Is The Redskins Name Offensive to Native Americans? Nope, says Federal Court - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-15-2009, 10:28 PM

WASHINGTON (AP)—The Washington Redskins won another legal victory Friday in a 17-year fight with a group of American Indians who contend the football team’s trademark is racially offensive.

The decision issued Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington doesn’t address the main question of racism at the center of the case. Instead, it upholds the lower court’s decision in favor of the football team on a legal technicality.

Redskins attorney Bob Raskopf said millions have been spent on the Redskins brand and the team would have suffered great economic loss if they lost the trademark registrations. “It’s a great day for the Redskins and their fans and their owner Dan Snyder,” he said.

The court agreed that the seven Native Americans waited too long to challenge the trademark first issued in 1967. They initially won—the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel canceled the trademarks in 1999—but they’ve suffered a series of defeats in the federal courts since then.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly overturned that decision in 2003 in part because the suit was filed decades after the first Redskins trademark was issued. The U.S. Court of Appeals then sent the case back to Kollar-Kotelly, noting that the youngest of the plaintiffs was only 1-year-old in 1967 and therefore could not have taken legal action at the time.

Kollar-Kotelly issued a new ruling last summer that rejected that argument. She wrote that the youngest plaintiff turned 18 in 1984 and therefore waited almost eight years after coming of age to join the lawsuit.

FILE - In this April 26, 2009 …

AP - May 15, 12:42 pm EDT
The judge did not address whether the Redskins name is offensive or racist. She wrote that her decision was not based on the larger issue of “the appropriateness of Native American imagery for team names.”

A three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld that decision Friday.

The plaintiffs have a backup plan: A group of six American Indians ranging in age from 18 to 24 filed essentially the same claim two years ago, but the new case has been on hold until this one was resolved.

“We’re hopeful that case will lead us ultimately to a ruling on the merits,” said Philip Mause, attorney for the American Indians. “We’re very confident about our position on the merits. We think this term is disparaging of Native Americans.”

Raskopf said it’s all too late. “The time when the case could have been brought was 1967,” he said. “So it’s not going to get any easier for anybody to bring the case now.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

Mr. Television · 05-15-2009, 10:33 PM

Hail to the Redskins...Hail Victory.

Zoneboy · 05-15-2009, 10:37 PM

If they're offended so much and want to sue someone then maybe they should go after the maker of this nasty mess:

Brian Damage · 05-15-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

If they're offended so much and want to sue someone then maybe they should go after the maker of this nasty mess:

I am sure they'll go after that next.

Waterston_Fan · 05-15-2009, 11:11 PM

Do you guys know or remember if the church groups went after the San Diego baseball team because of the swinging Friar?

Hell, even the Aztecs have a new mascot then those who didn't like the mascot the Aztecs had didn't like the new one.

I think some people just have no life.

Doodyville10019 · 05-16-2009, 01:54 PM

What's up with all this oversensitivity crap anyways? Nothing like this EVER happened when I was a kid.

It's just a NAME, people - get over it.

James · 05-16-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodyville10019

What's up with all this oversensitivity crap anyways? Nothing like this EVER happened when I was a kid.

It's just a NAME, people - get over it.

That's right! To me it's politically correctness run amok! I remember hearing that the state of Georgia was forced to drop the Confederate design from its state flag after being bullied by the NCAA because they could forfeit NCAA tournament events (I think that's what happened), and I believe something similar happened to the South Carolina flag as well.

Oh, and it hit close to home, with the Miami University Redskins forced to change their name to the RedHawks in 1997. I didn't think too much about it back then, at least not politically, but today I'm enraged that some leftist PC ACLU-type America-hating lawyer claims that some Indians could be offended by the mascot. Recently Chief Illiniweck (sp?) was forced to stop rallying fans at University of Illinois events, and the University of North Dakota was forced to change its "Fighting Sioux" nickname. Why didn't the NCAA develop a backbone like the Redskins' leadership did?

