' A judge ruled in favor of opponents of the Washington NFL team's "Redskins" name Wednesday after hearing arguments from both sides in District Court this week, according to the Washington Post. " 

So, it seems that the Washington Redskins can keep their name, but they can no longer trademark is. This is effectively going to have to make them change the name if they want to keep making money. 

I look at this as an attack on a team. I have Cherokee and Blackfoot blood in me, and I do not have a single problem with the team's name. The team has been around for 80+ years... why is this just now an issue? 

Discuss on whether or not you see this as legal or illegal, an attack on a team, and if Native Americans are trying to take advantage of the recent LGBTQ rights campaign, and turn the concept to their own agenda or not. 

I'm 1/16 Cherokee Indian on my dads side, and I believe I have a little Sioux on my moms side, and I'm offended that they are trying to erase our native Indian heritage. The name was given to the team to honor the ancestry of the numerous players on the team who had Indian blood. Here at the high school where I live, the teams name is "the warriors" and the mascot is a Cherokee brave, and everyone is proud of it. This isn't about battling racism or polite speech, its about first controlling what we say, and then controlling what we think. Besides, Indians were some of the most brutal racist cut throats there ever were lol.

It is just insane that they make such a big deal about the team name in modern times. If the name was irate for the public, they would have forced them to change the team name back when they were known as the Boston Redskins. I would not mind them being called the Washington Braves since the Braves were their original names.

Azul Fria : Exactly. I think it's people starting an uproar over something so old. If was such an issue, why did they wait 80 years to start fussing about it? That's my problem with this whole thing. 

It's an attack on liberty is what it is. It'll set a precedent now that will allow the government to bully businesses into compliance I think. The whole racism thing is a ruse. They'll eventually change the name, and then they'll sell TONS of new merchandise. The owners win, and the powers that be get to tighten their control on American businesses. Then the leftist crazies will find some other meaningless icon of American culture to target.

I'm shocked by the ruling. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that the Washington Redskins are being put in this position because their name "offends" a few people. I don't understand why this is even an issue...

I personally feel that if people are offended by the name, that they need to change it. There's no reason in todays day and age that a team needs to be named a derogatory name towards ANYONE. They could easily change their name to the 'Skins - which is what most people these days call them and be done with it just that their horrible owner refuses to do so.

It's not "just now" becoming an issue. It's been an issue for years, but finally it's getting some traction which is probably a good thing.

Jordanv78 : If they are forced to change it, and they change it to the "Skins", people are going to keep whining, and saying that it is a reference to the old name, and they are still gonna cry about 80+ year old crap. 

I think you are being unreasonable here. What if I found being called white offensive? What if I wanted to be called cream colored, and made it a big deal? Would you change it then? No, you wouldn't, because it is a historical thing, and you would find it ridiculous. That is EXACTLY how I view this. 

thing1 : You seem to be making a lot of assumptions based on how people would react with a new name. Mine was simply a suggestion that I think most people would accept. Especially if they happened to change the logo.

I also do not assume to know how Native Americans feel about the name, but I do find it in bad taste. Always have.

I also don't understand your argument. I don't think at anytime a white person has been offended by calling a team "White" Now if the team were called some sort of derogatory slang name for whites, that would be a different story.

I don't think too many people cared when the Rays changed their names from the "Devil Rays" Sometimes teams need to change names for one reason or another. Sort of why the Astros aren't called the "Colt .45's" anymore. Times change.

Honestly, I don't have much a dog in this fight.

I have some Abenaki blood in me, but it has no impact on my life or any of that. It's just another heritage, like my Russian, Polish, and Irish heritage (yes, I'm a mutt).

If I had to go one way or the other though? I'd probably just change the name, if it's actually offending anyone. I can't say I'm offended, but it's also not a part of my cultural identity. Change it or not, I'll still root against them, just because they are a rival team.

Go Cowboys.

legacyme3 :  
Jordam78: 

Just like Leggy, I am a mutt. But I have 2 native American bloodlines in me, the Blackfoot, and the "West Coast" Cherokee. I don't find the name Redskin offensive at all. I mean, truly, if this was such a big issue, and it's only been a thing for a few years, and a big thing for less, then why wasn't it brought up 50 years ago? 60? 770? When all the Civil Rights changes were made? See what I am saying? 

I am all for equality, don't get me wrong. But I think that some people are taking this thing too far. LGBTQ deserve to be able to love who they want and have equal service since we are all humans. I feel like the Native American extremists are taking this too far. And yes, I said extremists. 

I'll just point out, this isn't a recent thing.

Protests have been filed since the early 70's.

It clearly bothers some people, otherwise, it wouldn't still be a thing 40 years down the road. I do think the perception and the reality of the matter are a bit different though, as it seems it's a vocal minority that actually has issue with the name, and the majority of people who you see opposing the name to begin with are PC people like me, who think it's probably just for the best, and don't really care what a team's name actually is.

legacyme7: 40 years is a bit different. But again, I stand in what I said. If it was such a big deal, they should have made it a bigger thing. They are taking advantage of the LGBTQ strikes, and riots over cops and other stuff in America. Now, while it may help them achieve their goal, I think it is a cheap way to get what you want, and the wrong way to get what you want. 

Do it on your own, do not mooch off of other people's successes. 

People have been protesting the name for decades. The whole reason for this discussion is because this group is getting larger and larger. Native American groups have come out and denounced the name as a racial slur multiple times.

I find people feeling this way is in no way "extreme" It's a team name. One that can easily be changed. Like TONS of other sports franchises have done time and time again. The only argument against not changing it is because people don't care who they are offending in the process. Does loyalty to a team tie into the name? If so, then how do the Baltimore Ravens have any fans? The Washington Wizards? The Astros? Rays? I mean come on. There are tons more examples of teams that changed their names whether because the name offended people, or because they relocated.

What's the argument against changing it? Just because YOU don't find it offensive doesn't mean that others don't. Also, just because something has been "always done" this way for years doesn't make it right.

Jordanv78 : Not sure I understand your " loyalty... tie into the name " comment. 
As for the Ravens in specific, they are an expansion team, and they have their own records. They may be the OLD Cleveland Browns, but they have their own records. They just started with the Browns players ( I THINK, do not quote me on that ) when they became the Ravens. 

My argument against changing it is that it wasn't such a big issue until recently. That is my problem. Does me being used to it factor in? I will admit that just a little bit, yes. But, I really do not have a problem with the name because it's been there for years, and it is just now such a big deal. 

What I'm saying is, whats the reason to be loyal to a teams name? Teams change names all the time. Just because a team relocates or changes its name does not change the record books or what they have done in the past. TONS of teams have changed names for one reason or another and they are no worse off for it.

According to genetic testing I have no Native blood whatsoever.

Now regarding the judging: it IS a dangerous precedent. Not that I fully support trademarks and intellectual property - at least not in their present form - but arbitrarily ruling that ONE trademark is repelled because of hurt feelings is a very slippery slope