Donald Sterling

Donald Sterling

If anybody doesn't know about the Donald Sterling situation they must be living under a rock. You don't have to be a sports jock to realize that racism still exists in the United States and abroad. Imagine a billionaire business man who owns a basketball team and considers his coach and players the same as plantation owners viewed their slaves.

Imagine a billionaire business man who doesn't want his girlfriend to be seen in public with one of the most respected basketball hall of fame player who is now one of the best business man in the world, because he is black.

Donald Sterling's views are so disgusting it makes me want to puke. However, as my wife's uncle always said "make something good out of something bad." You might think that's impossible, but I believe something good did and will come out of this something bad situation.

Reading and watching the outrage of the majority of people around the country at this person, makes me proud to be living in this day and time. These people are of all colors, all religions, all shapes and sizes and rich or poor. The President's, the media's and the public's reaction is heartwarming in a country that is struggling to change.

In my sixty nine years as an American, I have seen prejudices of all kinds. We all know about how African Americans were treated in the first forty years of my life. Yes, they had their hard fought freedom, but they had to deal with discrimination in almost every walk of life. The same could have been said of women, Jews, gays and anybody that was not just plain old white.

Things were changing in the nineties, but the vast majority of change has been happening in the last five years. We have a black President. Some states are allowing gays to marry. Some Republicans, like Jeb Bush, are coming around to the position that we have to do something to help Hispanics who have been productive citizens for many, many years get a path to citizenship. 

Even the Pope (that's right the big guy who lives in Rome) has said today that the church should review its views on gays and contraception. I doubt anything will change right away, but just the fact that the most Christian of all Christians believes something is not right and should be reviewed, makes my heart skip a beat.

Yes, I, like most of you, believe Donald Sterling's views are disgusting, however, I believe he has created a situation where most Americans and I suspect most people in other countries are no longer afraid to voice their outrage toward racism, prejudice of any kind and the right of all people to live any lifestyle they choose.

I have made something good out this situation. I suggest everyone should see it the same way and continue to voice their outrage toward others that still have anger and hatred in their heart and mind.