by Vito Tomasino
The N, F, MF, B, C, and every foul word you can think of, as well as lyrics
suggesting that cops be killed and women raped, are regularly used by
Black American rappers who make millions of dollars in CD sales, and are
showered with awards for their depraved work.
A white American businessman who happens to own a successful professional
basketball franchise employing hundreds of people, who has made millionaires
of his black players, makes a relatively inane remark in a private argument with
his girlfriend about her being seen in public with Blacks, and he is condemned
as a RACIST, banned from the NBA for life, fined $2,500,000, and pressured to
sell his team—all without a fair hearing, or his constitutional right to due process.
Is there a double standard here, or am I just paranoid? How many more white
people have to be sacrificed on the altar of “political correctness” before we are
all paranoid?
Donald Sterling denies he is a racist and his estranged girl friend supports him
on this. But, even if he is, what law has he broken? Does he not have the same
freedom to exercise his first amendment rights as our rapper musicians? And
how do you reconcile the public protest of illegal aliens who defiantly raised the
flag of Mexico overhead while they trampled “Old Glory,” as the Phoenix Police
look on?
Before the video tape of his private remarks were made public—without his
knowledge or permission— the NAACP were about to present Mr. Sterling with
a “lifetime achievement award” for his many generous contributions to their
cause—and, I would note, to the campaigns of many California Democrats.
Ironically, they too were compelled to shun their benefactor and rescind the
award in a reverse act of political correctness. Later, in a public announcement,
representatives of the NAACP were quick to make clear, that while they censure
Mr. Sterling’s remarks, they forgive him. “After all, everyone makes mistakes,”
they said.
Am I just being cynical, or could it be, that they were just trying to insure the
continued support of a very rich and powerful supporter for them and the
Democratic Party.
And where is the outraged voice of President Obama, who was so quick to weigh
in on the altercation between the Boston Police and a Black Harvard professor,
and again in the Trayvon Martin case? The silence from the White House is telling.
I don’t know Mr. Sterling, nor am I a fan of his basketball team, but I would defend
his right to speak his mind however distasteful his words may be to others. The
civil rights legislation of the 1960’s has righted much of the injustice done to Blacks
and other minorities in this country, but no law can eliminate the racism so deeply
rooted in the human psyche. Only our continuing evolution as human beings can
correct that inherent flaw.
A final point. If Donald Sterling has his day in court, I suspect there may be a few
other owners of professional ball teams out there anxiously awaiting the outcome.
The N, F, MF, B, C, and every foul word you can think of, as well as lyrics
suggesting that cops be killed and women raped, are regularly used by
Black American rappers who make millions of dollars in CD sales, and are
showered with awards for their depraved work.
A white American businessman who happens to own a successful professional
basketball franchise employing hundreds of people, who has made millionaires
of his black players, makes a relatively inane remark in a private argument with
his girlfriend about her being seen in public with Blacks, and he is condemned
as a RACIST, banned from the NBA for life, fined $2,500,000, and pressured to
sell his team—all without a fair hearing, or his constitutional right to due process.
Is there a double standard here, or am I just paranoid? How many more white
people have to be sacrificed on the altar of “political correctness” before we are
all paranoid?
Donald Sterling denies he is a racist and his estranged girl friend supports him
on this. But, even if he is, what law has he broken? Does he not have the same
freedom to exercise his first amendment rights as our rapper musicians? And
how do you reconcile the public protest of illegal aliens who defiantly raised the
flag of Mexico overhead while they trampled “Old Glory,” as the Phoenix Police
look on?
Before the video tape of his private remarks were made public—without his
knowledge or permission— the NAACP were about to present Mr. Sterling with
a “lifetime achievement award” for his many generous contributions to their
cause—and, I would note, to the campaigns of many California Democrats.
Ironically, they too were compelled to shun their benefactor and rescind the
award in a reverse act of political correctness. Later, in a public announcement,
representatives of the NAACP were quick to make clear, that while they censure
Mr. Sterling’s remarks, they forgive him. “After all, everyone makes mistakes,”
they said.
Am I just being cynical, or could it be, that they were just trying to insure the
continued support of a very rich and powerful supporter for them and the
Democratic Party.
And where is the outraged voice of President Obama, who was so quick to weigh
in on the altercation between the Boston Police and a Black Harvard professor,
and again in the Trayvon Martin case? The silence from the White House is telling.
I don’t know Mr. Sterling, nor am I a fan of his basketball team, but I would defend
his right to speak his mind however distasteful his words may be to others. The
civil rights legislation of the 1960’s has righted much of the injustice done to Blacks
and other minorities in this country, but no law can eliminate the racism so deeply
rooted in the human psyche. Only our continuing evolution as human beings can
correct that inherent flaw.
A final point. If Donald Sterling has his day in court, I suspect there may be a few
other owners of professional ball teams out there anxiously awaiting the outcome.
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