Me "overreacting" to Jason Williams' racist comments

[djbacklash]

I've been arguing with some people on this matter and it's really starting to tick me off. This is just really bothering me for some reason. It stems from an article in the Chronicle detailing the racial slurs that Jason Williams (player for the Sacramento Kings) directed at some Asian fans. Here's a brief excerpt:


In a letter obtained by The Chronicle and addressed to NBA commissioner David Stern, among others, Michael Ching of Santa Clara wrote that Williams called him a "slant-eyed mother --" and said: "I will shoot all you Asian mother--. . . . Do you remember the Vietnam War? I'll kill y'all just like that."

Ching said Williams pretended, with his hands, to shoot a machine gun and imitated the sound the weapon makes.

Williams' rant began about midway through the first half when Ching said he told him, "Get used to sitting on the bench." According to Ching, the third- year point guard responded, "Are you gay? Are you a i love you?"


You can read the rest of the article here.

My "overreacting" reponse over at the Dallas-Mavs.com Forums.

 

[Scrapster]

He was probably stoned.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Hmm, another fusetalk forum!

Sounds like good lawsuit material, people with thick heads and no feelings need to be hit hard in the pocketbook.

 

[GasX]

what a stupid round eye!

 

[Jmman]

Uhhh, I am not condoning his comments, but in our society we have pretty broad protection of free speech, so his right to say "stupid crap" is pretty clear. You also don't gain any credibility when your first comment is "Next time he comes to BigD he better watch his ass..my boyz will be waiting." I think in general people just need to have a little bit thicker skin. Whatever happened to "stick and stones, etc....".....

 

[djbacklash]

Ya I agree..I was just madd pissed when I first read that (yes I'm azn).

And I know he has the "right" to say that $hit, but to try and defend it is ridiculous. Ching should've kept his mouth shut, but he still didn't deserve to hear that crap.

 

[Thanatopsis]

Oh no, he insulted an entire race of people. Perhaps everyone who is that race should jump on his back and beat him up for it. BTW, I just heard some dude call all white guys "white trash." Time for me to go get a lawsuit from the county court...

The guy insulted Williams, Williams insulted him back. End of story.

 

[UnixFreak]

the thing is, they are just words. I am in no way defending this racist, or his actions, I believe it is wrong, and he should be punished for it (I dont know if he is, or not, but it is appropriate) But a lawsuit is ridiculous. So is "jumping" him, or physical harm. By wanting to physically hurt him, you are no better than he is. He does not need to be beat up, he needs to be fined, or reprimanded, that is reasonable. He needs to know, in a civilized society, saying things like this is wrong. But by overreacting, and being over-sensitive, you just widen the racial gap. I think you are making a bit of a big deal out of it.

 

[djbacklash]

I don't think he should be sued, beaten up, or suspended. I'm just shocked that someone could possibly have no prob or remorse saying stuff like that. That's all.

 

[buck]

Man, these basketball guys sure are aggro.....:Q

 

[gnognugs]

<<Sounds like good lawsuit material, people with thick heads and no feelings need to be hit hard in the pocketbook. >>

This attitude is dangerous.

The problem is, eventually you find people scared enough to belive this sh!t (a jury, prosecuters, and judges), then a little more of my freedom is eroded.
He has a right to say whatever he wants.
Doesn't mater if he's right or not, there is a difference between racial discrimination, and racial prejudice.
This is clearly a case of prejudice, but not discrimination. Discrimination requires the power to decide someone elses fate in some way. Williams holds no power over Mr. Ching. In fact, if Mr. Ching would search his heart, he would find that he was only angered because of his own attitude twoards racists, or because of his own self importance.

Racism is simply fear of the unkwown. If you understand that a racist dislikes you because he fears you, you can have a good laugh. Fear is overcome only by education, not by more fear. If you believe that a racist hating you somehow damages you, then you too are now motivated by fear as well, and will have a tendency to react with anger.

Education can not take place in anger.

Please, the only place I want to hear about the &quot;newspeak&quot; is in 1984. Let people say and think what they want. It takes faith to belive knowledge and understanding will eventually prevail.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

I think this is different than a couple of people on the street mouthing off to each other. Ching was a paying customer who happened to say something which most normal people would have found mildly irritating, but since it was directed at some pitiful cretin, Ching instead had to endure death threats. William is a paid professional (supposed) and really should be able to hear something like being called a bench warmer without resorting to that type of assault.

