Donald Sterling and Freedom of Speech

Its hard to change your internal thoughts on a matter. Even if he did change them due to their effects on himself, it wouldn't really be for the right reasons. But, I agree, best scenario: Truly be non-racist. 2nd best scenario: Be a racist on the Down Low. Worst scenario: Admit you are a racist.

 

Yeah, but its now a public conversation. He should have just kept the blatant sentiments of racism to himself (only way to ensure they stay private) and then articulated them in ways that were much harder to be identified as racist, like say, just ending the relationship with the girl who posed with Magic Johnson for undisclosed reasons, or false reasons that weren't overtly racist.

 

Isn't that the problem. Rich guy surrounded by yes men, nobody strong enough to say "that's just wrong, don't talk like that".
When I grew up we said said mean things about people but learned very young not to say them in front of those people. Later on it took friends that I looked up to teach me such things weren't to be said anytime. It was later still in getting to know people that were different that I learned I could like or dislike some people for who they were, not for what they were.
I think it is sad that this guy is 81 and had few honest friends.
In his defence I will say the down side of have a good looking gf is constant looking over your glasses at who and how she talks to other men and when it comes to fights with gfs it's not hard to get to where you are saying thing that later you wish you hadn't.
I think he has the right to say what he thinks but I also think that everyone else has the right to talk about it.

 

Oh, I totally agree. Once recordings of more than an hour of private conversations were made public, it was open season on Mr. Sterling. Who knows, maybe his wife is the one who was in cahoots with the g/f. I can hear the exchange now...

Mrs: "I'm suing you for millions, but what I really want is to get even with that prick husband of mine. Do you wanna work together to destroy him and I'll drop the charges against you in return for the favor?"

G/F: "Sure. How shall we do it?"

Mrs: "Well, he's a racist... you can always set him up to rant about blacks, record it and release it to TMZ. White Guilt Americans won't rest until he's destroyed. Why don't you call your friend, Magic Johnson and see if he'll help."

G/F: "Will do."

Never underestimate the power of a woman scorned.

 

Donald Sterling is free to say whatever he wishes. He's not in trouble with the law nor should he be.

But lets not confuse the freedom of speech, which is the freedom to speak your mind for the most part without fear of the state coming to arrest you, with the non-existent freedom to speak your mind without other consequences.

I will support Donald Sterling's freedom of speech, but I will not feel the slightest bit bad for him if his speech gets him in non-legal trouble. If the league fines him or suspends him or forces him to sell his team, I honestly don't care because the league is not the government and they are not using the force of state or federal law to do it. They are using their own by-laws and Donald Sterling was not forced to own a basketball team and be part of the NBA.

So if you're going to say dumb (*)(*)(*)(*) like Donald Sterling did, I'll defend your right to say it but I'm going to laugh in your face when it bites you in the ass.

 

Amazing that some still don't get the difference..

 

I think it's all about feeling and how people deal with them that needs to be understude. He dealt with his hurt feelings by hurting her in the only way that came to mind and she used the tape to hurt him back. We all need to understand how better to deal with our own feelings and consider others feeling, I think he is smarter now and alot of people could learn from this.

 

You lost me when you used the word 'feelings' 4 times in one paragraph. The First Amendment doesn't protect people's 'feelings' -- it protects their freedom of speech.

At least it's supposed to.

 

And you feel like I should shut up.

 

LOL, that would be how the NBA feels about Donald Sterling.

Don't get me wrong... you're right about the decision being all about people's feelings. However, nothing Sterling said was illegal or threatening or even directed to one particular person. So I think the public outrage was a little overdone. Beating up an old man isn't hard. Lord help him if he ever bad-mouths homosexuals.

 

If it turns out the gf edited the rant, some people will certainly look like fools for judging before knowing all the facts.

 

People feeling foolish for jumping to incorrect conclusions? Bah, that will never happen.

 

Like everyone else I see the problem from both sides and have no Idea how to fix it. Money does seem to talk loadest although we would like to believe the NBA action was for better reasons.

 

Sorry, but that's bull(*)(*)(*)(*). I think the guy's views are incredibly stupid, but PC hatred is routinely shouted from the rooftops with little to no consequence. So why is there a different standard for this guy? Nobody ever tells PC hatemongers to be subtle about their nastiness. In fact, it is often openly celebrated.

 

Yup, that's the advantage of doing things in a manner that is not persecuted, or politically correct. That's pretty much what being PC is about.

 

It looks like the league doesn't want to associate with him. That's their right, right?

 

Well, they haven't officially decided that yet. The bureaucratic hierarchy of the NBA has to vote on it first, then the others must abide by the majority of these bureaucrats decision, including the fans. Its a good thing we don't get to vote in these NBA owners, or they might not be so "fair".

 

People can be, and should be, held accountable for their actions, including speech. His right to free speech was not abridged.

And yes, we do have greater problems.

 

Lots of "would haves" and "wonder ifs" from you and unifier. Neither of those happened, however. They never do.

 

His First Amendment rights were not infringed upon.

 

lifetime ban, rightfully so...well done nba

 

He also did nothing illegal.

Not a prob unless it happens to you, eh?

 

How has the *government* punished him?

 

He belongs to an organization that doesn't allow that type of comment. If he wants to make racist comments freely HE is free to leave that organization.

Yes, people should lose their jobs if they break the employer's rules ...doesn't matter how many...

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You're right and the NBA agrees and so got rid of him....

 

The topic is Sterling, not Blame the Nearest "Evil Woman"

There is no proof she "set up" anything and SHE canNOT be blamed for HIS words...no matter how hard anyone tries to make it ALWAYS the Evil Woman's fault...