Now there are some of you...who may be fed up - if not altogether annoyed or even pissed off - that I am talking again about the disturbing issue of racism...but when the front pages of our newspapers...the lead stories on our network and cable news broadcasts...and the home pages of Internet Websites...are blanketed with the names of ignorant bastards... whose racist remarks...thoroughly disgust me...I then have to speak my mind.
As an American...and especially as an American journalist...I'm a tremendous supporter of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. But although people in our great nation are able to enjoy freedom of speech...it nauseates me that there are those who spew out the venom and the offensive vulgarities that were spoken by Nevada rancher, Cliven Bundy and allegedly by Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.It amazes me - although I suppose I shouldn't be - that in 2014...there are still so many disgraceful people...who can hate a person...merely because of the color of their skin. It's deplorable...and it's despicable.
Nevada cattleman, Cliven Bundy's reprehensible remarks were videotaped and posted on YouTube. They were first reported by The New York Times earlier this month. Speaking of black people...who are receiving federally funded assistance...the 67-year old Bundy "often wondered...if they're better off as slaves picking cotton...and having family life...and doing things...or are they better off under government subsidy?"
The Bureau of Land Management claims that Bundy owes Uncle Sam 1.1 million dollars in taxes for grazing hundreds of cattle on federal land since 1993. When law enforcement agents tried to seize the animals...the G-Men came armed. But the rangers were not the only ones carrying guns...so were a militia of Bundy's supporters who confronted them. The stand-off became "breaking news" with many conservatives believing that Bundy was an American "patriot"...while liberals were feeling that Bundy was breaking the law and should either pay the money he owes...or go to jail.
But this commentary is not about Bundy's fight over grazing fees. It's about the appalling language he used about African-Americans. And now, those conservatives are no longer in Bundy's corner.
As for the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team... the alleged voice of Donald Sterling was caught on tape...whereby he was practically ordering his then-girlfriend...V. Stiviano...not to take pictures with black people...and not to bring them to any of the Clippers games.
The attorney for Stiviano confirmed late today...Sunday, April 27th...that the voice on the audio recording...is indeed that of Donald Sterling. Lawyer Mac Nehoray says the tape is authentic.The recorded comments - allegedly made by the 80-year old Sterling - were first revealed by the celebrity news Website, TMZ on Friday, April 25th. In an argument with Stiviano, Sterling is apparently saying, "Yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to? You can sleep with them. You can bring them in... you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that...and not to bring them to my games."
But the sports Website, Deadspin acquired exclusively today...(Sunday, April 27th)...the following...which is a transcript from the recording allegedly made between Sterling and Stiviano.
Stiviano: "I don't understand. I don't see your views. I wasn't raised the way you were raised."
Sterling: "Well then...if you don't feel - don't come to my games. Don't bring black people and don't come."
Stiviano: "Do you know that you have a whole team that's black...that plays for you?"
Sterling: "You just...do I know? I support them and give them food...and clothes...and cars...and houses. Who gives it to them? Does someone else give it to them? Do I know that I have? Who makes the game? Do I make the game...or do they make the game? Is there 30 owners...that created the league?"
The repugnant remarks by both Bundy and Sterling are discrimination of the worst kind. Nobody can punish the stupidity of Cliven Bundy for his sickening comments...but if there is definitive proof...that the voice on the recording is in fact that of Donald Sterling...then advertisers who sponsor the Los Angeles Clippers need to boycott the team until the National Basketball Association not only chastises and reprimands him...but suspends him...and forces him to release himself as owner of the Clippers...because of his totally inexcusable and horrid words.
President Obama reacted strongly this morning (Sunday)...about Bundy and Sterling. The President stated, "We've made enormous strides but... you're going to see this percolate up every so often." And President Obama went on to say, "When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance...you don't really have to do anything...you just let 'em talk."No matter what some of you may think - or not think - racism in the United States is still part of our everyday lives. Will bigotry and prejudice in America - and all around the globe - ever end? It's a terrible shame...but people express their evil, repulsive and detestable thoughts - both privately and publicly. Will we ever live in a colorblind society? Will we ever live in a world where people don't verbalize or write vicious and vile statements...just because of a person's race...religion... ethnic heritage...or sexual orientation? Every human being on the planet Earth - whether white, black, brown, red or yellow...has feelings. We can all be hurt - physically and emotionally. And no matter what color our skin is...we all bleed red. In God's eyes...we're all the same. Hopefully...there will be a time...when everyone will realize that.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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