As the media mouthpiece for the patriarchy, Fox News' disdain for feminists is out and proud. So at first glance, Fox's new show, Outnumbered, would seem to fly in the face of the zeitgeist in that it features four outspoken women who gang up on the lone male, otherwise known as #OneLuckyGuy, who is the designated co-host for the show. But upon closer examination, the show fits the patriarchal paradigm quite nicely with its short skirted women and topics which lend themselves to sexist stereotyping. And in keeping with Fox's mission, it is a conduit for right wing talking points. Yesterday, they discussed the controversy surrounding the Washington Redskins. While former football star, Terry Bradshaw, actually argued on behalf of those who feel the team's name is offensive, the gals, not unexpectedly, took a different approach which left poor Bradshaw at a loss for words.
Sandra Smith began by reporting that "big time action" has been taken in the Washington Redskins controversy in that the Trademark Office cancelled the team's registration because the name denigrates Native Americans. She played video of Sen. Harry Reid's commentary about the team's name. After noting that the team's owner, "won't budge," she asked Bradshaw for his take. He reflected on the number of folks who are offended by the name and opined that team owner, Dan Snyder, is "making a huge mistake" by saying that he will never change his position.
The totally clueless Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, known by her old MTV VJ name, "Kennedy," asked "what about the Seminoles, what about the Braves, what about the Running Rebels at UNLV, what about the Trogans" which are names that are not ethnic slurs as is "redskin." She "joked" (wow, she's as much of a comedian as Greg Gutfeld) that Trojans "offends the people of Troy." (Seriously, WTF?) She continued her comedic stylings with other names like "the fighting Irish" (not a slur). Bradshaw responded that he hasn't "heard any complaints." Kennedy said "not yet." Andrea Tantaros, in full mocking mode, referenced Trojans and said "I'm a Greek, I'm offended, I don't like Trojans." [So, uh, she prefers other brands or none at all ;)]
After Bradshaw spoke of the importance of a team name, Tantaros then produced a genuine spit out the coffee moment: "I see what you're saying Terry, I wouldn't want to offend anybody and if this offensive, I don't think anyone should celebrate in that but there is a tradition and the fans do appreciate the tradition." This is the same Andrea Tantaros who once said that Islam "is the most intolerant religion in the world." She then whined about how she's offended because the government and Harry Reid "are running rough shod over the NFL." She said the decision is up to the team's owner and is none of "bully" Harry Reid's business. (Guess she doesn't know that GOP, US Rep. (OK), who is part Native-American, wants the name changed.)
Harris Faulkner reinforced Tantatos point and added the patented Fox anti-"PC" meme when she asked if "we want a legislative process in which political correctness is a concern." After Bradshaw said that he wasn't surprised about politicians being involved, he reiterated that it's not a surprise that this is an issue because Redskins has been compared to the N-word. Smith, incredulously, asked "you're comparing using the word Redskins to using the N-word?" Kennedy (who is not, as far as we know, black) said that she "took offense" to this point because it "minimizes what it means to use the N-word which can be one of the most offensive words in the English language and I think making these two things synonymous actually lessens that." She babbled about how the team's players "channel what it means to be a warrior and it's not a denigrating a denigrating term." Bradshaw suggested that warrior would be a good name.
Rather than addressing the racism inherent in both words, Harris Faulkner, who is African-American, moved the conversation into free markets and how that could affect the outcome of Snyder's decision. Unable to get any positive feedback from the four propaganda props, Bradshaw said that he was just a farmer from Oklahoma.
Fox News grrl power or justn more Fox News propaganda with legs (pun intended). One thing is for sure, whenever Christians are offended, Fox provides full support. Native-Americans, not so much.
The only way we’ll see change quickly is if the sponsors of the team discontinue its association. The NFL equally pools its money with each team on national and local sponsorships. It’s why a small market team like the Green Bay Packers can financially compete equally with the teams from New York, the Jets and Giants.
The protesters should take their battle against the advertisers. If they succeed then they’ll find the Achilles Heel since making money is the true religion for every NFL owner. Saying it’s a matter of free speech is just a shield to camouflage the greed.
It is unlikely that any group (football team, or whatever) would go for a derogatory name. The name “Redskins” originally brought a warrior-like image to mind. We should not forget that this image was wholeheartedly shared by the native tribes themselves (cf. “Cheyenne Memories” by John Stands in Timber, 1967). Times have changed but there are – to my mind – no grounds for thinking that the original owners of the team wanted a derogatory name for their team. That’s silly and the victimist tone (“oh-poor-poor-us”) is – to me – more degrading than anything else.
Aough! Bemused, the half-breed elderess, has spoken.
Here’s a cute anecdote on a sports name. When I was growing up in the Deep South several decades ago, the high school I attended used to play against a team called “The Planters”. The residents of that town, were proud to be competent dirt farmers. Long after I’d left the area, they changed the name to the “Raiders”. Don’t know why but it’s easy to imagine that they wanted to present the team as tougher, meaner, more combattive. The old name wasn’t likely to bring up the image of big, burly, mean guys in helmets where all you can see are those teeth-protecting thingees.
It should surprise nobody that I liked the first name better for bringing up a peaceful image of somebody growing things.
And I got a few IMs telling me that I’m dead if I ever show my face in New Jersey. That should give you a hint how wise it was to make an example using the Nets.
And to Tantaros’ quip of if it’s “offensive” – wtf?! Is she completely tone deaf? Does she even take the time to listen to anyone outside her little sphere of conservative talking points? Their concern that this is being overly PC and their inability to see that the word Redskins is, as Priscilla noted, inherently racist speaks very poorly of these supposedly intelligent women. But then, these 4 women are willing tools of the right-wing so I guess it should be no surprise.
Now to Gooch X’s point…spot on! And point this was addressed in a commercial that aired during the NBA Finals. If these 4 FOX “news” talking heads can watch the below commercial and still feel the that team name should not changed, then there’s no hope for any of them.
http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/6/10/5796432/native-american-commerical-redskins-name-change-nba-finals
1. Washington Greenskins
2. Washington Bog-Trotters
3. Washington Coal-Crackers
4. Washington McNuggets
5. Washington Leprechauns
6. Washington Paddys
7. Washington Narrow Backs
These clowns would have a hissy fit.
Would you ever feel comfortable or confident addressing any real life Native American as “redskin”?
If your answer is “no” then logically you would understand and support a less offensive team name.
The team name needs to be change and I can’t see any logical argument for keeping it.
