Barry Bonds and Racism
This was a letter the Letters Editor thought was worthy of publishing in the Boston Globe today. I'm not going to print the authors name; anyone interested in knowing can simply go to boston.com/today's paper/opinion and get the information. Anyway, this is exactly what I'm talking about when I say "race-baiters" and "agenda-pushers":
(Begin letter). Where does all this hatred for Barry Bonds come from anyway? I have never seen more hatred for a man who has nothing to do with people who live in New England. What is it that drives so many people so crazy about this one baseball player in San Francisco? I guess it's the new and old drug allegations against him and that he more than likely took steroids. There are just as many accusations against Lance Armstrong but everyone seems to believe in him, or at the very least there isn't this hatred for him. Perhaps it is Bonds's family history of relationships and failed marriages. But Larry Bird refuses to even speak to his illegitimate daughter and yet no one seems to care. Oh, I get it, it's the steroids. But isn't it just as obvious that Mark McGwire took steroids, and yet no one seems to care about him. I guess it's the way he hates the media, but again Bill Parcells picks on the media all the time and is forgiven. I hate to tell all you nonracist, progressive New Englanders, but it's because he's black. That's right, I pulled the race card, and I say the race card because that is what everyone will call it. It is the only thing that separates Bonds from the rest. People in this area can't stand an arrogant, successful black athlete who has contempt for the media. They can forgive him if he's white, but not black. (End of letter.)
Again, this is what the Boston Globe thinks adds to the public discourse on racism.
The letter I wrote in response:
Editor,
I'm white.
In the greatest movie of all time, Field of Dreams, actor James Earl Jones, an African-American, gives the most moving defense of baseball that I have ever heard. He says, near the very end of the movie, " . . . The one constant through all the years, Ray (the lead character played by Kevin Costner), has been baseball. America's been ruled by it like an army of steamrollers . . . Baseball has marked the time . . . It (baseball) reminds us of all that was once good . . . and could be again . . . . "
There are many things wrong with today's letter by Name Withheld (Fury over Bonds comes down to race, March 17), but, to just focus on one, the implication that the "people who live in New England" hate Mr. Barry Bonds because he is an "arrogant, successful black athlete who has contempt for the media" is harmful, outrageous and simply has no place in an honest, improving-race-relations, conversation.
I cheer against Mr. Bonds because I cheer for Mr. Hank Aaron, an African-American, one of the most humble and decent men to ever play baseball, and whose conduct during his pursuit of the career home run record was heroic. Mr. Aaron "reminds us of all that was once good . . . and could be again." I'm positive there are many "people who live in New England", white and black and Latino and Asian and Native American, as well as people that live in other corners of the Country, who share this view. (End of letter.)
Some quick additional thoughts:
I do feel sorry for the letter writer for he apparently has no appreciation for the wonderful game of baseball and how dearly so many Americans treasure the sport; the love of the sport certainly reaches from San Francisco to baseball-rabid Boston with no effort at all. The love of the sport reaches Tokyo, for goodness sakes. Japan is moving on in the World Baseball Classic; the USA is not.
If McGwire were pursuing the Aaron record, he most definitely would be treated roughly by "the people who live in New England". I don't think the "people (does the letter writer mean 'white people', by the way?) who live in New England" have any love for Rafeal Palmeiro, but he also is not in pursuit of Hank Aaron.
The French Nationals hate Lance Armstrong; how could Americans NOT love him? Obviously, the letter writer never saw Lance climb L'Alpe d'Huez, lungs on fire, with French citizens spitting in his face. LIVESTRONG, baby!
Admin. Note: My goodness, 8 comments to the March 15 post, a new record. I thank all that have contributed. To the "anonymouses", it's a handful more keystrokes, how about a clever name instead?
