A Different Perspective on Donald Sterling

A Different Perspective on Donald Sterling
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The Donald Sterling controversy has caused a major uproar in the NBA and across the United States. Some people may take offense to this particular view, and some people may agree, but the bottom line is that everybody is entitled to their own opinion on the Donald Sterling nightmare.

First and foremost, Sterling was secretly recorded talking to his girlfriend, and nobody should be held accountable for a conversation with one of their family members or friends unless they are breaking the law. Several people were well aware of Sterling's history of alleged discrimination against African Americans and people of other ethnicities, but the NAACP was preparing to present him with a second Lifetime Achievement Award.

This post is not about defending Sterling, but what he said about African-American people was the way that a lot of elite-minded people think. This is what you call a superiority complex, or "little you and big me." Sterling's comments were dead-wrong, considering that 78 percent of NBA players are African-American, but how can we judge a man or woman for comments made at home or with a friend? If we did, then everybody would be fined or judged for their true belief system.

Why is it so hard for people to be true to themselves and the people around them? If you do not like a race of people, then you should not fake your true feelings. It's hypocritical to smile in a person's face and shake their hand when you really hate or despise that person or group of people. Sterling should have been straight about the way he feels. If he had been, the world would not be so angry with him right now.

Magic Johnson recently made some not-so-positive comments in regard to Mike D'Antoni resigning as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Now people are saying that Magic is bigger than his comments. This goes to show you that nobody is perfect, and we should stop the practice of judging others when we are not perfect ourselves.

The NBA has imposed a hefty fine on Sterling by banning him from the NBA for life and giving him a $2.5-million fine. Regardless of the outcome of this situation with the Los Angles Clippers, the world has been put on notice that you cannot have a conversation at home or with family and friends without possibly being punished by others who probably feel the same way that Sterling feels behind closed doors.

Everybody should learn from this situation and begin the healing process by bringing together both sides to discuss the issues of race and power in the United States, because this issue is bigger than the NBA. People from all walks of life could benefit from a major opportunity to discuss how they really feel about race in the United States and then put forth some resolutions to help people better understand what we all share in common as human beings.

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