Samoan delegate denounces "Redskins"

Washington Redskins' name discussed in U.S. House

By Gregg RosenthalDiscussion about the appropriateness of the Washington Redskins' team name continues to simmer this off-season. It reached the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, American Samoa's non-voting delegate to the House, made a speech decrying the name.

"Mr. Speaker, it's time the National Football League and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, face the reality that the continued use of the word 'Redskin' is unacceptable. It is a racist, derogatory term, and patently offensive to Native Americans." Faleomavega said, via The Washington Post. "The Native American community has spent millions of dollars over the past two decades trying earnestly to fight the racism that is perpetuated by this slur.

"The fact that the NFL and Commissioner Goodell continue to deny this is a shameful treatment of the mistreatment of Native Americans for so many years. It is quite obvious that once the American public understands why 'Redskins' is so offensive, it will know that the word should never be used again."Comment:  For more on the Washington Redskins, see Redskins Can Afford Name Change and Redskins Poll Reveals Fans' Hypocrisy.