Twitter wants to let the Washington Redskins realize how completely tone-deaf their greeting is.
The NFL team that hails from the U.S. capitol, widely condemned for its insensitive name and imagery, tweeted the holiday greeting on Thursday. Twitter responded immediately, pointing out the team's lack of self-awareness and informing the Redskins social media manager that wishing people a "Happy Thanksgiving" with a epithet of the indigenous people decimated by western colonizers like the pilgrims wasn't a great look. This is, of course, a holiday tradition for the football team's Twitter account. It sent the same greeting last year.The inappropriate tweet was extra shady coming shortly after the NFL announcement that the Washington team would be among those playing in London in 2016. Leaders of the Oneida Indian Nation have blasted the decision to "send the racial slur to London," CBS Sports reported. In a statement, a representative for the Oneida Nation said:
At a time when the United States is desperately trying to fortify its international relationships, the NFL has decided to go on the world stage and promote an ugly racial epithet slurring indigenous people all over the world. This is not only offensive, but also at odds with American interests across the globe at this critical time. We need to show respect to our foreign allies -- the NFL choosing to slur people of color at a high-profile international event does the opposite.
So congrats, Washington team, you've managed to become the NFL equivalent of the racist uncle you unfriended on Facebook and yet still have to put up with on Thanksgiving.
Photo via NationsCapital.com/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
