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“In sworn testimony, one of Sterling's top property supervisors Sumner Davenport claimed he made racist comments about black people living in one of the buildings he had just acquired:
"That's because of all the blacks in this building, they smell, they're not clean. ... And it's because of all of the Mexicans that just sit around and smoke and drink all day."[2]
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It was his most recent comments that caused outrage by Clippers players and forced the hand of the NBA Commissioner. It was this weekend that Don Sterling’s remarks to his girlfriend, about Magic Johnson, when she posted an Instagram about Magic Johnson. Here are the comments that came to the surface this weekend.
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“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you are associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling allegedly said.
"You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in. You can do whatever you want. The little I ask is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games.
"In your lousy ... Instagrams you don't have to have yourself walking with black people."[3]
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Now, let’s look at how the talking heads of Conservatives handled these comments. From Rush Limbaugh we have;
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““This guy is a big Democrat,” Limbaugh insisted. “The only reason he is in trouble right now is that he did not give enough money to Obama.”
Limbaugh went on to say Sterling is “a typical Hollywood Democrat” and a “pretend A-lister.”
“The guy gave money to Gray Davis, the guy gave money to Bill Bradley,” Limbaugh continued. “He’s been donating to Democrat causes … doing what you do in Beverly Hills and LA to be in the A-list crowd, this guy’s been doing it — other than the slum lord business, and that may even be some of what you have to do.”[4]
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However, according to California State registration roles, Don Sterling is actually registered as a Republican.
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Don Sterling’s comments do not come in a vacuum, no they come on the heals of the racist remarks by Cliven Bundy. Yes, Cliven Bundy, one time championed by Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh as “A Patriot” and “in the mold of our Founding Fathers”[5].
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My Dear Readers it is not often that I share my deeply held personal opinions, on this blog. Oh, yes I will share political editorial, and political and social commentary, it is rarely that I present my own personal opinions on our nation. Today, I make a sharp exception right here, right now. My Dear Readers, it is not just that racism is not dead in America, in the twenty-first century, the fact of the matter is?
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In certain circles, certain walks of life here in America, racism is not only alive and well… it is used as a social barometer for membership in certain social and political organizations. Racism is alive and well in America today. As a matter of fact, we can clearly see that for a certain cross section of our nation, racism is ‘just common sense’. It is accepted like rain in the spring, and snow in the winter. For a (hopefully) small minority of Americans they would turn back the clock and take our nation backwards to a time where racism is institutionalized.
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My Dear Readers we must all be guardians of dark and hate filled past. It is an unfortunate truth that an injustice forgotten, is an injustice soon to be repeated. That we must judge, harshly, those that would allow or condone the return of racism to our great nation. You can tell by listening to small conversations, and in small places. This is where evils, like racism, are covered is shadows and allowed to flourish and grow. We cannot allow racism to flourish, anywhere. We cannot allow racism to hide in dark corners of our towns, and cities, townships and bumps-in-the-road. It is in these small places that racism can take root, and spread from one generation to another generation.
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We, all of us My Dear Readers, must work to stamp out racism anywhere, and everywhere it may grow and flourish. We cannot allow American to fall backwards and relive a violent and immoral past. I grew up watching African Americans; have police dogs turned on them for non-violent protest, have fire hoses turned on them for marching for their rights. If we let our guard down just a little bit, we will allow this social disease an opportunity to root, then flourish.
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‘Unfriend’ them on Facebook, turn away your business from the companies, do not sit and break bread with this ilk. One thing I learned, as a young boy in the Deep South, racism loves making new converts. When racism lives inside a person, it is always seeking out new converts. Racism knows it must spread to survive. Do not let it spread to you.
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That brings me to the end of today’s editorial article. I had hoped to bring something more to you, My Dear Readers, today. It is just not going to happen. My pain is terrific, and my home is intolerably hot. My A/C is not working, properly, and the maint crew here… well, blows. Hope that tomorrow is cooler. Take care and see you all soon.
Adieu!
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Thank YOU!
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[3]http://www.businessinsider.com/la-clippers-owners-alleged-racist-comments-about-magic-johnson-are-causing-an-uproar-2014-4
[4]http://www.salon.com/2014/04/28/rush_limbaugh_donald_sterling_is_in_trouble_because_he_did_not_give_enough_money_to_obama/
[5]http://uproxx.com/tv/2014/04/joe-scarborough-fox-news-has-been-exposed-by-cliven-bundys-remarks-about-the-negro-being-better-off-as-slaves/
Great piece on a highly controversial issue! I loved reading your piece. I would love to hear your thoughts on my Donald Sterling Analysis called Clipping the Fat! You can find it here,
ReplyDeletehttp://dishnerdevin.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/clipping-the-fat/
Thanks for allowing me to read your piece, and keep it up!