Shock and Awesome Podcast 139 – “Stereotypes, Values and Decency”

 

This week, TJ and The Tux consider “Stereotypes, Values and Decency” through the lens of the anniversary of Malcolm X’s death with three notable names in recent days: Jeremy Lin, Rick Santorum and Whitney Houston. 

 

Jeremy Lin answered questions this week to the national media about prejudice, while ESPN pulled it’s “Chink in the Armor” headline. The headline that followed the Knicks first loss after eight games with Lin as the starting point guard. 

 

As we look at racism in America once again, this time through the Asian American lens, Lin is seen as one who instantly changed the “urban hoops culture” according to Sean Gregory in his Time magazine piece. No longer are Asians perceived as just hard workers on the court, who will lose in the end. 

 

TJ shared his own personal stereotype story of his “cheap Jew dilemma” after having dropped a quarter on a restaurant floor in Little Italy this past week. Did he pick it up?

 

Will stereotypes ever become legally policeable on the courts and fields of American sports or will politically incorrect statements continue to be seen as tricks for getting an edge against your opponent?  In the English Premier League John Terry, captain of England’s national soccer team and the powerful club Chelsea, faces a criminal charge over accusations that he made a racial slur during an October match, apparently becoming the first player to be prosecuted for remarks said on the field.

 

As for values, has America always been a country that talks freedom but attacks those who don’t share core Christian values? Rick Santorum is on the “hot seat” for his 2008 comment that Satan is coming for America. Is Santorum wrong? After all, we are a hedonist Kardashianistic collection of party going wannabe royalty, arent we?

 

Decency was hard to find throughout the Whitney Houston funeral drama. What kind of people where in her life? Items from the funeral and life were placed on ebay days after her death. Someone sold The National Enquirer casket flicks.  Itunes price gouged for her songs.

 

Anything to make a buck we guess…

 

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