It's a crazy world we live in, isn't it? I would guess it has more to do with the fact that these days, people are more offended by what people say than what they do. It should be the other way around if you ask me.
I was watching Cold Pizza this morning, and they were interviewing a female minister who worked with Reggie on a project to rebuild some churches that were burned in Tenessee. I believe one of the church's was his. Anyway, she was saying that the churches that were burned were black churches and they were burned by some white kids with connections to the Klu Klux Klan. She said when Reggie found out who they were burned by, he went to talk to the kids, and that he basically forgave them and told people to forgive them because they were poor kids who had their anger from poverty misdirected. He basically stood up for them. I remember when those churches were burned and no one reported that story and reported that Reggie tried to get others to forgive those kids. It just goes to show you how the media thrives on negativity, and especially the talk show culture. I admit I listen to Jim Rome's show a lot, but I listen basically for the humor. But the guy thrives on negativity, and his show and show like his thrive on people's downfalls and worst moments and they contribute a lot to why a guy like White will be known mostly for a mistake instead of living a very upstanding life.
Many years ago there was a Superbowl special where Reggie White did some stand-up. Like Shaq, sometimes he said things that he thought were funny but weren't. It also strikes me funny at how we are angered by the media for blowing things out of proportion and yet it is routinely practiced here. +
He is a Christian, it doesnt matter who all judges him. What he has said and done in his life only matters to One. That is the man up above. My prayers are with his family and friends and he will always be remembered as a great football player.
Why do you do stuff like that? Really, I would like to know. You know I like you and think you are a great guy, but posting crap like that really pisses me off about you. I am glad that you find stuff in this thread *amusing*. Do you also find someone dying, a decent person at that, amusing as well? There is a time and place for snappy one-liners, RM95, but not in a thread where people are paying respects to someone who just died and did so prematurely - regardless of whether you, me, or anyone else agreed with their views and opinions. It is called respecting the dead, geez.
Andrea Kremer was on NFL Countdown yesteday morning and she was doing a story on him last week and was out at his house last month. Apparently "a strong Christian" isn't a word that applied to Reggie anymore at least in the way it once did, he apparently hadn't been to church in a few years as he was having doubts about his faith as it was then constituted. He was evidently spending time in Israel and trying to learn Hebrew and may have been converting to Judaism. Also she noted that he said he regretted that Wisconsin speech more than anything he had ever done in his whole life.
I always liked Reggie White. He was a positive example in an era in the NFL which lacked positive examples. I actually think his famous comments were intended to compliment the people he was talking about, but it came across wrong to PC America. Do you really think that he would get up there and knowingly insult all those groups? He was obviously ignorant about the different groups, but he wasn't being hateful towards them.
Well, I am not going down this path with you again. I'll take the high road. Hope you and your fiance and the rest of your family have a good New Year.
Goad all you want Hangout Boy - I'm tired of picking fights with you. Put me on Ignore if you detest my *insults* so much.
I wasn't picking fights with anyone. I just made a comment about how the thread made me feel. I'm sorry that you assumed that I have nothing better to do than pick a fight with you. Just for future reference, I don't care that much to even think about trying to do that. So next time you see a one-line comment from me, save yourself the time thinking it was about you.
I think I've agreed with him more than you, but I do agree with him here as well. However, I do understand why those comments are obviously going to be mentioned when you're talking about Reggie White. No matter how good-hearted the comments may have been (and I believe they were), they were still ignorant stereotypes uttered by a professional football player in front of Statesmen. Unfortunately for Reggie, it was always going to be connected with him. Just like blowjobs in the White House will always be connected with Bill Clinton or throwing chairs will be brought up when Bob Knight passes.
You're right, RM95. I think that's probably right...they will always be remembered. It sucks, partly, because they were..as you say...ignorant. They weren't mean-spirited. He didn't make those comments with some ill will or malice towards any particular race. They were just ignorant comments based on stereotypes and generalizations. He definitely should not have made them. But they weren't what we might call "hate speech."
In a perfect world, of course not. I'm just pointing out the reality for those who seem surprised by it. Quit acting like what? I made a lone comment about my feelings toward the thread and Manny went off on me, asking if I was amused by someone's death. This same person who is in my top-five NFL players, ever, and he's asking me if I'm amused by his death. I'd say my response to such an assinine post was rather muted.
