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Showing posts from October, 2013

Any Team Worthy of the Name Would Change It

The recent government shutdown is not the only thing Washington D.C. has to be ashamed of these days. Another is the embarrassing debate being waged between the historical problem of racism and the commercial power of brand recognition. Dan Synder, the owner of the Washington football team at the center of this controversy, chose to support the latter on October 9th, 2013, in a letter that was as much about  placating "loyal fans" as it was about assuring paying customers.  What Synder failed to explain in his heartfelt plea, however, is how the name of his football team - a name which at one time was considered to be an insult when applied t o someone who was considered to be inferior to the "white man" - should nevertheless be considered a compliment when applied a team of men owned by a white man .   The pigskin getting kicked around in this political football game is the "Redskins," both the people and the name.   According to Snyder's