Racism, Athletics, Ignorance...

I am an avid sports fan.  While working from home or driving to and from appointments around town, I tend to listen to sports talk radio more than anything else.  The last couple of days have been difficult as the news of the LA Clippers NBA Basketball team owner Donald Sterling's racist comments overtook the airways.  It is so unfortunate that such ignorance still exists in our society.  I struggle to understand how a person can have such disdain for another human being of another race, and to feel so strongly about these racist views so as to allow them to control and impact their life and behaviors as they have for Mr Sterling.  It baffles me that an owner of a professional sports franchise (or anyone for that matter) can be so blind, ignorant, and narrow-minded. 

While I am well aware of how racism has reared its ugly head in our country and around the world since the beginning of recorded history, I suppose I myself am somewhat ignorant as to why it exists and why it is still so prevalent around the world.  I suppose human beings can perhaps be uncomfortable with others that are not similar or the same and for some reason makes us think that one or the other is better than the other?  I have not experienced racism first hand as I am not a minority, but I think all of us have felt excluded at some point in time or another throughout our lives, whether it was on the playground at school when we were young, or at a party in college, or in a work-place environment as adults.  We as human beings tend to want to be accepted by those around us...and when we are not, simply put, it feels terrible.  I can only begin to understand what it must feel like to be discriminated against on a regular basis, day in and day out.  

I do believe though, that we as a society are becoming wiser and more accepting of other human beings.  I do believe we as a society have grown and matured and have realized that racism is hatred and such hatred is a poison that serves no good purpose whatsoever.  I hope that this trend of intelligence and acceptance continues to grow and that some day, racism ceases to exist and we ALL realize that we are all equal.....equal but different...and that we embrace the differences between us all and embrace one another towards the greater good thereby creating a greater society.  This indeed is my wish.  Perhaps the events of the last few days in the sports world, while painful, is a step in that direction.  Once again, bringing to the forefront societal failures that will ultimately make us wiser and give us a better understanding of what not to do, how not to act, what not to believe in, and ultimately help us grow and succeed.