MICHAEL JORDAN: ‘I CAN NO LONGER STAY SILENT’

[bluedigger]

Last edited Mon Jul 25, 2016, 01:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: ESPN

His statement on the shootings of African-Americans and the targeting of police officers

“As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers. I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well.

“I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.

Jordan speaks out on shootings of African-Americans, police

“Over the past three decades I have seen up close the dedication of the law enforcement officers who protect me and my family. I have the greatest respect for their sacrifice and service. I also recognize that for many people of color their experiences with law enforcement have been different than mine. I have decided to speak out in the hope that we can come together as Americans, and through peaceful dialogue and education, achieve constructive change.

“To support that effort, I am making contributions of $1 million each to two organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The Institute for Community-Police Relations’ policy and oversight work is focused on building trust and promoting best practices in community policing. My donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s oldest civil rights law organization, will support its ongoing work in support of reforms that will build trust and respect between communities and law enforcement. Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organizations make a positive difference.

“We are privileged to live in the world’s greatest country – a country that has provided my family and me the greatest of opportunities. The problems we face didn’t happen overnight and they won’t be solved tomorrow, but if we all work together, we can foster greater understanding, positive change and create a more peaceful world for ourselves, our children, our families and our communities.”

Read more: http://theundefeated.com/features/michael-jordan-i-can-no-longer-stay-silent/

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[RapSoDee]

1. As a lifelong Celtic fan, I repectfully salute Michael Jordan

A beautiful, powerful healing message. Thank you Michael.

[NWCorona]

39. Larry Bird was that dude!

[Hulk]

62. Jordan....so little so late.

Nice...he scraped some crumbs off his table and finally got off his ass to stand for injustice.

Honestly, I have about zero respect for this guy, except his awesome skills when he was a Bull.

[The Second Stone]

2. Thank you Mr. Jordan for speaking up

and telling your point of view.

[roamer65]

3. A classy guy all the way around.

[Initech]

10. He wasn't that classy in the NBA lockout a couple of years ago.

The Hornets were like the one team who kept the thing going longer than it should have. When every other team had ended negotiations with the player's union, the Hornets were the lone holdout. I will see if I can find some quotes from Jordan about that somewhere.

[Eleanors38]

47. I heard a rumor that there are no virgins. Is it true?

[Initech]

49. Huh?

[greiner3]

61. You know, no virgins for the suicide dudes

[coco77]

4. Finally said something after all of these years..

Must be affecting him or his family in some way because he cares for no one but himself. I could care less.

[JustinL]

8. there's been a lot of "stop buying Jordans" talk on social media recently n/t

[coco77]

13. my sons use to beg me to buy them..

Never ever,ever now he claims to have concern for the black community a little bit. He is more concerned with the police,fuck him!!!

[IamTheNoodle]

12. He's made his hundreds of millions so he can afford to speak up now.

So brave of him to step up /SARC

[coco77]

14. Exactly!

[jakefrep]

60. This is a problem? (eom)

[Skittles]

63. when you stay silent for a long period of time

expect your motivation to be questioned when you do speak out

[Loki]

18. So no one in your world gets to change their attitude or direction?

Why are you on this board? Hate and divisiveness has no place here.

[coco77]

42. Who in the hell are you the thought police?

People have been expressing their opinion here for years until the past few years when some here, think they can tell others how to think or feel.

Are you going to post for me too.I am on this board because I like it.I'll bet you hit that alert button 24/7 trying to control peoples thoughts DU isn't the whole world. Hate is everywhere so is division. Can i Change my mind about whether I will vote for a certain candidate or not? Fuck Michael Jordan!!!

[Loki]

45. You just proved my point.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Just Awful

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Chakab]

35. For accurately accessing what was said? He released this statement because peeople were

angry that he hadn't spoken up, and it's clear that he was concerned about taking a financial hit.

I don't know how much credit he deserves for essentially saying nothing more than "violence is bad."

Not saying that I would make a different calculation in his position. We all know that he actually took a side here, he would get savaged given how divided the country is on this issue.

It is what it is, and it wasn't much.

[coco77]

43. Are you a basketball fan who loves Jordan?

I'm not. I don't have anything to be ashamed of. Fuck Jordan! Alert! Alert!

[rurallib]

41. I agree but his voice does carry a lot of weight

So I for one welcome him whatever the motivation.

