THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 23, 1994 TAG: 9411230080
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
WE ASKED FOR readers' opinions on whether the Washington Redskins should change their name, and boy, did we get a response. It seems that folks here just aren't ready to give up on tradition and on a name that was approved by the first coach, who was himself a full-blooded American Indian. Of the 1,162 calls to Infoline, 278 said yes, the Washington Redskins should change their name, and 934 said no, they should not.
Here are some comments:
I'm part Indian; my dad is part Indian; my former wife was part Indian. We don't see anything wrong with the Washington Redskins' name. - Bill Harkins, Chesapeake
I don't think they should change their name and I'm partially Indian. - Peggy Wright, Norfolk
I understand that most people intend no malice when they use the name. But once they find out that this term hurts some people, then the choice can be made, if given the opportunity, to speak up and ask that the name be changed. Some may go as far as to join in The Curse; that Washington has losing seasons until the name is changed. - Lance Frazier Reeves, my name is also Mzheknegizhgok (Clear Sky), Portsmouth.
I don't see any teams named Washington Pale Faces or in my case, being Puerto Rican, I wouldn't want the team being called the Washington Spics. When talking to Native American Indians, they feel the name Redskins is racist. - Louis Cruz, Norfolk.
I think they should change their name because I'm a Native American myself, and it's a very racist term. There is no other race in the world that gets exploited like the Native American. - Morgan Johnson, Portsmouth
If you listen to the fight song, it says brave warriors, and I think the whole thing is ridiculous. - Victoria Racheal, Virginia Beach
I feel the name of the Redskins is not the real issue. People need to treat people without discrimination, and that's the real issue. It's not a name of a football team that is going to make a difference, a name that has had a tradition since 1937. - Ed Lee, Suffolk by CNB