ESPN Commentator: NFL Players Shouldn't Be Punished For Anti-Gay Tweetshttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/..."I’m liberal in my thinking. I’ve always been an advocate for civil rights for the gay community," he said. "I don’t have a problem with it, but I do respect those that do."
That cosmically idiotic sentence was formed by ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith on Monday morning.
If you respect anyone willing to assign second-class citizenship and otherness to any human being for any reason, you are not the broadminded liberal that you think you are.
By the way, here is your Magnanimous Person of the Year trophy for 'not having a problem with' somebody else's love life.
Here is a simple test Stephen A. Smith to determine if what you are about to say is condescending, tone-deaf and antiquated.
What if somebody said to you that 'they don't have a problem with' whomever you choose to date, kiss, love or marry and then subsequently patted themselves on the back for being open-minded.
This outdated attitude reminds me of some of the words that make no sense to me when we talk about civil rights in the 21st century.
Tolerance? What does that mean exactly? You are going to hold your breath and say 'I guess I can find it in myself to tolerate you as you were born.' To hell with that. Respect. Or step off.
Celebrate diversity? How about just simply accept variety, otherwise known as reality or step off. If I am "divergent," then who is the default alpha human being above all other human beings from which others diverge?
People need to stop patting themselves on the back for allowing kisses, marriages and the broad range of humanity to exist as it has for millenia. Humanity, in its infinite variety will exist, thrive and prosper whether you acknowledge, tolerate it, celebrate it, allow it, accept it or not.