[PatSeg]

5. I'm glad he has spoken out on the issue

I'm surprised he hasn't said anything sooner.

[Blue_Tires]

6. Seriously? This is supposed to erase 30+ years of silence?

Only now does he feel any bit of shame about the Jesse Helms race?

[63splitwindow]

17. To speak out as he did now is a good thing. I'm glad he spoke. nt

[LakeArenal]

38. Judgie judgertons gotta judge...

Not a basketball fan, not a tennis shoe fan. But geesh, can't someone make a statement without people hashing a grind from ten years ago. Move forward people. Look forward. Thanks MJ for doing something with your millions that might help someone. Being supportive of police and wanting to help a community are not mutually exclusive. He could have given two million to Trump. Might as well had.. Gonna get the judgements either way...

[Blue_Tires]

64. Sorry, my wounds still run deep from Harvey Gantt

Jordan's refusal to help in '90 only gave Jesse Helms three more fucking terms...

Better late than never I guess, but holy damn...

[RussBLib]

9. so how about NC's idiotic bathroom rules?

guess we can't expect too much

[mark67]

33. ...one war at a time...

...the same reason why Lincoln overlooked the harassment of US ships by the Brits during the Civil War...

[jtuck004]

46. And overlooked slavery until it became a way to hurt the South. Pragmatic more

than principled.

Unfortunately, the victims don't have the luxury of overlooking it until it is convenient for the wealthy and powerful to get around to it. All the wars are thrust upon them at once.

So Jordan did the very least he could do. Woop.

[mark67]

50. ...you may suffer from an excess of virtue...

Even Jesus had to be pragmatic with the authorities...

Matthew 17-27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

[jtuck004]

52. Truer words were never spoken by any bank$ter. I see your myth, and raise you a cartoon. bb

[mark67]

56. ...???...

You may need to get out and get more sunshine.

[Initech]

11. Good for him to do this.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. This is good. Many who can will now give to the NAACP.

[coco77]

16. I remember when this mfker.

told the homeless to go get a job. There is no telling where he would be if he couldn't shoot the hoops.

[Karen_J]

19. respect

I don't disagree with anything MJ said, and I don't have a problem with his decision to generally refrain from making political statements. I've never understood the public's assumption that every athlete, musician, and actor is supposed to be an expert on everything, or a leader in anything other than their own specialty area.

[mountain grammy]

20. K & R

[asuhornets]

21. Michael Jordan is worth over a $1 billion, $2 million ain't shit...AND

he is twenty years past due. This is his first time speaking out against racial issues.. It's about time. I give him no credit whatsoever.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Bitterness and Inflexibility Are Not Admirable Traits (eom)

[asuhornets]

24. So. I call it as I see it.

$2 million. There kids out there killing each other over his $200 sneakers. Never a word from him.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. So Do I

I stand by my assessment, as well.

[Sand Rat Expat]

53. How is he responsible for kids killing each other over his $200 sneakers?

And what would you have him do, state the obvious and say "Hey kids, you shouldn't kill people over sneakers"? Because I'm sure that someone who's desperate enough or morally decayed enough to murder another human being over footwear would say, "Hang on, wait... Jordan said I shouldn't do this..." right?

And should we be angry at Apple when someone is injured or killing in a mugging that's aimed at stealing the person's iPhone? Should we be angry at the US Mint when someone is injured or killed in a mugging that's aimed at stealing the person's cash?

[asuhornets]

65. He could have spoken out about it. To this day he never has. nt

[Sand Rat Expat]

67. Why should he? What's the point of him stating the obvious? He's not responsible for it.

And again, should we expect Apple to speak out about it if someone is killed in a mugging aimed at taking an iPhone?

[asuhornets]

26. "He can no longer stay silent" He's been silent for over 20 years.n/t

[63splitwindow]

27. Would you prefer he continue silence? Those are the only two choices. nt

[asuhornets]

28. Why not continue the silence? In over 20 years, he has never spoken out against

racial issues-now all of sudden we are suppose to be happy. I don't think so. $2 million that's pennies to him-that's why that's all he's contributing. Everyone knows his reputation for being a jerk..

[63splitwindow]

29. You aren't supposed to be happy. Who said that?

What he did in this instance at this time is better than silence. PERIOD.

