I hadn’t intended on commenting on the Donald Sterling, Los Angeles Clippers story in any meaningful way…until the NBA issued a life long ban on the tragically unenlightened Mr. Sterling, with the intent of forcing him to sell his franchise. This is extremely dangerous in an Orwellian sense. I’ll be brief.
The NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated: “The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful. That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage.”
What the adulterous
Sterling said in confidence to his equally adulterous paramour is indeed
offensive to me as well, though it does me no personal harm—his racist views
are no more so because he owns an NBA team. I am personally more disturbed by
the reality that what I say in a private moment can be recorded and then used
to strip me of my property. This is a direct assault on Constitutionally protected free speech and property rights.
I freely confess to not knowing whether there are provisions in NBA ownership agreements that may have been violated by Mr. Sterling when his private words were made manifest--As an American, I am suspect of this sort of force.
It is an easy thing to protect speech we agree with, however, the nation’s character is best defined by how we react to speech we disagree with. This is the plumb line that trues the worth of a totally free society. There is no inherent right not to be exposed to the repugnant.
I freely confess to not knowing whether there are provisions in NBA ownership agreements that may have been violated by Mr. Sterling when his private words were made manifest--As an American, I am suspect of this sort of force.
It is an easy thing to protect speech we agree with, however, the nation’s character is best defined by how we react to speech we disagree with. This is the plumb line that trues the worth of a totally free society. There is no inherent right not to be exposed to the repugnant.
If we look at the
history of American professional sports with an honest eye, beginning with
Kenny Walker breaking the color line in the National Football League and then
Jackie Robinson a year later in Major League Baseball, do you think all those
owners bigotry dissolved after those moments? The other owners followed suit
because it made economic sense to do so, not because they suddenly saw how despicable
they had been.
There are very real
consequences to all of our actions, but let us not be hypocrites! I have heard
just about every black person I know say some very racist things about whites
in private conversation—things they would not like their employers in corporate
America to be privy to, including at times similar views on interracial
relationships.
I have no problem with fines, but the consequences in the
aftermath of Donald Sterling’s loathsome private views made public concerning ownership, should be
decided by just that, the public. Not through bureaucratic force, but rather
the marketplace. If you are sincerely outraged or “Damaged” by Sterling’s
views, don’t go to Clippers games while he is the owner.
If the Staples Center is empty whenever the Clippers are in residence, or whenever they play on the road people stay away in droves, the marketplace will speak firmly: “Bigotry is profoundly frowned upon by decent folk.” If the marketplace does not respond by staying away, that will in fact speak even more loudly of where the nation is on interracial romantic relationships and our tolerance for racist ideology.
If the Staples Center is empty whenever the Clippers are in residence, or whenever they play on the road people stay away in droves, the marketplace will speak firmly: “Bigotry is profoundly frowned upon by decent folk.” If the marketplace does not respond by staying away, that will in fact speak even more loudly of where the nation is on interracial romantic relationships and our tolerance for racist ideology.
If Sterling had said
these things publically, it would indeed be damaging for the NBA. But that a
bigot exists in professional sports is not the least bit shocking. Bigotry,
without regard to race creed or color is symptomatic of man’s fallen nature and
if you have prejudices like those expressed by Sterling in your heart it is a
sure sign of being a reprobate.
This is true whether it manifests as Sterling’s brand of overt racism, or a more subtle overall obsession with your racial identity to the point it blinds you to the faults within yourself or your own group.
This is true whether it manifests as Sterling’s brand of overt racism, or a more subtle overall obsession with your racial identity to the point it blinds you to the faults within yourself or your own group.
If you don’t like what
Sterling said don’t tune into Clippers playoff games, don’t go to the games. If
the best players choose to take a large salary to play for him, the money is
more important to them than their principles. If the best players of any race refuse
to play for him, if people don’t support his team—he will have to sell.
That is how you decide
how your speech should be regulated, not by bureaucrats, but by the public’s
actions—simply banning him for his wrongheaded beliefs takes away a person’s
right to hold wrongheaded beliefs—no change will occur, just more bitterness.
The NBA’s reaction to Sterling’s private comments made public reminds me of the Words of the Lord: “And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.” Luke 11:39
The NBA’s reaction to Sterling’s private comments made public reminds me of the Words of the Lord: “And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.” Luke 11:39
Digital Publius
