Team Finds Support
The Washington Redskins team nickname,which some consider a derogatory term for Native Americans has faced a lot of criticism in recent years and some would like the NFL team to change it's nickname to something less offensive. But a new Associated press-GfK poll shows that nationally "Redskins" still enjoys widespread support.Nearly four in five Americans don't believe the team should change it's name. The poll was conducted from April 11-15 , "That's who they've been forever. That's who they're known as" says Sarah Lee a 36 year old stay at home mom ,"People make race out to be a bigger issue than it is".But those who think the name should be changed say the team's nickname is derogatory."With everything that Native Americans have gone through in this country,to have a sports team named the Redskins- come on now it's bad" says Pamela Rogal a writer.Other professional teams have Native American nicknames, including the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and baseball's Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians. But former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado,who is Native American says Redskins is worse because of its origins and its use in connection with bounties on Indians.Numerous colleges and universities have changed names that reference Native Americans, St. John's changed from the Redmen to the Red Storm,Marquette is now the Golden Eagles instead of the Warriors and Stanford switched from the Indians to the Cardinal. In the NHL the Chicago Black Hawks retain their name as do the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. In the end Sen. Campbell says "There's a derogatory name for every ethnic group in America and we should't be using these words"