Examiner Backs Growing Chorus to Dump "Redskins" Name

March 2, 2012 - PRLog -- The Washington Examiner, hardly a liberal beacon, has joined the chorus of those newly calling for the DC Redskins to change their name to something which isn't racially offensive and derogatory. DC Council Demands Redskins by Another Name http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2012/03/dc-council-demands-redskins-another-name/327216

The piece by veteran sports reporter Harry Jaffe cites an earlier demand by WRC-TV anchor Jim Vance who just reminded his viewers that: "Folks, 'Redskins' is not a term of endearment, any more than the N word or any other racial or ethnic slur. From its inception and inclusion in our language, it was meant to be an insult." "Folks, 'Redskins' is not a term of endearment, any more than the N word or any other racial or ethnic slur. From its inception and inclusion in our language, it was meant to be an insult."

Vance's comment, as reported by the Washington Post, was in turn triggered by comments by public interest law professor John Banzhaf, who noted that using the phrase "chink in his armor" in reference to an Asian basketball player triggered a firing and a suspension, wheres using the equally derogatory word for American Indians happens day without comment. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/ji...  AND  http://www.prlog.org/11812534-corrected-wrc-anchor-suppor...

Banzhaf helped bring to public attention the DC Council demand for a name change cited by Jaffe, as well as numerous other decisions and rulings condemning the R-word as the name of a football team. http://banzhaf.net/noredskins.html  AND http://www.prlog.org/11804505-words-insulting-to-blacks-chinese-and-muslims-bring-sanctions-but-not-for-redskins.html

Prof Banzhaf, whose legal actions at the FCC led to antismoking messages on radio and television, the first sharp drop in cigarette consumption, and the eventual ban on cigarette commercials, is seeking to file another action at the FCC to prevent the use of this racially derogatory term by broadcasters.

He notes that an FCC challenge to the license renewal of a major DC area TV station he helped put together, arguing that the station was derogatory to African American, led to the first appearance by Blacks in significant on-air roles at that station, and subsequently to many others in DC and elsewhere.
http://www.blackradionetwork.com/indians_again_attack_redskins_trademark_but_on_wrong_warpath

JOHN F. BANZHAF III, B.S.E.E., J.D., Sc.D.
Professor of Public Interest Law
George Washington University Law School,
FAMRI Dr. William Cahan Distinguished Professor,
Fellow, World Technology Network,
Founder, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
2000 H Street, NW, Suite S402
Washington, DC 20052, USA
(202) 994-7229 // (703) 527-8418
http://banzhaf.net/

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John F. Banzhaf III is a Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University Law School [http://banzhaf.net/] where he is best known for his work regarding smoking, obesity, discrimination, food and auto safety, political corruption, etc.