Sources confirm the @nytmike and @DavidWaldstein report that the Cleveland Indians will drop their nickname. While it’s unclear what they will replace it with, the Indians – who have been called that for over a century and nearly 17,000 games – will be gone.
– Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 14, 2020
The Ranger team name doesn’t fit well in American history, but when it comes to Native American culture, it is pushed back compared to the Redskins, Indians, and even the Blackhawks. The Texas Rangers were a law enforcement division in 1823 created by “The Father of Texas” Stephen F. Austin. The Ranger Division vowed to protect the Texas colony from Native Americans and had a significant impact on the Texas Revolution of 1836. Now, I’m not a history professor, and I urge you to gather more information at your public library or how you kids will get historical details. Yet the Texas Rangers’ past in history is not favorable to Native American culture. The question is: is it derogatory?
There is a difference between offending culture and having a bad influence on culture. For me, removing the name of the Texas Rangers is not necessary. Once Washington ditched the Redskins name, calls went out to every league demanding names like the Chiefs, Braves, Blackhawks and, yes, Rangers. However, isn’t that like dropping a piece of history? Statues have been removed, but again, it’s like removing part of the history of the United States.
You can’t pretend these things didn’t happen, especially if you are a fan who supports your team. If you applaud the Los Angeles Angels, does that mean all Angels fans believe angels exist? What about the Milwaukee Brewers? Can someone who doesn’t drink support the Brewers? Yes, that sounds silly, but the point is, some team names indicate the location or the history of the region. For the Texas Rangers, the Texas Rangers military group represents a distinct part of Texas history.
Right now, the Cleveland Indians are the only professional team in line to remove their name. Controversy erupted in June over the Rangers’ name change. Still, the team refused and issued a statement: “Although we may have originally taken our name from the law enforcement agency, since 1971 the Texas Rangers Baseball Club has forged its own identity. independent, ”the team said in a statement. “The Texas Rangers Baseball Club is all about equality. We condemn racism, bigotry and discrimination in all its forms. “
While these name changes have happened over the past forty to fifty years, the fact that two pro teams are announcing changes in the same year is mind-boggling. It’s crazy to think that canceling 2020 culture and political correctness has nothing to do with it. My question to those who don’t see the coincidence is, “How does it take 80 to 100 years to fix a so-called problem and fix it in the same year?” I feel like the team name changes are just beginning.
In case the Rangers need to change their name, here’s a list of a few names I found. I’m sure you will hate them all:
- Texas Lonestars (yes I know we already have the Dallas stars)
- Texas Cowboys (won’t understand)
- Dallas Desperados (a nod to the former Arena 2002 football team and the Cowboys play at Arlington)
- Texas Cowpunchers (my favorite)
- Texas no names (sounds country western, doesn’t it?)
