I apologize for writing about a subject as ancient as a week ago, but prejudice & hate crimes have quite a long life as well, eh?
Though I am not gay, I do believe that all people are equal, and if they don't harm others, they are good AND equal, that's just common decent human treatment---but it's the difference between a world of war & death or a better world of mature, peaceful respect that wisdom has long tried to teach the embattled human condition.
I also need to mention that I believe everyone has the freedom to be as stupid & hate-filled as they want, so long as they don't act or influence others to act in hate-filled violent & unfair ways.
So this leads to mega-rich, powerful, influential Tim Hardaway---because no matter how we try to teach kids what's right or wrong, they are much more likely to look up to the attitudes of sports and entertainment stars, especially young boys & men who see those stars as successful & "tough" & "macho".
Thus I wanted to ask my fellow KOSsaks what in fact can be done with a case like Hardaway's clear hate-spewing that sends loud approval to boys & men everywhere that gays are to be treated without respect as they are then victimized by prejudice---
Hardaway CLEARLY stated that he wasn't just looking down on gay people;
he made it loud & clear that he in fact HATES them--he even used the word HATE to make it very clear that his prejudice is alive & well.
So, if rich PAMPERED ahtletes---and keep in mind I'm angry here, in part, because I AM a sports fan and I DO believe in mutual respect---well recall that pampered wealthy athletes are quite valuable to mega-millionaire coaches/team-owners & the NBA and the tv networks who need them for high Neilson ratings.
Thus they usually pay for their crimes with no more than pathetic "slap on the wrist" penalties for crimes that all other members of society will end up in jail for.
I thought AlterNet put it well:
"When former NBA star Tim Hardaway was asked about the recent coming out of another former player, John Amaechi, he replied: "I hate gay people... let it be known I don't like gay people. I'm homophobic."
After losing an endorsement, being scratched from events, and basically getting his ass chewed out by gay and lesbian groups he admitted that he shouldn't have used the word "hate," that his remarks were "very bad."
That has all the sincerity of a Mel Gibson apology.."
As a trekkie fan and minority member, I was proud that George Takai had the guts to comically & quite sarcastically tell our rich powerful jock Hardaway what he thought of these hate-comments via Takai's VERY humorous, yet serious video.
((it's a must see to lighten the mood, go here:
George Takai's (actor) comic & very sarcastic video puts gay-basher in his place)).
A respectable man or woman doesn't get that way via inflammatory speech---I think after the propaganda & hate crimes of the 20th century, we've had our fill of that type of influence.
What is all the more pathetic is that Hardawy has got mega-fortune & manly muscles so he can play a fun game instead of having a real job---he leads a basketball lifestyle that most kids dream of.
Some adults as well.
And George Takai, the actor who stood up to him, was the old Lt. "Sulu" on Star Trek, and is quite the opposite of a bragging glory hound;
everyone who worked with him has always said that he's a very kind person to work with in the studio as an actor & a damn nice & caring person on a human level outside the fantastical tv show studios;
so if he's gay, he sets a solid example as a solid human being for gay activists to cheer about.
Personally, I like sports, but as we all know, lots of sports jocks are can be big on braun & small on brain, and I do not fault them---we all have strengths and weaknesses, that's just human...
but what is patently bogus about Hardaway's anti-gay comments is not just that he doesn't like gays---he has the right to like or dislike anyone---
but he actually said blatantly that he HATES gay people,
and when a famous guy---a guy who millions of young boys look up to because he's a rich, successful "macho jock", well, tons of young boys will think it's now "definitely cool" to look down on gay people;
to me, that's a sly way of getting away with what could be described as a hate-crime, because in modern media, you can hurt lots of poeple with inflammatory images/words, you don't need a gun or a bomb to do so in person.
And the most pathetic part is not just the fact that Hardaway is everything millions of boys look up to, but that he chooses to pick-on ((or be prejudice agianst)) the easiest group in our culture to pick-on.
If he'd have said that he hated another basketball team, then at least they could fight back or defend their position--but instead he was totally prejudiced against an entire culture of people who can never fight back against the momentum of popular rich & powerful folks like Tim Hardaway.
I will also loose respect for the NBA if they don't hit Hardaway with MEANINGFUL fines-- not some average slap on the wrist since he's so rich only a SEVERE fine would show others that what he did was unacceptable.
And I feel the same way about his team's owner(s) and coaches.. they are all successful, rich grown men, thus if they act like they have no responsibility to penalize & denounce Hardaway, and do it strongly and especially sincerely, then it's obvious that they are spineless as well.
This prejudice is, to me, clearly a type of SUBTLE hate-crime, it's blatant prejudice, and I truly hope that SOME human-rights group will sue him in court for slander or any ohter bit that fits the bill...I'm not gay, yet I know hate & prejudice when I see it.
We all do---but if we don't send a message to our youth, well, actions speak louder than words.
Let's hope someone has the guts to stand up to Hardaway & take him into court & sue him for "defamation" of character or similar type of rules to set a strong example.
I'll get down from my soapbox now, and I'd appreciate any news yall have heard on this & any methods that human rights and minority groups might be using to set a bold example in this case.
I think it's time we teach overgrown toddlers that they should not be impressing hate-values upon our youth & our society, it's as simple as that.