Washington Redskins. What's in a name?

The NFL team that resides in our nation's capital is back in the news. It's the "name" thing again. Some claim the very moniker of "Redskins" is offensive, derogatory, and insulting to Native Americans.

They might have a point. After all, there have been several teams that have changed their names over the years in the spirit of political correctness so as not to offend others. Eastern Michigan University, long known as the Hurons, the tribe that once populated the area, became the Eagles. In the very same DC area itself, due to rising violent crime, they banned hand guns (a law since overturned). But at the time, calling their NBA team the Bullets just wouldn't do. They became the Washington Wizards. Across the country, from preps to pros, many other examples exist.

Few would doubt the wave of being politically correct has become a tsunami in this country. Pretty much everybody's afraid to say anything that might offend someone else -- at least publicly. And even privately it can get one in deep doo-doo. See Donald Sterling. The language police are out in force indeed.

Cripples became handicapped, and then physically impaired. There are no bald people anymore. They are follicly challenged. Nor are people fat. Such "victims" suffer from a nutritional imbalance. Retards, midgets, and spazzes have been replaced with learning disabilities, underdeveloped growth potential, and lack of superior coordination. That's not even to mention the various ethnic terms that were once tossed around, but I won't get into that. You know what they are -- or were.

But this is about the Washington Redskins. Is their name offensive and should they be forced to change it?

Depends on one's point of view. Currently, the only person that can change it is their majority owner, one Daniel Snyder. Snyder bought the team on mostly borrowed money back in 1999 for $800 million. But he's paid it off and then some. The Skins are currently amongst the highest valued franchises in all of professional sports.

Sure, others continue to weigh in objecting to the "Redskins" name, including our President. But what hasn't he screwed up in the last couple years? One would think he would have better things to devote his time and energies to besides the name of an historic NFL football franchise. Of course, "special interest" groups typically generate the most noise, and a few of them have loudly objected to the name "Redskins", including various factions of Native Americans. They don't like it and demand the name be changed. Most in the main stream media have jumped on the outrage bandwagon as well.

But not all is as it seems. Snyder himself has said he's recently visited over 20 Native American reservations to get their opinion on the name of his team. Taking him at his word, Snyder claims the vast majority of them not only remain unoffended, but root for the Redskins.

[Yes, how the noble and proud peoples that once had free range across this continent somehow became confined to reservations and running a few casinos is likely amongst the greatest injustices in the history of all mankind -- but that is a topic best left to others much wiser than yours truly.]

If one is inclined to believe the "polls", and there's a poll for everything these days -- one might be surprised at the results regarding the Redskins name.

Fully 90% of Native Americans are not offended by it.

Further, amongst the states in the USA as to whether the Skins should keep their name or change it -- all 50 states -- as in unanimous -- voted by an overwhelming majority (some 70% pro, 20% con, and the usual undecideds -- a landslide) that they should keep their name and not change it.

Though he's trying to be diplomatic about it, Daniel Snyder really owes no one any explanations. The team has been called the Redskins since 1933 -- one of the original NFL franchises.

Snyder maintains the name itself is not an insult, but rather an honor to Native Americans. Think of that as you will but, ironically enough, the very peoples that are supposed to be offended by this name apparently not only disagree, but root for his club.

Many in the media, especially the talking heads, continue to voice their outrage.

Tell ya what -- when they can get together and scrape up maybe $2 billion+ to buy the Washington NFL franchise -- they can call it whatever they want.

Until then, they need to shut up.

Hail to the Redskins indeed......