I see in this post that Bob Costas has come out against “Redskins,” the nickname of the Washington football team. As from a pulpit, he preaches that the name is an “insult” and “slur.” I remember when he was host of the Olympic Games, or at least the television coverage of them. In broadcasts past, East Germany had always been called “East Germany.” But Costas seemed to delight in doing something new: referring to the country as “the German Democratic Republic.” This was a vicious totalitarian regime, of course. It was neither democratic nor a republic, and, as wags said, it was not quite German either, given rule from Moscow.
For my money, “Redskins” is a lot more defensible, and a lot less offensive, than “German Democratic Republic.” And, when it comes to Bob Costas, I’ll take Bob Costa, thanks.
P.S. I met Bob Costas in an elevator once (Milwaukee). He was friendly.