Ruling won't stop use of Redskins name: Your Say

Letter to the editor:

What is interesting about the ruling canceling the federal trademark registrations of the Redskins name is that many people seem to think this will stop the use of the name altogether ("Brennan: Ruling on Redskins' nickname reinforces the inevitable").

All it really means is that the Washington NFL team cannot claim exclusivity to the name or the marketing of it. That will be a problem in terms of revenue from Redskins products, but it won't stop anybody from actually using the name.

Ironically, while opponents of the name look at this ruling as a victory, it opened the door for the consumer to buy a cheaper T-shirt bearing the name they consider to be derogatory. You can outlaw the trademark, but good luck outlawing the word.

Brian Hoard; Charlottesville, Va.

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

The Redskins name is a racist and disgusting expression for a football team. But our obsession with political correctness has got to stop. The governing of such things is extremely dangerous.

— Steve Janeway

I say flags, license plates and football team names are not substance. Our society is stressed, and people think that changing the name of a football team will change the substantive issues we face?

— Teresa Fannin

These issues aren't distractions. Dealing with them is called multitasking. The government and courts can handle multiple issues at once. Don't try to downplay Native Americans' issues because you don't see them as important.

Many people can agree that, at its basic level, the name Redskins is offensive. Some groups continue to ignore that fact and prefer to think it's still 1860.

— Gabriel Chapman