Let's Just Stop Being Offensive

Native American history was greatly compromised and basically destroyed by the beginning of current "American History". Although times have progressed and restitution has been distributed, our American sports mascots seem to still be stuck in the past where offending Native Americans or any group of people was legally acceptable.
             
The Top 5 Most offensive Sport's Mascots are:

1. Washington Redskins
2. Florida State University Seminoles
3. "Our" Atlanta Braves
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Chicago Blackhawks            

Redskin is a derogatory term used to describe Native American people based upon the red undertone of their skin that is used to distinguish the speaker from the subject (the speaker usually being an American who is ignorant or uncaring of the fact that the term is derogatory). With full knowledge that the term is derogatory, the team owner refuses to change the image of the franchise. He wrote in a letter on the team's website that "After 81 years, the team name 'Redskins' continues to hold the memories and meaning of where we came from, who we are, and who we want to be in the years to come". Although he is prideful in the term and seems to be one of those people who believe if used positively the feeling behind an offensive word could be changed, the term is still offensive to Native American people. For the simple fact that the name is offensive to a group of people that are still very much in existence in this country, it should be changed. According to the NFL, there are 4 non-offensive and cost-effective names that the Redskins could change their name to that are still related to Native American culture, allowing them to keep their current mascot. Names like:  Washington Jepziwok: "Chippewa for 'great athletes'.", Washington Matwesaso: A word that means 'courageous' in the native Nanticoke dialect — "a relevant choice because the Nanticokes were the dominant tribe of the Potomac region.", Washington Wohnata: "Lakota Sioux for 'they are champions'.", Washington Idini: "Apache for 'like thunder'." (NFL.com).

 

Just using the Washington Redskins as an example illustrates the many many many problems with the teams' offensive names and mascots. Understandably so, changing the entire franchise and brand would be a huge expense upon the team but they could afford it. It would only take approximately 10-20 Million to rebrand the Redskins according to ThinkProgress.org (click for full article). If it only takes that much to rebrand the football team then the other four teams who are just as popular and have  just as much merchandise will probably cost around the same. The main issue is to not be offensive any longer. Native American people have been put through so much suffering in the past why continue their suffering to the present and future until the names are changed? If the shoe were on the other foot, or anyone else's foot the outrage wouldn't go unheard. The name would be changed and this much of a fight to continue being offensive wouldn't be made.