That was a line from a Thursday night sitcom last week. Of which, I couldn't agree more.
Curiously I noticed the NFL celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and then saw this article from Reuters, NBA launches bigger push for Hispanic fans (http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE59I4IR20091019)
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm Korean, South Korean. When will there be a South Korean Heritage Month or bigger push by one of the major sports leagues to attract South Korean fans?
What’s that expression; tongue firmly placed in cheek …
10 comments:
Jeff Please!! I belevie we are all sympathetic to your fellings of being left out but... the population of South Koreans in the United States is much, much smaller than that of Hispanics. You have to understand the economics of the monthly recognition scheme to draw in or to recognize the millions of hispanics that follow football.
There is a natural tendancy to identify with people like yourself. Racism is taking that tendency and becoming prejudice against those unlike yourself. In this case, the NBA and NFL are taking a group, Hispanics, who have typically and still suffer from Racism (not in VT necessarily but most definietly in the United States) and promoting an awareness month for economic interests. I am not so sure I can agree that we have become racist in an effort not to be. Saying that is the easy way out because our attempts to eliminate Racism havent worked and probably never will.
Well said anonymous comment #2, however, I continue to be 'wary' of people identifying themselves by a particular culture, ethnicity, race or other when it is the person one is becoming for which they should be known, not necessarily their background from which their ancestry is derived.
JFuller
Some feel we are defined by our past and our ancestry. Not by who we become. That is why lineage is so important to alot of people.
Curiously, why is "black" history month defined by a color, while Hispanic Heritage Month by a 'race/ethnicity'?
Could it be, IN AN EFFORT TO BECOME political correct WE'VE BECOME 'RACIST'?
JFuller
Right??? I think of the South Park episode where the town wants to change the flag, and it shows a black man getting lynched – but the kids don’t see that the man is black, they just see that he’s a man – and we’re not going to see colorless until we remove the definition in the first place – but easy for me to say as a white male – I don’t envy what some have gone through to be considered “equal”. Glad our generation for the most part does seem to be color blind. Some day…
In a discussion with a friend, Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month are not to be viewed as 'racist' but merely providing recognition --- in an effort to attract others from those groups to better support major sports organizations.
Will that mean with the influx of more immigrants into professional sporting teams, more 'groups' will be given their month to be recognized?
Sarcasm oozing, dripping even from my lips …facetious as it may sound, there are those that would applaud, advocate and protest until there is an Antarctican representative who can be celebrated more for being from Antarctica than for the God-given talent and work ethic displayed to make it into the ranks of professional athletics … in my opinion.
JFuller
I am confused with some of the responses. I don't think this has anything to do with recognition, or fighting for people who have been pushed down in our society. It is about money and always will be. They are a large demographic and the professional leagues want their money. They can mask it, market it whatever way they want.
There is a massive effort in every sport to reach new audiences - Tennis, for one, has made "diversity" a strategic priority in an effort to not only grow the game, but bannish the image of tennis players being only old white men who wear white, short shorts and drive a Mercedes.
I agree with Scott Moore and his emphasis on the money factor. If a significant demographic of people in this country were blue and had had two heads, they would have their own month too.
Ashline Rules!
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