Redskins fans can't take the heat

The Daily Show springs tense showdown with Native Americans on Redskins fans

By Ian ShapiraThe four die-hard Redskins fans thought the opportunity was as golden as the vintage helmets of their favorite football team: “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” wanted them to appear on the Comedy Central program to defend the team’s name, which has been under relentless attack.

The Redskins Nation citizens eagerly signed up, most of them knowing they might get mocked in their interview with correspondent Jason Jones. But several hours into the Sept. 13 taping of the yet-to-air episode, the fans, all from Virginia, said they were suddenly confronted by a larger group of Native American activists — all of whom were in on the showdown prearranged by “The Daily Show.”

The encounter at a Dupont Circle hotel was so tense that an Alexandria fan said she left in tears and felt so threatened that she later called the police. She has told “The Daily Show” to leave her out of the segment but doesn’t know whether the producers will comply.

“This goes way beyond mocking. Poking fun is one thing, but that’s not what happened,” said Kelli O’Dell, 56, a former teacher who lives in Alexandria and didn’t watch the show regularly. “It was disingenuous. The Native Americans accused me of things that were so wrong. I felt in danger. I didn’t consent to that. I am going to be defamed.”Comment:  Well, cry me a river. Some fans felt "defamed"...just like Indians feel many times a day when they see stereotypical images and hear stereotypical terms. You know, like those involving the Washington team.

As some people said on Facebook:If you believe in it so whole-heartedly, why did you balk when confronted by the people who are against the name?

If you are such a fan of the team and believe it honors Native Americans then you should be able to say that to Native Americans. I mean what do they really have to be afraid of if they believe they are right and honoring Native people?

Don't deign, denigrate and demean an entire class of people if you can't handle the consequences.

Soooooo what exactly is the problem? Oh, they got a taste of their own medicine? Boo hoo for them. Now they know how we feel when white guys scream "it's an honor!!!!!" When we correct them.Below:  "Gregg Deal, 39, a Native American from Culpeper, Va., is an artist and activist. He poses with Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones at the filming of the segment Sept. 13 at the Park Hyatt hotel in Dupont Circle." (Courtesy of Gregg Deal)