Thursday, May 1, 2014

Donald Sterling Issue - My View

"

The NBA suspended Donald Sterling for life and fined the Clippers’ owner $2.5 million — the maximum amount possible — for a series of racist comments he made during an April 9 phone conversation with his lady friend.

… The NBA’s investigation into Sterling came after audio tapes of the hate-filled phone call were released last weekend by TMZ and Deadspin

Link

What did Sterling say… well this is how it is being reported:

- In the taped conversation with his girlfriend, Sterling specifically objected to photos that the woman posted of herself with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling asks the woman on the tape. Link

- In an audio obtained by TMZ — allegedly recorded during an argument Sterling had with his girlfriend, who is black and Mexican — the Clippers owner tells the woman identified as V. Stiviano, not to bring black people to his games and not to be photographed with black people. Sterling mentions Lakers legend Magic Johnson, in particular, telling his girlfriend that he doesn't want her "associating with black people." Link

Pretty damaging eh?

My view:

Conversations don't simply get recorded and leaked. That's for sure. But I am not even questioning the legality or the intention behind the recorded / leaked tape(s).

The guy has his views. Going just by the reports - It would be stupid to attempt to argue that those comments aren't racist. They most definitely are racist. No argument at all. But… WHAT has he done that merits the maximum possible fine and a life time ban?

Don't get me wrong. I assure you - contrary to popular opinion - I am NOT a racist, and I am not trying to defend Sterling either. I am just trying to understand how is it considered OK and JUST to penalise someone for having a view (racist or not) or expressing said view (in a private conversation with his gold digger slut mistress girlfriend)??

Colleagues and the general public can frown upon him, call him names… choose not to be associated with him in public gatherings. BUT penalising the man for having a view that YOU or MOST of you do not approve of?? Is that really fair?

So he doesn't like blacks - Big fucking deal! He made racist remarks (in a private conversation). He was being a racist prick - Agreed. Since when did it become ok to penalise someone because you did not approve of his/her attitude? If it is IN FACT ok to do so, then please make a public announcement because there are a lot of people that a lot of other people would like to get rid off / penalised and/or banned (for life, if not from life).

There are plenty of people who don't like gays. Should we penalise them? Should we penalise the Republicans who passed a bill in Arizona legislature that allowed business owners to refuse service to a gay individual (The bill was eventually vetoed by the governor)? [Link]

What Sterling did was express a view. This isn't really a 'hate CRIME'. The guy has his views - Even if it is racist, it is still just a view and it isn't something that he was barking from a podium (like Giriraj Singh barking out the 'don't support Modi, then leave the country' remark). [Link]

"I disapprove of what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" - Evelyn Beatrice Hall (quote often incorrectly credited to Voltaire).

Dikhaawon pe mat jaao… apni akal ladaao.

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