D.C. Council may push Washington Redskins into ‘Washington Redtails’

[Cincinnatus]

D.C. Council member is preparing to introduce a resolution calling on the Washington Redskins to change its name, perhaps to the Washington Redtails.

Council member David Grosso, an independent elected last year, said he plans to pursue his non-binding resolution because the current name is “a derogatory, racist name.”

It’s been a long time that we’ve had this name associated with Washington, and I think its time we take a stand and change it,” Grosso said.

Grosso is circulating his resolution to other council members to try to get co-sponsors. So far, he said, council members Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) have agreed to sign on to it.

In recent months, as the Redskins made their run toward the playoffs, debate about the Redskins name has been heating up. Earlier this year, Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) said he would also like the name changed. But Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and team officials have largely avoided the debate, giving no indications that they are seriously considering such a change.

According to Grosso’s resolution, which he said he plans to formally introduce in a few weeks, the 13-member council would declare that “District residents and their elected representatives should not tolerate commercial or other use of derogatory terminology relating to any people’s racial identity, or which dishonors any person’s race, or which dishonors the name Washington.”

“Washington’s name has been dishonored by association with the word ‘Redskins,’ ” the resolution states. “Because it is well known in America and in nations afar that American Indians have experienced utmost suffering and disrespect over the years.”

Redtails?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics

[jmyrlefuller]

The response should be something like this:

Dear members of the council,

I hear of your motion calling on us to change our team name. Rest assured, we will remain in Landover, Maryland for the foreseeable future, so you will not have to worry about us entering your jurisdiction. Please focus on the issues within your boundaries.

Thank you,

Daniel Snyder
Owner, Washington REDSKINS

[PzLdr]

The only two "Redtails I know of are red tailed hawks, and a unit of the Tuskegee Airmen. Two observations. Raptors are already covered by at least one NFL team. And  the Tuskegee pilots, heroes all, were in a segregated unit. Wouldn't naming the team after them be racist? Just sayin'.

[andy58-in-nh]

A red-tailed monkey.

I really don't think they want to go there.

[DCPatriot]

The Redskins should immediately leave Maryland and Washington, DC and build a stadium in Northern Virginia.......where the United States of America still exists.

[DCPatriot]

A red-tailed monkey.

I really don't think they want to go there.

"WOW!   Look at that little monkey run!!"   - Howard Cosell