A MUCH-NEEDED LESSON FOR BOB COSTAS, ABOUT OFFENSIVE NAMES

Bob Costas is an unhappy man.

Mr. Costas is unhappy because, based on a new research study (and entirely consistent with a previous one), 9 out of 10 Native Americans are not bothered by an NFL team calling itself the Washington Redskins.

Here is what Mr. Costas has to say about it:

“This is a football issue and there is a distinction between this issue and others that might be influenced by political correctness run amok, and it is simply this: Every dictionary defines Redskin as an insult, a slur, a derogatory or pejorative term.” 

In other words, Mr. Costas – who is of Irish and Greek ancestry, not one drop of Native American blood – is telling Native Americans “I don’t care that you don’t find the name offensive.  I know better than you what you should be offended by”.

Would you say that’s a little presumptuous?  Self-superior?  Insulting?

OK, Ok, maybe a lot of all three.  You have a point.

But wait.  I want to help Mr. Costas out.

Since he appears to be very sincere about this, and worries that names are inherently offensive, even if the people he thinks should be offended aren’t, I have a few more for him – which I blogged about almost two years ago.

Let’s start with the state of Oklahoma.  Do you know what “Oklahoma” means?  Here’s your answer:

Oklahoma is based on Choctaw Indian words which translate as “red people” (Okla meaning “people” and Humma meaning “Red”.  

Can I assume that, when talking college sports, Mr. Costas will no longer be mentioning schools like Oklahoma or Oklahoma State?  I certainly hope so.  We have to be consistent, don’t we?

But why stop there?  Here, from my June 19, 2014 blog, are some others that, for a variety of reasons, qualify as well:

-Alabama appears to be Choctaw for “thicket-clearers” or “vegetation gatherers”.  That is a stereotype of Indians, no less than characterizing all Mexicans as farm workers.  If “Redskins” is offensive, than this is too.

-Hawaii is a corruption of “Owhyhee”, the native-tongue word for “Homeland”.  Since Hawaii is no longer a free-standing nation, but part of the USA, that is offensive to everyone else.  A change is in order.

-Illinois is Algonquin for “warriors” or “race of superior men”.  That not only insults everyone in the other 49 states, but all women in or out of Illinois.  Women must be respected, so get rid of it.

-Indiana means “land of the Indians”.  That excludes every non-Indian – i.e. the majority of the state’s population – so it must be offensive.  Out it goes.

-Iowa is the name of a specific tribe within the Sioux nation.  Since only a small fraction of the population belongs to this tribe, it excludes everyone else.  Bye Byeowa, Iowa.

-Maryland was named in honor of Henrietta Maria, wife of English King Charles 1.  Well, we are not ruled by England anymore.  I say, change it to Michelleland…..until January, 2017.

-North and South Carolina are named for King Charles I – the latin word for Charles being Cariolus.  North and South Obamalina aren’t as melifluous, but at least Barack is from the state of Owhyhee…..we think.

-Pennsylvania was named for Quaker William Penn, who was given the land by Charles I.  Well, he doesn’t own it anymore and I’m not a Quaker, so I object. 

-Virginia was named after “The Virgin Queen”, England’s Elizabeth I.  That not only honors a non-American, but is an affront to all women who choose to be sexually active, which makes it part of the war on women.  It has to change.

-West Virginia – ditto.

I can only conclude that Mr. Costas did not read my initial blogs on this subject.  Otherwise he would avoid mention of these states, and the sports teams which have them in their names.

Maybe he’ll read this one.

Look at the bright side, Bob; you’re 64 years old this year, and your voice must be a little tired after all that announcing.  If you don’t voice the names of every sports team from those states, announcing will be much easier on the old vocal chords.

I’m sure you’ll act accordingly……….