The owner of the Washington Redskins professional football team has responded to charges from the Oneida Indian Nation that its name is offensive by saying the name and logo are "a badge of honor," not a label.
Owner Daniel Snyder wrote a two page letter to fans today saying, in part, "it is a symbol of everything we stand for: strength, courage, pride, and respect - the same values we know guide Native Americans and which are embedded throughout their rich history as the original Americans."
The Redskins franchise has come under increased pressure recently about its name since the Oneida Nation held a conference in Washington D.C. this week calling for the organization to drop the mascot. The Oneida and some other Native Americans say the name is offensive.
President Obama said in an interview published Saturday that if he owned the team, he would consider changing the name. The NFL's commissioner, Rodger Goodell, has said those offended should be listened to.
The NFL has offered to move up a meeting with the Oneida that was schedule for Nov. 22 and possibly hold it on nation territory in upstate New York. In response to Snyder's letter, nation representative Ray Halbritter invited Snyder to that meeting.