OK. It is time to quit bitchin' [No offense intended to bitches, generally - DD] and come up with a solution to this National Problem.
First: LOCATION
The Washington Redskins do not have an office in the District of Columbia,
i.e. Washington, DC. As best DonDiego can determine the main office is in Virginia. The Stadium is in Maryland.
In any case "Washington" seems way to masculine-centric and limiting, honoring as it were one man. [No offense intended toward males, generally - DD.]
Nonetheless, being close to the District of Columbia and generally seen as part of that Greater Metropolitan Area, perhaps consideration of homage to the Nation's capital is in order. The term "District of Columbia", however, seems somewhat awkward to poor old DonDiego. He proposes shortening it to just "Columbia", long recognized as an historical and poetic name for the female personification of the United States of America.[No offense intended to male personifications, generally - DD].
One alternative [so as not to exclude males altogether - DD], would be to consider Maryland, the Stadium location. Perhaps "Maryland", . . . or even better [to avoid the female-stereotyping/monarchal-stereotyping of the name "Mary"], perhaps an altered spelling to "Merryland".
Second: MASCOT
DonDiego, as do many others, recognizes Daniel Snyder's honoring the Nations indigenous [
i.e.pre-European] population is way too exclusionary. Nonetheless, including some reference to them would be appropriate both for historical/sentimental reasons and, again, to be inclusionary.
What to do? . . . what to do?
DonDiego proposes a Blast From the Past: The Village People. Who could object to that ?
The NFL would be well-represented by a team embraced by the Nation's Capital if it were to honor the Nation's common-men and women [one character, or perhaps 3, will need to be replaced by a woman or other gendered person - DD] [Oh, and there's one-too-many Blacks to represent the US population, maybe substitute a Chinese Laundryperson for the Black Policeperson - DD]. Still, a Native American, a Construction Worker, a Sailor, a Cowperson, a Laundryperson, and a Biker[BikerChick] would represent a broad [and dude - DD [thanks, clcjim]] cross-section of America.
Third: THE FINAL SOLUTION
DonDiego suggests: the
Columbia Village People, . . . or if one wishes to emphasize the playing field: the
Merryland Village People, . . . or the
Merry Village People, or even substitute any synonym for "merry", . . .
e.g. Cheerful Village People,
Fun-Loving Village People,
Gay Village People,
Perky Village People,
Sportive Village People, etc.
DonDiego trusts his solution is acceptable to everyone.
Comments are invited.
