Mark Cuban Says We're All Bigoted, Calls Donald Sterling Ruling 'A Slippery Slope' In New Interview

Business Insider ^ | 05/22/ | Tony

[SeekAndFind]

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban talked about the NBA's decision to ban Donald Sterling and force him to sell the Clippers in a new interview at Inc.'s GrowCo conference in Nashville.

While he acknowledged that NBA commissioner Adam Silver "had to do it," he reiterated his statement that forcing Sterling to sell the team for making racist comments is "a slippery slope."

In a supplemental interview on Inc.com, he said that everyone, including himself, holds prejudices:

"We're all prejudiced in one way or the other. If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night, I'm walking to the other side of the street. And on that side of the street there's a guy who has tattoos all over his face — white guy, bald head, tattoos everywhere — I'm walking back to the other side of the street ... I know that I'm not perfect. I know I live in a glass house and it's not appropriate for me to throw stones."

Instead of kicking people to the curb, Cuban says those with racist or bigoted views should be rehabilitated with things like sensitivity training:

"It's part of my responsibility as an entrepreneur to try to solve it, not just to kick the problem down the road. It does my company no good, it does my customers no good, it does society no good if my response to somebody and their racism or bigotry is to say, 'It's not right for you to be here, go take your attitude somewhere else.'"

Cuban wasn't talking strictly in the context of the Sterling issue here, but his comments certainly apply to what's going on with the disgraced Clippers owner.

[morphing libertarian]

I defer to Jesse Jackson on crossing the street to avoid young black folks walking towards you.

[Sacajaweau]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/14/obama-if-they-bring-a-knife-to-the-fight-we-bring-a-gun/

[DoughtyOne]

If you see a snake down the sidewalk, you don't know what kind it is.  It may be a garden variety snake that helps keep down rodents.  It may be a friend to man.   It isn't assured the snake could hurt you at all.  So if you see one not knowing what kind it is, and you walk to the other side of the street, you're a what..., a xenophobe against snakes?

In this day and age, I wonder what a Black kid thinks when three rough and tough White guys walk by in a group.  If he walks to the other side of the street to pass, is he a racist?

This second guessing everyone to death, is destructive.  It's as bad as racism.

Sterling will lose his team ownership.  In effect his power to earn the living he was, will be destroyed.  And for what, because he said some things I disagree with?

This isn't reasoned.  It's dangerous!

Sterling provides an opportunity for racism to be addressed.  Without him, the issue smolders.  Confront his views.  Explain why he is wrong.  Allow Sterling to remain.  The league can disavow his views.

So what's the message now?  You say something I don't like and I'll destroy you?  Now there's a healthy society.  NOT.

Ramirez's latest political cartoon LARGE VERSION 05/21/2014: LINK  LINK to regular sized version of Ramirez's latest, and an archive of his political cartoons.
In this political cartoon, Ramirez presents, "Veterans Affairs"

FOLKS, THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN, PLEASE CLICK HERE AND PENCIL IN YOUR DONATION TO HELP END THIS FREEPATHON.  THANK YOU!  We're over 59% now. Cool!
...this is a general all purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[Sacajaweau]

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2010/06/27/barack-obamas-former-spiritual-advisory-of-20-years-reverend-wright-still-bashing-whitey-jews/

[Roman_War_Criminal]

It comes down to that in the end. If he doesn’t, he’s a coward and liar.

[minnesota_bound]

Mark Cuban financed an anti-American movie.
Democrats like him so he has no worries.

[TangledUpInBlue]

“If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it’s late at night, I’m walking to the other side of the street.”

He’d better watch it, or he’ll be the next one to go!

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“We're all prejudiced in one way or the other. If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night, I'm walking to the other side of the street.”

IMHO we're talking about two different kinds of ‘prejudice’ here. If I avoid a specific area of town that has a high crime rate, and has a specific demographic, I'm not ‘prejudging’ the individuals who live there, but am prejudging the situation, the area, and the context, on the basis of previous events (crimes) that occurred in that area. I certainly don't think that everyone who lives there is a bad person, but I know that I'm at higher risk in that neighborhood.

There are areas of Europe (for instance some areas with high Camorra activity in the Naples area) that people try to avoid. Is that prejudice against Italians? No. It's not ‘prejudging’ individuals or groups, it's decision making based on past events and statistics.

If I avoid going into a ‘biker bar’ to have a beer, it's not because I think all people who ride motorcycles are dangerous or ‘bad’, but it's because statistically it is more likely that I will be exposed to trouble or violence in that establishment. It's not really individual prejudging.

Appearances do mean something, which is why there is mimicry in nature such that some snakes, plants, and insects that are not poisonous look like those that are.

So, avoiding a guy with a shaved head, tongue studs, and multiple tattoos is not because I am prejudging that person as an individual. It's because there is a reasonable concern based on societal experience that this appearance is associated with a higher likelihood of aggression.

[dfwgator]

I suspect no self-respecting Euro would go into a Roma neighborhood.

[Teacher317]

We're all prejudiced in one way or the other. If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night, I'm walking to the other side of the street

As has been stated by numerous black comedians. Are they prejudiced, too?

(Actually, in the proper use of the term, yes... but modern society uses the word differently than the dictionary.)

[dfwgator]

Then it’s about culture, not race.

Many blacks don’t subscribe to the “Urban Culture”.

[Teacher317]

uban says those with racist or bigoted views should be rehabilitated with things like sensitivity training:

Oh, goody. Re-education camps for everyone! (Well, only for whites. Rap music may continue unabated.)

[Teacher317]

Very true.

[defconw]

I know that "we shouldn't judge" crap sends me into orbit! Of course we have to judge, for survival. Plus the Bible was clear that we should judge others the way we would like to be judged, which means fairly.

The word racist has become meaningless. You're right, it's self preservation. Birds of a feather flock together. I've had friends from several parts of the world.

Funny story. My sister's first teaching job was at an inner city Catholic school back in the late 80's in Chicago. (Yes we all thought she was crazy). Anyway, it was a K-8. The youngest ones kept peeping into her classroom and running away. My sister was not sure why, so she asked the principle. He said most of the little ones had never seen a white person in person before. Let me tell you my sister is one of the whitest people you'll ever see. Her skin is practically albino she's so pale and she's blonde.

My sister rather then being upset or afraid, just kept smiling at the kids and in time they were no longer afraid of her.

[Veto!]

I don't know if it is because they are prejudiced or because they need people they can work with more effectively.

THAT'S Racissss.

I worked for a company that occupied many floors of a high-rise. One day on the elevator, two well-dressed black women were in the car with me; apparently they forgot I was there as one said, "I had to get out of there for a minute, it was getting TOO WHITE in there."

[Cyman]

Strike me dead, I agree with the idiot.

[Old Yeller]

We're all prejudiced in one way or the other. If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night, I'm walking to the other side of the street.

Yeah, like that thin strip of concrete is going to protect you. Those ferals can cross that in a half second.

[Altura Ct.]

Cuban says those with racist or bigoted views should be rehabilitated with things like sensitivity training:

Yes - We are all Borg.

[dfwgator]

If they want to bad enough, most likely they’ll just move on to an easier target.

[17th Miss Regt]

When Sterling sues the NBA to retain his team, the discovery portion of the process will be very inrteresting. A lot of the team owners know this and are very worried.

What if as a result of discovery, Mr. Silver had to fine all the team owners and force them all to sell?