Hypocrisy? Regarding Phil Robertson and Don Sterling

[Darth Executor]

What does George Zimmerman have to do with Cliven Bundy, Donald Sterling, or the price of tea in China?

He doesn't actually believe they're racist. He mentions them because they follow a similar pattern of faux racism followed by faux outcry.

[Darth Executor]

[nico]

The "racist" label is again being conflated to include exclusivist behavior. Nothing he said (based on what I've read) was racist. It was cowardice.

His perception of society frowns upon personal association with blacks to the detriment of one's social and professional life. His response is tacit compliance with "the way things are". The sad part is that it's probably true in the high circles he associates with. That's different than racism which is the belief that race X is inherently bad. Stereotyping, for example, is not racism but attributing trait X to individuals that the group as a whole tends to exhibit, whether real or perceived. Sterling did neither.

Society is being conditioned to believe that racism is the failure of complying with progressive ideas about the human condition. This little episode seems like righteous indignation but it's really a lynching based on public sentiment. Sterling is wholly wrong in his views, but the media's inaccurate portrayal of Sterling's actions are telling of the direction we're headed. It would be different if his views were publicly expressed and actually racist, but that's not what's going on here.

[DesertBerean]

How is the media's portrayal of Sterling's actions inaccurate? I'd agree with questionable because it was clearly a private conversation, and illegal under California law, but how was it inaccurate?

[Epoetker]

His perception of society frowns upon personal association with blacks to the detriment of one's social and professional life. His response is tacit compliance with "the way things are". The sad part is that it's probably true in the high circles he associates with. That's different than racism which is the belief that race X is inherently bad. Stereotyping, for example, is not racism but attributing trait X to individuals that the group as a whole tends to exhibit, whether real or perceived. Sterling did neither.

I think it's close to "his perception of his bank account and business assets frowns on his mistress hanging around with the man most interested in taking his basketball team from them, and his response is tacit compliance with the way things are, no quotes."

Society is being conditioned to believe that racism is the failure of complying with progressive ideas about the human condition. This little episode seems like righteous indignation but it's really a lynching based on public sentiment. Sterling is wholly wrong in his views, but the media's inaccurate portrayal of Sterling's actions are telling of the direction we're headed. It would be different if his views were publicly expressed and actually racist, but that's not what's going on here.

Sorry, but that's exactly the mental response liberals want you to have. Being leery of black people in general is entirely justifiable based on the present and past behavior of black people as a whole.

[One Bad Pig]

He doesn't actually believe they're racist. He mentions them because they follow a similar pattern of faux racism followed by faux outcry.

Exactly.

[Teallaura]

How is the media's portrayal of Sterling's actions inaccurate? I'd agree with questionable because it was clearly a private conversation, and illegal under California law, but how was it inaccurate?

Presumes facts not in evidence - not wishing to associate with a group is not necessarily the same thing as hating that group for an inherent trait. Saying stupid things about black people - or even unkind things - does not necessarily mean you hate black people for being black.

[DesertBerean]

Presumes facts not in evidence - not wishing to associate with a group is not necessarily the same thing as hating that group for an inherent trait. Saying stupid things about black people - or even unkind things - does not necessarily mean you hate black people for being black.

Ah, ok.

[KingsGambit]

Ravi Zacharias on Sterling: http://www.rzim.org/blog/cultural-is...rge-of-racism/

[Epoetker]

Ravi Zacharias on Sterling: http://www.rzim.org/blog/cultural-is...rge-of-racism/

Ravi doth protest too much.

I look at such a man driving an auto-rickshaw for a living, sun-burnt himself but pronouncing curses upon others because of their complexion. I pity him. I pity him because he is uninformed, uneducated, socially marginalized, weak in his thinking capacity, and apparently the only way he can flex any muscle is by cursing others. He can almost be pardoned because he lives in a dark world with no light to help him see any better. He is inherently weak and the bumper stickers are his only strength.

That sounds perilously close to some classist denunciation there, Mr. Never Seen Outside of Suits. Are you sure that certain classes of people may not be using race as a proxy for behavior, i.e., content of character?

But a billionaire with all the knowledge of hate from the past and the need to look towards a future of civility and law, and yes, love for our fellow human beings…how did he get trapped in a dungeon of prejudice?

Real funny you should ask these questions when they have simple answers: Donald Sterling had seen the behavior of the group as a whole and judged it, favorably or unfavorably, based on the contents of their character.

Incomprehensible! Except when we put the human heart under a microscope can we see why. I remember once talking to the famed Joe Gibbs when he moved from being the iconic coach of an NFL team to owning a NASCAR team. I asked him how he made the switch from one sport to another one so drastically different in the skills needed. His answer was quite instructive. “They both have one thing in common—the depravity of man,” he said.

My guess is that he forgot to add an "agers" to the last word in the sentence. It's easy to impugn the judgments of people doing UGH MANUAL LABOR WITH COMMON PEOPLE when you rub shoulders with high-powered dudes who never have to do that work all day. I've always thought Ravi Zacharias was a bit of a lightweight in the apologetics world, but this cements his fundamental unseriousness when dealing with the issues of the day, and the people most responsible for them. Big hint, Ravi-you're hanging out with and flattering the people who need your preaching most.

[DesertBerean]

Well, well...so the NBA will be voting on taking the team away from Sterling.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...ilver/9307159/

Way to go, NBA. Give a Sterling the ammo he'll need for suing for violation of free speech and privacy.

[KingsGambit]

If the NBA acted any differently, their players would be walking straight out and it would torpedo its financial value. Their hands are tied.

[Epoetker]

If the NBA acted any differently, their players would be walking straight out and it would torpedo its financial value. Their hands are tied.

Sure you don't mean chained?

But seriously, professional sports are the opiate of America and the most popular religion substitute among those who would otherwise pursue more constructive interests. The sooner they destroy themselves, the better. May God bless Donald Sterling for revealing the corruption and mendacity that was always endemic in these organizations.

[Jedidiah]

But seriously, professional sports are the opiate of America . . . .

Yes.

[Epoetker]

Black muscleman Terry Crews agrees with me.

I like his line at the end about how "all the players lose all discipline" after the practice is over.

Maybe he and SBPDL could come to an accord on this.