As a former member of the print media for 2 years, I’m familiar with some of the tricks of this trade. When I was given an assignment for a new piece, I usually started to ask probing questions to uncover someone’s hot button issue. Once you discover this subject or topic, the best thing you can do is just let them talk. Unless you were detached from the media, most Americans learned last week that Donald Sterling, owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers has a history of racism.
Whether his taped conversation was legal in California or not, the more Sterling spoke, the clearer his racist tendencies became. According to the Bible, the fool does not demonstrate restraint, often thinking out loud. Meanwhile, the prudent illustrate self control, holding their tongue, Proverbs 17:27-28. In this age of instant messages, photo bombs and twitter, filters are disappearing as people are wearing emotions on their sleeves. As members of society open their mouths, bystanders are hearing what it stored up in the hearts of mankind, Luke 6:45.
Despite the School House Rock campaign using Saturday morning advertisements to proclaim this country as, “the great American melting pot” in the 1970’s, this country was mostly segregated until the 1980’s. Thus, blacks and whites did not know, understand or want to stand hand and hand unless forced as displayed in Remember the Titans. However, progress is being made as a generation is growing up, striving to see others by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. While ambulance chasers in the media continue to kick the Donald Sterling’s in life while they’re down, just listen to their words for they like Sterling will expose who they really are or what they want. Just let them talk…
by Jay Mankus