[asuhornets]

30. But it is long overdue...and self-serving..nt

[jamese777]

32. "Self-serving" in what way? n/t

[asuhornets]

36. I'm sure he knows he's been criticized for years by the black community for

not speaking out on these issues. Again $2 million ain't nothing compared to what he is worth. It was a PR move.

[jamese777]

44. Micharl Jordan Philanthropic Giving

Charities & foundations supported
Michael Jordan has supported the following charities:
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis
Cats Care
CharitaBulls
Jackie Robinson Foundation
James R. Jordan Foundation
Kids Wish Network
LIVESTRONG
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Nevada Cancer Institute
Opportunity Village
Special Olympics
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
The Miami Project
https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/michael-jordan

The James R. Jordan Foundation
http://www.jamesjordanfoundation.com/

The Challenge
Finding ways to create a holistic approach to education in under-served communities and schools that lack resources and to foster community involvement and investment in our youth.
The Solution
JRJF is dedicated to forming impactful partnerships with principals, teachers, parents and students while engaging community and corporate partners to invest in the future of under-served children.

What We Do
James R. Jordan Foundation (JRJF) believes that all children deserve equal opportunity and access to a quality education. We aim to level the academic playing field to ensure that hard working students have the opportunity to attain a higher education regardless of social-economic status.

Investing in the future of our youth is a core belief of the James R. Jordan Foundation. We believe that stronger families and involved communities are key to the future of our children.

[Sand Rat Expat]

55. This is how it breaks down.

Situation 1: Michael Jordan says nothing, and keeps his money. Random person on the Internet says, "What a self-serving jerk!"

Situation 2: Michael Jordan issues a statement that promotes unity and healing and donates a significant sum of money to two worthy causes. Random person on the Internet says, "What a self-serving jerk!"

The classic "Damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If he's going to be hated regardless of what he does, he may as well take the option where he's hated and $2 million richer than otherwise.

[mark67]

34. Thank you Debbie Downer...

...please collect your door prize on the way out...

[asuhornets]

37. you are welcome...nt

[Sand Rat Expat]

51. $2 million ain't shit to him, sure.

But both of those worthy organizations are $1 million richer thanks to him, and I'm quite sure they appreciate it. He could have elected to remain silent and keep his money. Instead he spoke out in a way that unites rather than divides and attempts to heal rather than cause deeper wounds, and donated some of his wealth to not just one but two great causes.

I'm not a basketball fan and I couldn't care less about his sneakers, but I applaud both his statement and his donations.

[ariesgem]

57. Exactly!

His silence on this issue was deafening and for me, his response is weak and came TOO LATE.

[4lbs]

31. I would like Jordan's stance on the NBA taking the All-Star game away from North Carolina

seeing as how he went to North Carolina, played with NC Tarheel trunks under his Chicago Bulls trunks, and is part owner of the Charlotte Hornets, in North Carolina.

Will he remain silent on this?

[NWCorona]

40. I'm glad he said this but I'm gonna leave this right here

[Eleanors38]

48. This thread is an argument for shutting up and doing nothing. nt

[jakefrep]

59. Yeah, pretty much.

A raging case of ButWhatAbout?-itis. Folks that are butthurt that somebody of MJ's stature isn't stumping for THEIR pet causes.

[Loki]

66. It's the "I Am Determined to be Offended" mantra.

[freshwest]

54. Like Kareem, he can have a strong effect on all who hear what he says.

BLM will was invited by Hillary at the convention. They have agreed to speak there.

Michael and Jordan's words, if Johnson speaks there, will have a great impact. I hope to hear more from both men.

[Heather MC]

58. Michael Jordan profits off of for-profit Prisons which is a part of the problem

So I find his new-found Revelation to be utter bullshit

[StraightRazor]

68. And then there's this...

If Jordan really wants to use his voice and cache to stop violence, how about he talk with Nike and demand it stop making shoes that carry his name and likeness so expensive and unattainable that kids are being killed for them? How about he call Dazie Williams and tell her that he’s sorry her 22-year-old son, Joshua Woods, was killed after he purchased a pair of his shoes? That’s one area where his voice could actually be effective.

Donating millions in blood money doesn’t make you kind or great or even decent. Jordan is just like every other old king this world has ever known and is doing what old kings do when they look back on their reign and realize there’s blood on their name. His legacy on the court is undeniable, but off the court, f–k Jordan.

[link:http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/07/michael-jordan-a-day-late-and-a-million-dollars-short/|