The Washington Commanders of the NFL are under a heavy blitz, except this time, it isn’t from the defensive front of the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, if certain groups get their way, we may once again have Cowboys versus Indians in the NFL. More specifically, Cowboys versus Washington Redskins.
In a move that is sure to illicit leftist tears, a prominent Native American group is demanding a name change for the Washington Commanders back to the traditional name of Washington Redskins. The NFL only permits rebranding once every five years or if a team has new ownership, and Washington indeed qualifies.
Since Dan Snyder sold the team to new owner Josh Harris, with an assist from Magic Johnson, the Commanders, formerly the Washington Football Team, formerly the Washington Redskins, are eligible for a name change, and Native American activists want their team back.
It should be recalled that the Commanders dropped the Redskins moniker in 2020 under pressure from leftist activist groups demanding the name be changed because they perceived it to be racist. Unfortunately for the leftists, they didn’t bother to ask the group of people they claimed to be standing up for.
Since nothing makes a liberal prouder than being a white savior, the name was changed, and the Washington Football Team was born. The Football Team soon gave way to the Commanders, and that name appeared to be the long-term solution, albeit a boring one.
Now, however, the Native American Guardian Association has launched an all-out blitz to convince the new ownership that Native Americans want their team back. The group wants the Redskin name back and has garnered more than 80,000 signatures to petition a change.
The group has been encouraging people to sign the petition, which is “designed to promote our history, put an end to cancel culture, and #ReclaimTheName ‘Redskins.’”
This isn’t just some fringe group of troublemaking activists like the ones that spurred the initial name change. These are actual Native Americans that are sick of seeing themselves and their heritage erased by cancel culture.
The group stated: “We invite all Americans to stand up for the dignity of EVERY AMERICAN under assault in today’s increasingly nonsensical culture wars. This ‘LINE IN THE SAND’ moment reinforces undeniable history of the NATIVE AMERICAN assisting the FOUNDING OF AMERICA, with NATIVE AMERICAN principles used by the FOUNDING FATHERS in the US Constitution – and, EVERY AMERICAN’s right to the 1st and 14th Amendment and not to be targets of cancel culture or ESG. This is not a simple left or right issue for Americans; it reaches across the political spectrum dating back to our Founding Fathers.”
They also sent a letter to the new owner, Josh Harris, team president Jason Wright, and head coach Ron Riviera “formally requesting the team revitalize its relationship with the American Indian community and rightfully change their name back to ‘the Redskins.'”
While the team has yet to respond, the group made a compelling case. The petition continued: “The Native American Guardian Association (NAGA) stands up for and is not only fighting back to preserve key elements of American History and the 1st and 14th Amendment, NAGA is fighting for the civil liberties of EVERY AMERICAN. Americans see they are losing their rights because of a vicious cancel culture that shows little care for their concerns or civil liberties; It is time to support leaders, brands and organizations who will stand with EVERY AMERICAN, rather than fighting against them.
The group concluded: “You simply cannot erase history and target the Native American community by eradicating the name ‘Redskins’ while being an organization that fosters other Constitutional rights, including players who don’t honor the American flag and kneel during our National Anthem.”
It stands as a compelling argument, and judging by the 80,000 signatures, many folks agree. Eliminating Native American mascots just because white people think they are racist solves nothing except to further diminish the legacy that Native Americans deserve and are now demanding to be restored.
The Washington NFL franchise has blundered, bumbled, and stumbled on the field and off for the better part of the last decade. Hopefully, they can get this right and restore a cherished, traditional mascot to its rightful place.
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