I don’t know if it’s a misprint or what but in Chris Broussard’s NBA Insider column in the just arrived issue of ESPN The Rag, it says that “12 NBA players” signed the protest letter to the Chinese government that the Cavs’ Ira Newble circulated last May. If it is true, this has to represent a new low for apathy, ignorance, and selfishness for a class of Americans — pro athletes — that have been rapidly descending to complete myopia and egotism for years. It’s bad enough that most American pro athletes seem to have the intellectual curiosity of a bag of hammers but the fact that so many — ahem, LeBron James, you out there? — are shying away from speaking out against genocide because they want to sell more swag in China is a national embarrassment.
Of course, when you live in a society where the vast majority of the populace are more familiar with the trials and travails of the contestants on Dancing With The Stars and American Idolthan they are the debacle in Iraq or civic life in their own country should we really be surprised that one of our country’s most privileged classes, pro athletes, engages in such willfully ignorant behavior?
Maybe the 12 players signing Newble’s letter is a misprint but the fact that there are players who refused to support Newble’s much-needed effort is absolutely shameful. Some things are bigger than padding a bank account that would make Croesus blush. Genocide is one of those things.
It’s a shame that guys like LeBron James don’t get that. Maybe T-Mac can help school the youngster.
Sphere: Related Content
on Oct 2nd, 2007 at 11:09 pm
McGrady just got back from Chad (neighboring Darfur). Here’s an article…
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5175640.html
More NBA players will sign Ira’s letter. Stay tuned.
on Oct 3rd, 2007 at 5:09 pm
[...] Original post by Tim [...]