Banana Boat Boy's
Miami Banana Boat Boy’s
The name sounds funny doesn’t it? It mostly sounds slightly offensive to me, but that it because it affects my direct culture being from Caribbean descent. I am pretty sure that the Dolphins will not be changing their names to this any time soon. It is just offensive to some people.
Recently, the NFL has tried to crack down on things they feel might be detrimental to the league. They have through a series punishments, disciplined said players who did not measure up to the code of conduct established by one Roger Goodell. Bravo Roger, you have been able to establish a league in which values and personal character as much as on-field performance. To make his point even better, Mr. Goodell went as far as holding the teams and owners for the actions of their players. Wow, what a renaissance man!! A commissioner actually stepping up to the challenge of the day, Bud Selig, please takes some notes.
Most Recently, the hammer is leaning towards Michael Vick and his alleged dog fighting ring. As awful as this is, it is not something that truly hurts anyone emotionally on a daily basis as a racial slur would. As to be on cue for this blog, a few days after some serious allegations were levied against Vick, a Player from the Washington Redskins came to his defense. Clinton Portis claimed that Mr. Vick had every right to do what ever he wanted on his property and questioned the motives of those set out against him. He aimed most of his argument to those members of the Media and PETA who have firmly gripped this cross. As I heard the comments of Mr. Portis, I knew that a quick response if not complete dismissal of his statements would be soon to follow by the NFL organization he is employed by, the Washington “REDSKINS”!
In a statement released a few media hours after Mr. Portis’s inflammatory comments, the REDSKINS released a statement disassociating themselves with the remarks of Mr. Portis. Going further in their statement, they actually went as far as apologizing for anyone who might have been offended by Mr. Portis…Really?
As I have grown older and more educated, I have come to realize that some things can be more offensive to one person than the others. I used to think that being a conservative Christian was the only way of life. Even though I still hold some of those value true to myself, I am now smart enough to know that I am not the smartest person on earth, although coming in second is nothing to hang your head about. I have come to learn that people who are different than me both socially and economically deserve the same amount of respect as any other person in this great country. Theories of equality should emulate from the walls of Washington DC to the rest of this country. Unfortunately, Washington is crowned with one of the most offensive franchises in the country. How can this be? How can we in a modern post civil rights era condone a franchise that carries on the name of a racial epithet? Please do not diminish the racial slur by the cute markings on a helmet. This term is down right offensive. It carries the same weight to me as the dreaded N’ word.
A few years ago the St Johns University changed their mascot from the Redman to the Red Storm. Kind of catchy, but given its replacement, I never heard those horrible words uttered again. In Washington, the NBA’s Bullets changed their name to the Wizards to sever their relationship with a the word “bullet”, sight the negative connotation that could be used in. How Ironic that a few steps from where the Wizard’s play, the REDSKINS fill RFK Stadium Sunday after Sunday with thousands of fans wearing offensive attire. Funny how we forget those human beings who don’t mean that much to us in society, but let a few dogs get caught up in a fight, and ESPN is all over it?
This is just very disheartening.
The name sounds funny doesn’t it? It mostly sounds slightly offensive to me, but that it because it affects my direct culture being from Caribbean descent. I am pretty sure that the Dolphins will not be changing their names to this any time soon. It is just offensive to some people.
Recently, the NFL has tried to crack down on things they feel might be detrimental to the league. They have through a series punishments, disciplined said players who did not measure up to the code of conduct established by one Roger Goodell. Bravo Roger, you have been able to establish a league in which values and personal character as much as on-field performance. To make his point even better, Mr. Goodell went as far as holding the teams and owners for the actions of their players. Wow, what a renaissance man!! A commissioner actually stepping up to the challenge of the day, Bud Selig, please takes some notes.
Most Recently, the hammer is leaning towards Michael Vick and his alleged dog fighting ring. As awful as this is, it is not something that truly hurts anyone emotionally on a daily basis as a racial slur would. As to be on cue for this blog, a few days after some serious allegations were levied against Vick, a Player from the Washington Redskins came to his defense. Clinton Portis claimed that Mr. Vick had every right to do what ever he wanted on his property and questioned the motives of those set out against him. He aimed most of his argument to those members of the Media and PETA who have firmly gripped this cross. As I heard the comments of Mr. Portis, I knew that a quick response if not complete dismissal of his statements would be soon to follow by the NFL organization he is employed by, the Washington “REDSKINS”!
In a statement released a few media hours after Mr. Portis’s inflammatory comments, the REDSKINS released a statement disassociating themselves with the remarks of Mr. Portis. Going further in their statement, they actually went as far as apologizing for anyone who might have been offended by Mr. Portis…Really?
As I have grown older and more educated, I have come to realize that some things can be more offensive to one person than the others. I used to think that being a conservative Christian was the only way of life. Even though I still hold some of those value true to myself, I am now smart enough to know that I am not the smartest person on earth, although coming in second is nothing to hang your head about. I have come to learn that people who are different than me both socially and economically deserve the same amount of respect as any other person in this great country. Theories of equality should emulate from the walls of Washington DC to the rest of this country. Unfortunately, Washington is crowned with one of the most offensive franchises in the country. How can this be? How can we in a modern post civil rights era condone a franchise that carries on the name of a racial epithet? Please do not diminish the racial slur by the cute markings on a helmet. This term is down right offensive. It carries the same weight to me as the dreaded N’ word.
A few years ago the St Johns University changed their mascot from the Redman to the Red Storm. Kind of catchy, but given its replacement, I never heard those horrible words uttered again. In Washington, the NBA’s Bullets changed their name to the Wizards to sever their relationship with a the word “bullet”, sight the negative connotation that could be used in. How Ironic that a few steps from where the Wizard’s play, the REDSKINS fill RFK Stadium Sunday after Sunday with thousands of fans wearing offensive attire. Funny how we forget those human beings who don’t mean that much to us in society, but let a few dogs get caught up in a fight, and ESPN is all over it?
This is just very disheartening.
posted by O King at
10:27 PM
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