National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell can’t seem to make up his mind about the name of Washington’s football team.
He told Congress in June that “the name is a unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect.” Three months later came his observation, welcomed by those seeking to change the Redskins’ name (including us), that “If one person is offended, we have to listen.” More recently, he claimed that the team name has “honored” Native Americans and that more people favor the name than oppose it.
We have long hoped team owner Daniel M. Snyder would change the name, not because of threats to the league’s tax status or to patent protection but because it is the right thing to do.
Mr. Goodell can’t have it both ways. He can’t claim to listen to concerns about this truly offensive name and then tune them out. Perhaps he can’t force Mr. Snyder to change the team’s name, but he can say what he would do if he were in Mr. Snyder’s position, and he can enlist other owners to get the league on the right side of history.
Editorial, Pages 78 on 02/16/2014