The controversial topic of the Washington Redskins and the heated public debate about whether they should change their incredibly offensive name just got even hotter. The US Patent Office revoked The Redskins trademark registration on the grounds that the name is degrading and derogatory. Some are saying that the ruling itself is an issue of the government overreaching in its authority. Owner Dan Snyder plans to appeal the decision, which could hold the decision up for years. As common sense and public opinion continues to cry out for a change, comedian Jon Stewart of the Daily Show made some lucid and entertaining comments regarding the issue.
When the decision was made to revoke the Redskins' trademark registration, it did so on the premise that a significant portion of the Native American population find the name degrading and repulsive, giving legal precedent to refuse to sanction an intellectual property which is considered disparaging (via The Economist):
"[T]he term REDSKINS is not and has never been one of honor or respect, but instead, it has always been and continues to be a pejorative, derogatory, denigrating, offensive, scandalous, contemptuous, disreputable, disparaging and racist designation for Native American's...the use of the registered service marks...by the Washington Redskins football organization, has always been and continues to be offensive, disparaging, scandalous, and damaging to Native Americans."
Attorney Jim McCarthy thinks that regardless of the law, we should hold ourselves as a nation to a higher standard (via ABC News):
"There's no denying the fact that a certain percentage of Native Americans are offended. We don't know if it's a minority, a majority, but it's a fact. If we want to be the best version of ourselves in our society, do we want to promote that, or do we want to minimize that? I'd love it to be different where people just cooperate to effect change. But we're a very adversarial society."
Comedian Jon Stewart had a unique perspective on the ongoing story. Click here for his take. (WARNING: NSFW).
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