I've re-read my post and I think you are talking specifically about the "never seen disparaging remarks about American Indians". What I meant to say was that I've never seen anything negative about American Indians come out of the Washington Redskins organization. So if the football club attributes positive qualities of the people the name represents, how is it exactly an insult? Who gets to determine the meaning of a word (or collection of words) used? The person sending the message, or the person recieving it?
As for language being arbitrary, I beleive that. Whats the difference between saying darn & damn, if you mean the same thing? Doesn't make any one more right than the other.
Point being, allowing others to redefine something you've already defined is a slippery sloap. Someone will always be offended, no matter what it is.
What about the FSU Siminoles spear on the side of their helment? Couldn't that attribute a violent culture to the current Siminole tribe?
What about the Saints, and their flur du lis (which is a religious symbol for the holy trinity). Couldn't the separation of church n' state crowd take offense that tax dollars are going to an organization that calls itself a religious figure, with a religious symbol as their brand?
If all that sounds rediculous....it is. FSU doesn't mean any ill will toward the Siminole tribe over it's mascot or helment decal. The New Orleans Saints are not a religious organization.....but you can be sure there are people out there that will interpret those things (and be offended) how they want to.