Stern Silver Severs Sterling

shoutingDiscrimination rots.

Yet discrimination exists. If not epidemic, and there are those who would opine it is, its strain remains sturdy and ever present.

Whether it is against people of different skin tone.

Whether it is against people of different religious belief.

Whether is is against people of different nationality.

Whether it is against people of different social or political views.

Whether it is against people of different gender or sexual preference.

Discrimination is a pox on society, a virulent plague that undermines the culture.

Like a melanoma, it must be excised swiftly when it presents itself.

Which is why new NBA commissioner Adam Silver is being universally lauded for his relatively quick action against LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling, for the latter’s despicable, racially inflammatory comments to his “girlfriend.”

Lifetime ban.

$2.5 million fine.

Move to force the sale of the franchise.

Silver has, in decisive action, taken a stand against this cancer.

Hats off to him.

* * * * *

Yet it is but one small, if very public, step in the fight for respect among those of different skin tone, different religious views, different life philosophies, different nationality, different gender, etc, etc.

Being Jewish, I have experienced some discrimination. Most of it, subtle. Some not so much.

Donald Sterling is Jewish.

Given that connection, it made this awful situation even more wrenching. As if, because of that bond, the animus toward Sterling would also rub off on me. The old, “You know, all those Jews are the same” thing.

Adam Silver is Jewish. David Stern, his high profile predecessor, is Jewish.

Such is the crafty, cunning nature of the discriminatory beast; so subtly can it manifest itself, it made an appearance during the Q & A after Silver’s pronouncement.

He was asked if the fact that Sterling, Stern and he were all Jewish made any difference during his contemplation of what action to take? Or something like that, I paraphrase.

Would that question have been asked if all three were Catholic? Baptist?

My surmise is it would not have been. Or, is that simply my personal discriminatory animus?

What if the three were Hispanic? Muslim?

My surmise is it likely would have been.

Maybe.

* * * * *

Here’s my point.

Prejudice lurks in almost every shadow.

We must be ever conscious of our own beliefs.

One person loves the Washington Redskins. Another finds the nickname loathsome, demeaning, defamatory.

Where do we draw the line? Where do we take a stand that will benefit all, be a catalyst for a more respectful society?

A sterling example is the stern action yesterday by Adam Silver.

— Seedy K

5 thoughts on “Stern Silver Severs Sterling

  1. Not having seen Mr. Silver before the public prior to yesterday’s press conference, I had absolutely no idea what kind of person he might be. I sensed I was seeing a man a little uncomfortable, a little nervous, perhaps a little overwhelmed by the big spotlight.
    And wasn’t that so refreshing! I also saw a man speaking with a raw passion with heartfelt contempt for Mr. Sterling’s ignorance.
    Haven’t seen that in a long time. The content of his words were most important, but I think the “amateurish” style, if you will, resonated with many of us.

  2. I would like for Sterling to keep his team but have it rendered worthless by not allowing it to play NBA games, thus costing him its near billion dollars worth. How that for a costly punishment.

  3. Sterling has showed his ass for years. Why did it take a set up from his black/Hispanic “girlfriend” to bring this to a head? Whose the next owner? Oprah? Magic? Stay tuned… Only in Hollywood….

  4. My contention is that this incident will increase resentment all people have towards other races. I unfortunately see my own personal racial resentment meter edging up as my life experience increases. Not proud of it.

Comments are closed.