Basketball. Standing by itself, we know what it means. It’s a game most of us have played; one in which we were lucky enough to witness the greatest ever play 82 games plus per year for more than a decade. Although I didn’t watch the All Star game, I still love watching the Bulls play; I still love shooting the rock myself, even if today that’s on a small basket in our basement.
We saw this word used as a taunt towards an opposing player in the penalty box at the UC this weekend during the Caps Hawks game. The word, innocent on its own, was used to make fun of this black guy playing hockey, a sport that is predominately white, suggesting to him go play basketball like the majority of the rest of the guys that look like him. You don’t belong in THIS sport. You belong on the court. It was an attempt to rile up this opposing player with a stereotypical jab. It worked.
This hit a chord with the Caps player, reminding him of all the other racial jokes thrown his way throughout his career, some using the same exact subject. He got pissed. He went at the folks. This became BIG news. Everything to do with race is big news today…
Rightfully so, right? Does taking a shot at someone through one of that person’s stereotypes make you a racist? Does smoking a joint make you a drug addict? I guess you could say, they are both “gateways” towards something worse. Maybe these folks that used that taunt are already there… we don’t know. That’s the assumption being made. They certainly made a poor choice that evening, one in which they will be paying for by being banned from the UC. By the way, I’m not sure how you can ban someone from an arena. Quick side note: I got kicked out of Dodger Stadium (for a totally different reason), was suspended for one year from attending any games there, and then came back the next night to watch the Cubs again. Not sure how you prevent this, but that’s another story.
People were calling for their names too… When did we start wanting to crucify folks for a mistake, for a lack of good judgment? If that’s the way it is, then all of us would be up on that cross. Has nobody else made fun of somebody for their differences? If you haven’t, then you’re a better person than me.
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It’s not a good look, no doubt. Making fun of someone else is all too popular, don’t think it has ever NOT been. Making fun of a person because they look different than you is an easy target. This is the first place we go to. Maybe somebody doesn’t like the same things you do, maybe they believe in different things. Maybe sometimes this “poking fun” leads to hate… maybe it shouldn’t be done at all. Maybe, at the end of the day, we’re all human.
I know what I’ll be teaching my son. Will it stick? I love the fact that right now, at the age of 5, he’s untouched by all of this crap. I know that it will not last too much longer. I can only hope that he does the right thing, that he says the right things. I know he won’t be perfect.
At the end of the day, we don’t know the route each of us have taken in this world to get to the point we are today. We don’t know what that person has been through, just as they don’t know what we’ve experienced. How hard is it to respect each other, regardless of our differences, both those that are easily seen, and those that are not?
In today’s world, where stories of hate seem to gain much more speed than those of love, we need to try to make the right choice, regardless of the conditions around us. Don’t be an asshole. Be the better person. Is it really that hard?
MK
Everything and anything to with race is huge news nowadays…some warranted but most nonsense.
As far as banning these fans from the UC, the Blackhawks had to take a firm stand and did. But you are right, there is no way for them to police it. It sounds a lot harsher than it really is. As your side note confirms, being banned for a period of time means next to nothing to keep someone from attending…the very next day…hahaha!
Name calling, making fun of, and whatever else you want to call it is what it is. It is a part of growing up and maturing. Most people grow out of it while others never do. At the end of the day, it all situations, be smart!