NBC’s Bob Costas weighed in on the Redskins’ name debate during halftime of Sunday night’s football game between the Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. “Ask yourself what the equivalent would be if directed towards African Americans, Hispanics, Asians or any other ethnic group. When considered that way, ‘Redskins’ can’t possibly honor a heritage or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present day intent,” he said.
President Obama also commented on the issue when asked recently. He said that if he were in Dan Snyder’s position, he would “think about changing [the name].” “I don’t know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things,” President Obama said.
Snyder released a letter to fans last week, explaining his position on why the name is so important. “I respect the opinions of those who disagree. I want them to know that I do hear them, and I will continue to listen and learn. But we cannot ignore our 81-year history, or the strong feelings of most of our fans as well as Native Americans throughout the country. After 81 years, the team name ‘Redskins’ continues to hold the memories and meaning of where we came from, who we are, and who we want to be in the years to come.
We are Redskins Nation…and we owe it to our fans and coaches and players, past and present, to preserve that heritage.”
