In recent discussions of the Washington Redskins logo, a controversial issue has been whether or not the logo is offensive to Native Americans. On the one hand, some argue that the logo is tradition and is not meant to be offensive. The Redskins believe its name honors Native Americans, and has for the past sixty seven years. From this perspective, it is difficult to get rid of tradition. On the other hand, others argue that it is out of date and has several methodological flaws. "Redskins fans are livid that the president would jump into this fight. They are hypocrites. They are not the only people who can have an opinion about this matter. United states politicians are sports fans too the football teams glorious history may indeed stretch back eighty wonderful years, but what intelligent person or even a diehard football fan like me, could seriously argue that eighty years of entertaining football history could ever compare to the thousands of years that the original Americans have inhabited this land?"(Jones, 2). .
In other words of one of this views main proponents, "Get with the times." Other sport teams major and collegiate have changed their logo. According to this view other major sport teams that had offensive Native Americans logos changed their logo. In sum, then, the issue is whether the Redskins stand by their tradition or get with the times and progress their image. I for one do not tolerate racism and if it offends one person, then we need to make a change. .
My own view is that the Redskins logo is offensive to a point. Just an image of a large Native American face. Though I concede that the logo is tradition and has been around since the merger of the National Football League, I still maintain that the logo is offensive. When the organization was founded, it was during times where racism was not frowned upon and society as a whole were ignorant. Susan Harjo who is part Cheyenne and Muskogee Native American, is leading the battle to get Washington Redskins to change their name.
