What's in a Name?

The U.S. Patent Office has ruled that the name of the NFL Team, Washington Redskins, is "disparaging of Native Americans" and federal trademarks for the name have to be canceled.

Daniel Snyder, the owner of the the Redskins, has refused to change the team’s name, citing tradition in light of growing pressure from Barack Obama, the entire Democrat side of the US Senate, every “bleeding heart liberal” and even the NAACP.

Pun intended; the NAACP is not in the position of calling the pot “black!”

Founded Feb. 12. 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, campaigning for equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization.

Not to take away from the good work that the NAACP has done in the name of “civil rights,” but really, times have changed.  Our social consciousness, demeanor, attitudes and beliefs have changed.  I think we can all agree on this.

Why must the Washington Redskins succumb to the intimidation of the likes of Senator Harry Reid and a Federal Bureaucratic Agency who has injected itself in a public policy debate for purely political purposes?  All while nobody has questioned the NAACP for continuing to refer to non-caucasians has “colored people.”  

I believe many more people would be offended by being referred to as “colored people” than those who are offended with NFL’s Washington Football Team using the name “redskins.”  

I do not see the US Patent Office taking away the Trademark issued to the NAACP because they use a term, which in today’s language, is offensive.  I do not hear an outcry from Harry Reid for them to change their name to come current with social norms.  ...and we won’t either!  

Look these are business decisions.  Not government mandated policy on groups, people and organizations that one particular political persuasion uses against their opponents.  

Let the free marketplace help the Washington Redskins make their decisions on this.  Afterall, a loss of sponsors, advertisers, small ticket sales, player discussions and local community support (or lack there of) is how it should work.  

Politicians, bureaucrats and lobbyists have no place engaging in this discussion.  Unless, of course, they really believe in the concept of elimination of “offensive” names.  I would then expect Harry Reid will be making a similar speech in the US Senate demanding the NAACP change it’s name.

When that day does come, expect the NAACP to push back with the defense that there is a “long history associated with the name along with the education and civil rights associated with it.”  

Gee...that is the same argument that Daniel Snyder is using!  ...just say’n!