good idea Wrote:
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> Are "celtics" or "vikings" derogatory terms used
> to describe those particular ethnic groups? Just
> curious. I don't think they are, hance the
> controversy.
I’m sure your intent is to be sensitive, but you've been misled to think it's a bad word, it’s not. Never was.
Here is some history for you…
http://anthropology.si.edu/goddard/redskin.pdf
The Native American Sources of Redskin:
It is clear from the earliest citations that redskin was regarded as an Indian expression. It was at first used only to translate what Indians said or as a consciously adopted Indian turn of phrase employed in formally addressing Indians. The tribal identities of the speakers who were quoted using this word in the period from 1769 to 1822 point to its specific languages of origin.
Here is another interesting link from a 2002 issue of Sports Illustrated on the subject
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1025046/1/index.htm
Further, I recommend reading “BEFORE THE REDSKINS WERE THE REDSKINS: THE USE OF NATIVE AMERICAN TEAM NAMES IN THE FORMATIVE ERA OF AMERICAN SPORTS, 1857-1933” in its entirety.
http://valhalla.law.und.nodak.edu/LawReview/issues/web_assets/pdf/86/86-4/86NDLR879.pdf
Since it’s very long, I’ll just post a snippet.
Although the general treatment of Native Americans by the mainstream American culture throughout history was patronizing, insensitive, and immoral at times, the early use of Native American team names does not, in the context of sports team names, appear to have been particularly disparaging. Teams were named after Native Americans as patriotic gestures, as geographic identifiers, and occasionally as humorous refer-ences, but almost never with the intention of insulting or making fun of Native Americans specifically. The practice of adopting Native American names predates the practice of adopting the names of fierce animals as team nicknames; consequently, it seems unfair to suggest that Native American and animal nicknames sent similar messages, at least in the pre-1933 period. Moreover, the most famous teams bearing Native American names adopted before 1933—the Boston (now Atlanta) Braves and the Cleveland Indians of the MLB, the Boston (now Washington) Redskins of the NFL, and the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League (NHL)—70 chose their names, at least in part, as a reference to the supposed athleticism of Native Americans and their special successes in team sports.