Now that I think about it, the NCAA is not at fault in the GA and SC flag situation; the EVIL lawyers are at fault now.

MrCleveland · 05-17-2009, 02:44 PM

I'm in the city where they say that Chief Wahoo (Cleveland Indians Mascot) is considered offensive as well as the Cleveland Indians.

What I'm offended with the Cleveland Indians is...THIS SEASON! Eric Wedgie did nothing and he must go! He had 7 years to turn around the Cleveland Indians. And this year...the Cleveland Indians are eliminated from the playoffs!

If the court rules that the Cleveland Indians name is "offensive"...then call them the Cleveland Steamers!

05-15-2009, 10:28 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Is The Redskins Name Offensive to Native Americans? Nope, says Federal Court WASHINGTON (AP)—The Washington Redskins won another legal victory Friday in a 17-year fight with a group of American Indians who contend the football team’s trademark is racially offensive. The decision issued Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington doesn’t address the main question of racism at the center of the case. Instead, it upholds the lower court’s decision in favor of the football team on a legal technicality. Redskins attorney Bob Raskopf said millions have been spent on the Redskins brand and the team would have suffered great economic loss if they lost the trademark registrations. “It’s a great day for the Redskins and their fans and their owner Dan Snyder,” he said. The court agreed that the seven Native Americans waited too long to challenge the trademark first issued in 1967. They initially won—the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel canceled the trademarks in 1999—but they’ve suffered a series of defeats in the federal courts since then. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly overturned that decision in 2003 in part because the suit was filed decades after the first Redskins trademark was issued. The U.S. Court of Appeals then sent the case back to Kollar-Kotelly, noting that the youngest of the plaintiffs was only 1-year-old in 1967 and therefore could not have taken legal action at the time. Kollar-Kotelly issued a new ruling last summer that rejected that argument. She wrote that the youngest plaintiff turned 18 in 1984 and therefore waited almost eight years after coming of age to join the lawsuit. FILE - In this April 26, 2009 … AP - May 15, 12:42 pm EDT The judge did not address whether the Redskins name is offensive or racist. She wrote that her decision was not based on the larger issue of “the appropriateness of Native American imagery for team names.” A three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld that decision Friday. The plaintiffs have a backup plan: A group of six American Indians ranging in age from 18 to 24 filed essentially the same claim two years ago, but the new case has been on hold until this one was resolved. “We’re hopeful that case will lead us ultimately to a ruling on the merits,” said Philip Mause, attorney for the American Indians. “We’re very confident about our position on the merits. We think this term is disparaging of Native Americans.” Raskopf said it’s all too late. “The time when the case could have been brought was 1967,” he said. “So it’s not going to get any easier for anybody to bring the case now.” http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns Attached Images
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05-15-2009, 10:33 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Hail to the Redskins...Hail Victory.
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05-15-2009, 10:37 PM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,474	If they're offended so much and want to sue someone then maybe they should go after the maker of this nasty mess:
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05-16-2009, 01:54 PM	#6
Doodyville10019 Meet my new friend Sparkie! Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 08, 2008 Location: Competition Square, located in Doodyville Park Posts: 877	What's up with all this oversensitivity crap anyways? Nothing like this EVER happened when I was a kid. It's just a NAME, people - get over it.
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05-17-2009, 02:44 PM	#8
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	I'm in the city where they say that Chief Wahoo (Cleveland Indians Mascot) is considered offensive as well as the Cleveland Indians. What I'm offended with the Cleveland Indians is...THIS SEASON! Eric Wedgie did nothing and he must go! He had 7 years to turn around the Cleveland Indians. And this year...the Cleveland Indians are eliminated from the playoffs! If the court rules that the Cleveland Indians name is "offensive"...then call them the Cleveland Steamers!
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05-15-2009, 11:11 PM	#5
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	Do you guys know or remember if the church groups went after the San Diego baseball team because of the swinging Friar? Hell, even the Aztecs have a new mascot then those who didn't like the mascot the Aztecs had didn't like the new one. I think some people just have no life.