Jeff Pearlman closes the door on John Rocker, and his guilt

Judged is fine.

Telling people to shut the fuck isn't, and defaulting to calling every criticism of an African-American racist is lazy. It attempts to shut down criticism/debate.

They tried to declare opinion invalid, and unacceptable, not just wrong.

 

I didn't speak one word of criticism regarding Aaron's statements.

I specifically said this:

I just don't think that anyone who does have a criticism of Aaron, or the timing of his statement, doesn't deserve to be told to shut the fuck up. I also don't think they should be judged as racist, or too dumb to realize that they sound just like a racist.

See, what I hear from JJ and Dick is:

Pipe down Whitey! This old Negro man has lived a tough life, and doesn't deserve any criticism. He's also incapable of defending himself, the poor, pitiful, old Negro.

It's patronizing.

 

What I said was that I'm uncomfortable with arguments that question the "timing" of Aaron's statement. I do not have the same problem with arguments that question the substance.

If you live in this nation and sat through a second-grade history class, you should feel at least a twinge of discomfort any time a black man is asked, even politely and even innocently, to pipe down. And I feel that.

 

People of all stripes get told to pipe down all the time.

If we're going to cringe anytime it's said to an African-American, or worse not say it because someone is African-American, then we're not treating African-Americans like full members of American society.

We're treating them like children, who can't handle criticism.

That's patronizing, and Hank Fucking Aaron deserves better. He deserves to hear people tell him what they think. He's not above it. he's not incapable of telling them they can fuck themselves if they don't like his "timing".

Now, if they say, "sit the fuck down n****r," then they deserve a pop in the mouth, by Hank, or from the person nearest to them.

 

Following this line of thinking then we should have no problem with Dennis
Rodman as a proud African American speaking his mind about North Korea.

 

Aaron was my favorite interview ever during my career. At one point, after I'd called him Mr. Aaron about 20 times, he said, "Call me Henry." and I stammered and said, "I'm sorry, I can't..."

If Jackie Robinson experienced the most racism during his playing career, I'm guessing Aaron would be a relatively close second.

I don't agree with what Aaron said. I think his timing was poor, but I also think given what the guy has been through, he's more than entitled to his opinion.

 

Why are you trying to put Mr. Aaron in the corner Mizzou? Are you racist, or just dumb?

You should shut the fuck up!

 

Blacks, even Hank Aaron, still can't call a spade a spade.

Obama is president indeed but we've only moved half an inch on the racial front.

 

Obama is stuck in the mud because he's a shitty President, not because
he's is black.

 

Not quite the point I was going for.

Someone as Godly as Hank Aaron can't speak his mind 40 years later without the hate mush that follows.

 

Regardless of the timing, Hank insulted 50 % of the voting population
but yet some suggest that because of what he endured no one has the right
to question him.

 

But the thing is, a lot of people questioning the "timing" of his statement are saying, in essence, "sit the fuck down n$&#&#." (As a side note, why can't we use the word here again? Aren't we all adults?)

They're just saying it politely.

I'd like to go back to the Tim Thomas thread and see how many of the same people who question Aaron's "timing" thought Thomas was perfectly in bounds to snub the White House. And it goes the other way, too - I'm sure those lauding Aaron were tsk-tsking Thomas for his timing. Not just here, but IRL.