Brandon Roy sat down with ESPN's LZ Granderson for an interview the other day. They ate breakfast and talked shop.
Some thoughts:
- People actually go to Shari's when it's light outside? Hmm. I don't think I've been there for an actual meal since 8th grade.
- Watch how Brandon decides to not bump fists with the guy, leaving Granderson hanging, after the requisite "handshake/half hug/fist clasp". Another reason to like Brandon Roy. Sometimes, enough is enough.
- LZ Granderson needs to drop the "you're black, so you should be interested in Barack Obama" nonsense. He wrote a whole story about it the other day. If he did any actual research (like talking to people outside of the sports world), he'd find that blacks are overwhelmingly opposed to the idea that a black person will automatically vote for another black person, simply because they're black.
TJH
07 February 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
"And, in the end, shouldn't history be enough to make all of us who are of color want to vote? And I don't even mean voting for Obama or even a Democrat, necessarily. I mean, isn't it our duty to be involved -- and respectful?"
I don't think he's pushing voting for another black, he's just saying more blacks should exercise their right to vote so that we can make some necessary changes. Sure, this guy's an idiot, but I don't think he's a complete idiot.
OK, I was hoping somebody would call me on this.
First of all, I can't reflect with any sort of idea as to what it would feel like to be in the author's position. I am not black and so I can't even pretend.
So maybe it's wrong to think that it's pretty low of Granderson to constantly beat Obama's drum in everything he writes, or in any interview he conducts. He does state in the story that he doesn't even mean "voting for Obama or even a Democrat" - so what does he mean? If he's advocating change, he is surely suggesting voting for a Democrat - right? So to me, this is a qualifying statement that is necessary when you're writing for a big enough company, such as ESPN.
Now, keep in mind that I agree with that general statement - "change is necessary". Of course. I would sooner go to a John Mayer concert than vote Republican. American Conservatism is a very scary thing. And to be clear, Obama is by far the best presidential candidate of the three remaining. By far.
But my issue is why that's true. Why are people voting for him?Because everyone else has proven to be corrupt and evil and downright destructive for the sustainability and quality of human life on the planet. I mean, if I vote, that's my reason. Because everybody else sucks. And we all should be tired of the "lesser of two evils" mindset. If he really represents CHANGE, to me, he represents:
- 100% abolition of nuclear weapons
- de-militarization of space
- restructuring NAFTA
- restructuring dep't of defense
Will it happen? Who knows. He never talks about these things, so you don't know what he believes. Maybe. Hopefully. But I see no arguments in this article that goes beyond "he's black, thus radically different". I'll give substance credit when there is any.
Post a Comment