[Vision2020] one more try

[Paul Rumelhart]

First, why should I give a damn what Sterling thinks?  But OK, I'll bite.  His apparent concern appears to be that his girlfriend was bringing prominent black athletes to his games and posting pictures to Instagram.  This was causing him grief because a lot of people he associates with don't like that.  He told her that he has no problem with whatever she does with whomever she wants to do it with just as long as it's not in the spotlight.  Of course, I can't see into his heart so I don't know what he really felt.

Now, while that's a couple of steps up from being a complete racist himself, it's still pretty cowardly.  It's pretty much equal to the NBA sanctioning him so they can look like they give a damn and hopefully stop the financial hemorrhage they were anticipating.

There, now that I've publicly condemned the guy (I'm sure he was eagerly waiting to see what I thought of his actions), let me tell you why this whole thing bugs me (not that I suspect you care that much).

I hate mob rule.  I am a person that often has opinions that the norm doesn't agree with, so I may someday be on the other side of that line of pitchforks and torches.  I'm hoping that, by the time that happens, people will have learned not to try to out-righteous each other so much and to abhor bandwagons.  A naive wish, I'm sure. 

As for the "don't taze me bro" guy, I remember agreeing in general that he shouldn't have been treated the way he was but that I thought he was an idiot in how he handled the situation.  Does that make me a Kerry supporter, now?  Compare him to the guy at the Hilary Clinton speech that just stood up quietly and turned his back on her.  Same outcome for him, more-or-less, but I admired that more.

Paul




________________________________
 From: Sunil <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>
To: vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com> 
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2014 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] one more try
 


Paul,

Are Sterling's opinions wrong in addition to being unpopular?

I'm amazed that you, the guy who declared he had 'little pity' for the guy who was tazered by the Florida cops at a Kerry speech, a classic First Amendment violation, rend your clothes and weep for Sterling. Boy, you know how to pick 'em.

Sunil 


> Date: Fri, 2 May 2014 05:41:10 +0200
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com; godshatter at yahoo.com
> From: lfalen at turbonet.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] one more try
> 
> I do not think much of Mr. Sterling, however I have to agree with Paul that the reaction against him has been over the top.
> Roger
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: [Vision2020] one more try
> From: "Paul Rumelhart" <godshatter at yahoo.com>
> To: "Moscow Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Date: 2014/05/01 23:12:12
> 
> If past history is any indication, people here are going to think I'm defending Donald Sterling and rich white fatcats in general (because, hey, rich white fatcats have been *so* good to me over the years).  But, here goes one more try.
> 
> OK, first, I've looked into the allegations that he knew he was being recorded, and that appears to be plausible.  He had asked his girlfriend to record their conversations because he had a hard time remembering things sometimes and wanted to be able to replay the tape afterwards, at least according to this webpage: https://www.tmz.com/2014/04/28/donald-sterling-v-stiviano-settlement-conversation-book-deal-life-clippers-audio-recordings/.  Supposedly there are more than 100 hours of recorded conversations that his girlfriend recorded, and I'm sure we'll hear every juicy snippet somewhere along the line (especially if there is a book deal involved).  There is a difference, though, between asking someone to record you so you can play it back if need be, and authorizing that person to distribute that recording to the world via Youtube.
> 
> So, here's my problem.  It's politically OK to pilloryze this guy, based on his expressing his opinion to his girlfriend in what was still a private conversation.  It's OK to fine him millions, eject him from all games (even the ones involving the team he owns), and even that's not enough.  He owns an NBA team, his opinion is not popular, so obviously people should find a way to divest him of that, right?  I'm surprised they aren't trying to make him clean the urinals in Grand Central Station every day.
> 
> So, for those of you still horrified that someone might be a bit racist in today's enlightened world, imagine if your favorite boogeyman was elected President.  Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, me, whoever it is.  Now imagine it's your grand unassailable values that are the opinions that are next to be pilloried.  How much credibility are you going to have when you state that your beliefs are your own and that saying them in private shouldn't mean a fine or being banned from public establishments? 
> 
> Not to mention that this whole thing smacks of a witch hunt.  And those always turn out so well.
> 
> Paul
> 
> 
>  
> 
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