This was a letter the Letters Editor thought was worthy of publishing in the Boston Globe today. I'm not going to print the authors name; anyone interested in knowing can simply go to boston.com/today's paper/opinion and get the information. Anyway, this is exactly what I'm talking about when I say "race-baiters" and "agenda-pushers":
(Begin letter). Where does all this hatred for Barry Bonds come from anyway? I have never seen more hatred for a man who has nothing to do with people who live in New England. What is it that drives so many people so crazy about this one baseball player in San Francisco? I guess it's the new and old drug allegations against him and that he more than likely took steroids. There are just as many accusations against Lance Armstrong but everyone seems to believe in him, or at the very least there isn't this hatred for him. Perhaps it is Bonds's family history of relationships and failed marriages. But Larry Bird refuses to even speak to his illegitimate daughter and yet no one seems to care. Oh, I get it, it's the steroids. But isn't it just as obvious that Mark McGwire took steroids, and yet no one seems to care about him. I guess it's the way he hates the media, but again Bill Parcells picks on the media all the time and is forgiven. I hate to tell all you nonracist, progressive New Englanders, but it's because he's black. That's right, I pulled the race card, and I say the race card because that is what everyone will call it. It is the only thing that separates Bonds from the rest. People in this area can't stand an arrogant, successful black athlete who has contempt for the media. They can forgive him if he's white, but not black. (End of letter.)
Again, this is what the Boston Globe thinks adds to the public discourse on racism.
The letter I wrote in response:
Editor,
I'm white.
In the greatest movie of all time, Field of Dreams, actor James Earl Jones, an African-American, gives the most moving defense of baseball that I have ever heard. He says, near the very end of the movie, " . . . The one constant through all the years, Ray (the lead character played by Kevin Costner), has been baseball. America's been ruled by it like an army of steamrollers . . . Baseball has marked the time . . . It (baseball) reminds us of all that was once good . . . and could be again . . . . "
There are many things wrong with today's letter by Name Withheld (Fury over Bonds comes down to race, March 17), but, to just focus on one, the implication that the "people who live in New England" hate Mr. Barry Bonds because he is an "arrogant, successful black athlete who has contempt for the media" is harmful, outrageous and simply has no place in an honest, improving-race-relations, conversation.
I cheer against Mr. Bonds because I cheer for Mr. Hank Aaron, an African-American, one of the most humble and decent men to ever play baseball, and whose conduct during his pursuit of the career home run record was heroic. Mr. Aaron "reminds us of all that was once good . . . and could be again." I'm positive there are many "people who live in New England", white and black and Latino and Asian and Native American, as well as people that live in other corners of the Country, who share this view. (End of letter.)
Some quick additional thoughts:
I do feel sorry for the letter writer for he apparently has no appreciation for the wonderful game of baseball and how dearly so many Americans treasure the sport; the love of the sport certainly reaches from San Francisco to baseball-rabid Boston with no effort at all. The love of the sport reaches Tokyo, for goodness sakes. Japan is moving on in the World Baseball Classic; the USA is not.
If McGwire were pursuing the Aaron record, he most definitely would be treated roughly by "the people who live in New England". I don't think the "people (does the letter writer mean 'white people', by the way?) who live in New England" have any love for Rafeal Palmeiro, but he also is not in pursuit of Hank Aaron.
The French Nationals hate Lance Armstrong; how could Americans NOT love him? Obviously, the letter writer never saw Lance climb L'Alpe d'Huez, lungs on fire, with French citizens spitting in his face. LIVESTRONG, baby!
Admin. Note: My goodness, 8 comments to the March 15 post, a new record. I thank all that have contributed. To the "anonymouses", it's a handful more keystrokes, how about a clever name instead?
posted by Zack at 11:26 AM
5 Comments:
livestrong!
The Globe letter writer should consider that perhaps the hatred for Barry Bonds stems from the fact that Bonds happens to be linked with all the "evils" he stated in his letter(drug use, failed marriages, family history, hatred of the media, etc) but the whites he mentioned were only linked to one. (Mark McGwire/drug use, Bill Parcells/Media, Armstrong/Drug use... ok, 2 for him,also failed marriage). People don't hate him because he's black but because he's a jerk on so many levels.
oops, forgot to mention "Larry Bird/family history" but I'm sure you get my point.
Bravo! right-of-center!, how did I miss the obvious?, Barry Bonds "hits for the cycle" to borrow a baseball expression.
And, just so we are all clear, falling out of favor with the liberal media is by no means considered a "evil" by non-socialists; Bonds actually gains support from many on this point.
Hmmm... A modulated and well reasoned response to an inflammatory letter to the editor? From ZacklyRight? I guess my efforts to bring "focus to his fervor" and to "clear out the clutter" that weakens his best arguments are beginning to bear fruit.
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