin'

All three to be honest. Rough as s badgers arse this morning need a non PC fry up to sort myself out

 

[Tony Manx]

All three to be honest. Rough as s badgers arse this morning need a non PC fry up to sort myself out

That with black or white pudding?

 

[McTallshort]

That with black or white pudding?

Its pudding of colour

 

[sigesige00]

Would Arabs be offended by "Crusaders"?

 

[McTallshort]

Would Arabs be offended by "Crusaders"?

Arabs probably wouldnt but someone would be offended on their behalf

 

[Groundhog]

To be fair they generally have more pressing problems than a 1'000 year old invasion.

 

[McTallshort]

Plus it was a pretty small invasion compared to that of the Mongols

 

[Car]

What about the Saracens?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Are we just going round in ****ing circles here?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I blame Groundhog.

 

[smartcooky]

The problem with trying to get teams to change their name or their logo/mascot, at least in the USA, is hindered by a rather large hurdle, the US Constitution, in particular, the First Amendment (usually referred to as "1A") , which guarantees all Americans the right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression.

Now, while there are accepted limitation to 1A, for example, Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes' (often misquoted) assertion that 1A does not give someone the right to yell "fire" in a crowded theatre, as well as limitations on hate speech that incite racial violence, that limitation does not extend to limiting names of sports teams. In the appeal against the conviction of George Johnson in Texas v. Johnson (1989) Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. wrote in the decision that "if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable."

Essentially, neither the federal or state governments nor any local authority, will never be able to force or direct the Washington team management to change their name. They can make it difficult for them to use the name, but they simply cannot legally force them, that would be a violation of 1A, and no judge would rule against the team.

In any case, maybe they should change their name to this...

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98915197/JREF/Redskins.png

"Paleskin" is a derogatory term used by "Indians" to describe white people in old Western movies. It could be taken to be every bit as offensive by a small number of white people as "Redskin" is by a small number of Native Americans. However, it won't be, it would be regarded as a LOL and many would see it as a slap on the face for the various SJW's out there driving for a change.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nice strawman

 

[ncurd]

Are we just going round in ****ing circles here?

Yes....

 

[j'nuh]

The problem with trying to get teams to change their name or their logo/mascot, at least in the USA, is hindered by a rather large hurdle, the US Constitution, in particular, the First Amendment (usually referred to as "1A") , which guarantees all Americans the right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression.

...

Nobody in this thread, and no one I have ever read or heard of has suggested a legal ban on the use of "Redskins" in the name of the team.

The power that those against the use of the "Redskins" term have is through consumer boycott and encouraging others to boycott, both the Redskins and its sponsors. There's no doubt that the more unpopular the "Redskins" name becomes, the more pressure from sponsors and NFL to change.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Nobody in this thread, and no one I have ever read or heard of has suggested a legal ban on the use of "Redskins" in the name of the team.

The power that those against the use of the "Redskins" term have is through consumer boycott and encouraging others to boycott, both the Redskins and its sponsors. There's no doubt that the more unpopular the "Redskins" name becomes, the more pressure from sponsors and NFL to change.

i for one appreciated the elementary textbook explanation of my constitution however