 

[josphstalinator]

people get to bent out of shape over words

i think its unacceptable that fans are allowed to dish it out and very rarely if at all get thrown out but when the players dish it out they get fined/suspended
just doesnst seem right to me

 

[miniMUNCH]

I what your saying is that Jason Williams is somehow not a thug because he plays in the NBA? IS that your claim?

He's a thug...you expect a thug to speak or act with any decentency?

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

No doubt the heckling must be pretty obnoxious, but according to the article Ching's remark was not racist in the least (just sarcastic) whereas Williams' reply was rather hideous, at least where I come from.

 

[CliffC]

beloved patriot..er Ching said something in an attempt to piss off or infuriate Jason. Jason said something to piss off or infuriate Ching.
You guys are calling it discrimination, racist and prejudice.
I call it effective on both their parts.
Turns out Chings a pussy tho.

And the story was told by Ching, right.

Bwaaahaaahaaaa Booohooohooo sniff sniff

Besides this statements not a racial slur, slant-eyed mother. It's descriptive. But when Ching says he said that and then, &quot;I will shoot all you Asian mother--, I have to believe he's making it up because any good racist would've said,I will shoot all you beloved patriot, beloved patriot, VC mother--.

It's apparent that Ching not only failed Lying 101 but he also failed Creative Writing 101.

dj, I'd find me another cause cause Mr. Ching doesn't sound too credible.

I can see it now, &quot;Hey you white honkey mofo, I'll kick your caucasion ass!

or

&quot;Hey you big lipped mofo, I'll kick your African-American ass!

Wow, who are raising these polite racists. But hey he made the paper right.

15 minutes of fame. Andy was right.

 

[SuperGroove]

If this is true...I'm gonna cry. Jason Williams is my favorite player in the NBA.

Paul
-Wishes that this isn't true.

 

[SuperGroove]

<< beloved patriot..er Ching said something in an attempt to piss off or infuriate Jason. Jason said something to piss off or infuriate Ching.
You guys are calling it discrimination, racist and prejudice.
I call it effective on both their parts.
Turns out Chings a pussy tho. >>




Go F*ck yourself. BTW, isn't it about time you go riding with your pointy hood wearing friends?

 

[Pocatello]

A lot of times the fans are pushing too far, too. While I don't like what Williams said, he shouldn't be fined, but I would be disappointed if he actually said those words since I'm Vietnamese myself and I really liked the guy.

 

[djbacklash]

<< beloved patriot..er Ching said something in an attempt to piss off or infuriate Jason

Not only was your post idiotic, but you lost all credibility the moment you opened your racist mouth.

 

[bonk102]

he may be suspended by the league for what he said, but he shouldn't be forced into any other forms of punishment, i dont condone his comments either, but we are all entitled to our own opinions

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

that fool is ghetto anyway. it's not like some politician said it. all he is is a dumb ass &quot;baller&quot; who would be growing weed in his dad's farm if he didn't know how to play basketball. just look at the guy... he looks DUMB, and not only dumb, but GHETTO. who cares what idiots like him say... do we really expect any better from him?

 

[chasm22]

CliffC;

You are one dumb mf. There were witnesses to the entire affair. White witnesses, since you seem to think that an Asian can't be trusted. It came down exactly as he said. That is why Williams has been fined and that is why the Sacramento King organization is falling over itself trying to make amends. Everybody concerned, with the exception of Williams, has apologized to Mr Ching.
You need to apologize for your offensive remarks. I don't expect to see it though. Just like I don't expect to see one coming from Williams. Two peas in a pod.

 

[chasm22]

gnognugs;

You are completely wrong in your assertion that people have to right to say what they want. At least they don't when they are working. And that is exactly what Mr. Williams was doing. He was at work.

Mr. Williams was practicing his profession at the time of the incident. His employer can take action against him for what he says or does if it is not in line with accepted policies. Ask John Rocker. Furthermore, if Mr. Ching decides to sue Mr. Williams, your freedom of speech will not suffer because it did not exist in the first place. If you doubt this, go to work, enter your bosses office and call him/her a few choice names. When you are fired, plead your right to freedom of speech and see how far it gets you.