Tempest Down in DC

For John, BLUF:  What can I say.  Apparently he has a lot of time on his hands, since he won't talk with Republicans.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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On to important issues.

The President of the United States has weighed in on the question of the name of the football team in our Nation's Capitol.  They are known as the "Redskins", or just the "Skins".  Known by fans far and wide by that name.  However, it is a name that upsets some, including the Oneida Indian Nation.

Under the Headline "Obama: ‘I’d think about changing’ Washington Redskins team name", The Washington Post gives us the story.♥  Here is the lede (and following paragraph):

President Obama became the latest, and most high-profile, figure to weigh in against the Washington Redskins’ name, saying he would consider changing it because it offends many Native Americans.

“If I were the owner of the team and I knew that there was a name of my team — even if it had a storied history — that was offending a sizeable group of people, I’d think about changing it,” Obama said in an interview with the Associated Press published Saturday.

The Wash Post then gives us an informal poll that says 60% of the respondents say keep the name and 40% say change it.

For those who love irony, the lawyer for the team, Mr Lanny J Davis, is quoted thusly:

“We at the Redskins respect everyone,” Lanny J. Davis, the attorney for the Redskins, said in a statement in response to Obama’s comments.  “But like devoted fans of the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Blackhawks (from President Obama’s home town), we love our team and its name and, like those fans, we do not intend to disparage or disrespect a racial or ethnic group.  The name ‘Washington Redskins’ is 81 years old — it’s our history and legacy and tradition.  We Redskins fans sing ‘Hail to the Redskins’ every Sunday as a word of honor, not disparagement.”

Incidentally, in the article from The Washington Post, the Reporter, David Nakamura, notes than in articles about the team the paper does not use the name Redskins.  Which makes one wonder if during Press Conferences the Team spokesperson says, "Yes, Paper X, is Catherine Graham still running your establishment?  And do you have a question about the Redskins?"

One of my Brothers says, in strong tones, that if this happens Syracuse should immediately stop being "The Orangemen", in deference to Irish Catholics, or maybe just Catholics in general.  I agree that "The Orangemen" is pretty offensive.  Maybe even more so than "White People".

So, in the back and forth amongst the three of us the question came up as to if a person on furlough is injured will he or she be able to use their health insurance.

That lead to a comment that there are man-on-the-street interviews where folks are against "Obama Care" but for the "Affordable Care Act".

As for the Skins, I say the owner, Dan Snyder, should remove "Redskins" (name and logo) from all equipment and promotional materials (some allowance for attrition), except for uniforms and helmets, which should all change out immediately.  End of action.

New name for the Skins?  Nothing, nada, zilch, zip, blank.  Sort of like le Mot de Cambronne, we could say it is the name for what politicians in Washington have done.  Nothing, nada, zilch, zip, blank.

On the other hand, one brother said that the idea should be to keep the name and change the logo.

The Red Skin Potato makes sense to me.

Problem solved.

Regards  —  Cliff

♥  The President does tend to favor the phrase "I'd think about" when wanting someone to change course.