Month: May 2014

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ignorance?

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With current event monitors focused sharply last week on Sterling, Sharpton, and new Benghazi information (sigh), there was this small, perhaps trivial incident that flew somewhat under society’s radar.  Reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston, a 20 year old soon-to-be Florida State sophomore, walked out of a Publix grocery store with $32.72 worth of crawfish and crab legs that he never paid for.

Expectedly, social media and sports reporters experienced a bit of an editorial heyday…

“Just a shellfish act on Jameis Winston’s part.”

“At least be classy enough to go for the Lobster tail…”

Or my personal favorite:

“Really wonder about Jameis Winston’s decision making. This entire episode was high-bisque, low reward.”

I must subtly, gleefully acknowledge that sarcasm is sometimes simply too tempting to sidestep.

But as the Intramuralist resists the common-to-man temptation, I was struck by Winston’s immediate apology.  Remember that this young man stands to net millions of dollars in the immediate future, as he’s projected as nothing less than a top — or the top — 2015 NFL draft pick.  Hence, image is everything.  A positive public image equates to millions in potential endorsements.  Note here are excerpts from his contrition… granted, only stated after caught:

“As reported in the news, last night I received an adult civil citation for petit theft from a local supermarket. I went to the supermarket with the intent to purchase dinner but made a terrible mistake for which I’m taking full responsibility. In a moment of youthful ignorance, I walked out of the store without paying for one of my items.

… I make no excuses for my actions and will learn and grow from this unfortunate situation. I hope and pray my friends and family will view me as the 20-year-old young man that I am, and support me through this unfortunate situation.”

[emphasis mine]

Friends, there is no reason to pick on Jameis Winston; he is an incredibly gifted young man, and he has is being watched by many of the next generation, continuously craving, I believe, positive, public role models.  The lingering discomfort embedded within his contrition is the identification of shoplifting as “a moment of youthful ignorance.”  

Certainly most of us can relate… (FYI… thank God Facebook and Instagram didn’t exist back then).  I do believe there should exist generous grace for our mistakes.  But this is Winston’s 4th known brush with the law… the serious rape accusation…  the more petty BB gun fight… reports of stealing a soda.  Each of us makes mistakes, but my question is for how long can the incidents be attributed to the ignorance of one’s youth?  I don’t believe “ignorance” is the correct word.

Ignorance means “not knowing.”  For an athlete who wants us to treat him like a man in so many other areas — earning potential, leadership, relationships, responsibility, etc. — are we to believe he did not know shoplifting was wrong?

I am thus wondering when it’s appropriate to call behavior “foolish.”  When do we acknowledge that such behavior may be a pattern?  And when do we caution our kids as to the possible jeopardized status of yet another athletic role model?

I do hope Winston becomes an excellent role model for my boys, but I have a hard time believing his shoplifting was based on ignorance.  I also have a hard time believing his image isn’t most in play.  And yes, being sarcastic about shellfish would be easier.

Respectfully…

AR

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higher learning

rice275On Saturday, former Sec. of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice announced she will no longer offer the commencement address for Rutgers University.  In a letter to the university’s president, Rice wrote:

“Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families.  Rutgers’ invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time.

I am honored to have served my country.  I have defended America’s belief in free speech and the exchange of ideas.  These values are essential to the health of our democracy.  But that is not what is at issue here.  As a Professor for thirty years at Stanford University and as it’s former Provost and Chief academic officer, I understand and embrace the purpose of the commencement ceremony and I am simply unwilling to detract from it in any way.”

After the school’s Board of Governors invited Rice to speak and award her an honorary degree, several faculty members and students protested, wanting the invitation rescinded because of Rice’s role in the Iraq War.  Signs at last week’s student-staged sit-in included:  “No honors for war criminals”… “War criminals out”… and “RU 4 Humanity?”

Once again members of a place that considers itself an institution of higher learning and academic excellence choose to learn by drowning out contrary opinion.  My sense is that these students and faculty believe they are wise and smart and keenly intellectual.  They understandably disagree with any involvement in the Iraq War.  But let the Intramuralist be clear… agree or disagree; agree or disagree on the legitimacy of America’s stated purpose in Iraq.  Such is the valid prerogative for each of us.  Saying, however, that a person should be silenced because we passionately disagree with their point of view is an exercise in foolishness… no matter the supposed excellence of any institution.

Friends, I speak not about the validity of passions regarding the Iraq War; there exist wise people from all parties who feel strongly on all sides of that issue.  What concerns me is the growing number of people who feel justified in silencing those they disagree with — and in the case of Condoleezza Rice, acting as if this remarkably accomplished African-American woman is somehow unqualified to speak.

Note that…

Rapper Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs will speak at Howard University on May 10th.

Former MLB manager Tony LaRussa will speak at Washington University on May 16th.

PBS’s Gwen Ifill will speak at St. Mary’s College on the 17th.

Bill Nye, the Science Guy, will speak at Umass Lowell.

Forest Whitaker will speak at Miami University.

World-renowned chef, Jose Andres, will speak at George Washington University.

Katie Couric will speak at Trinity College…

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards is scheduled at Barnard College…

John Legend, Joe Biden, Barack & Michelle Obama, Bill Gates, Brandi Chastains, Diana Nyad… even Peyton Manning and the founder of Chobani Yogurt will be speaking at a college commencement this spring.

Each of the above has been deemed “qualified,” even though some also have made some very controversial comments and decisions.

Rutgers’ students and faculty most likely wish to believe they qualify as members of an institution of higher learning and academic excellence.  Remember again, though, that wisdom and intelligence are not synonymous, and by drowning out opposing opinion, what they are learning remains in question.

Respectfully…

AR

Posted on

what have we learned?

NAACP_sterling_awards1After a week of storms — via both the atmosphere and articulation, what have we learned?

That racism unfortunately still exists…

That civil rights can still be an issue…

And that bigotry is not indigenous to any one ethnic group.

Friends, bigotry will only cease to exist when no one fights solely for a single group of people no matter the prudence of a particular situation.

Hence, I find it absolutely ironic that on May 15th, both LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling and Rev. Al Sharpton were set to be dually honored by the NAACP in Los Angeles.  Sterling was to receive their “Lifetime Achievement Award” and Sharpton an award for “Person of the Year.”

And yet it was Sterling, who spoke so offensively this week, privately asking his mistress not to bring black people to his games.

And it, too, was Sharpton, who for decades has refused to apologize for publicly, vociferously chastising multiple white men for the cover up of an assault on a black teen girl, that the teen admits making up.

Bigotry will only cease to exist when no one fights for only for one group, all the time, no matter the prudence of the particular situation.  Bigotry will only cease when…

… the guilt or innocence of an OJ Simpson is not presumed by the color of his skin…

… the effectiveness of a President Obama is not gauged by his ethnic heritage…

Bigotry will not cease to exist as long as white, black, Asian, Arab, Jewish, Christian, gay, straight, disabled, etc. … until none of it matters.

Unfortunately, as a society we still seem to hypocritically pick and choose which prejudice to pounce upon.  Someone like Sterling, who for over 30 years has displayed aspects of racially discriminatory behavior, has been banned for life and may actually be forced to sell his property.  Someone like Sharpton remains celebrated on a weekday, evening newscast, even though only 20 years ago, the Rev. Sharpton made this college address:

“White folks was in the caves while we [blacks] was building empires … We built pyramids before Donald Trump ever knew what architecture was … we taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it.”

We must always remember the prudence of the particular situation.  We must not pick and choose the prejudice.

Hence, I again ask, what have we learned?

Respectfully…

AR