Friday, January 29, 2010

Paul Shirley

I just read former NBA player Paul Shirley's letter on Haiti and I am completely flabbergasted.

This is the main part everyone's focusing on but check the link for the full article.

Dear Haitians –
First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.

As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

Sincerely,

The Rest of the World

Wow! You mean somebody actually thought this and were ignorant enough to not only voice it but take the time to sit down and write it? You mean someone actually believes this? And people say you Mr Shirley are an educated man, went to College, got a degree, was writing columns for ESPN (they fired him yesterday after this came out).

Seriously were you just trying to get the heat off Pat Robertson for his statements the other week cause I mean you cant be this callous and heartless can you?

I mean this week I was arguing over who was the bigger jackass as an NBA player, what with Greg Oden's nude photos that he sent on his cell phone and Gilbert Arenas getting suspended the entire season for gun play and losing $20+ Mil in pay but you Mr Shirley have seriously upped the ante, beat the pre-race favorites and threaten to run away with the entire eediat contest. Hell you could possibly be the biggest eediat who played any professional sport in North America (and yes that includes such classic eediats as Plaxico, Vick and O.J)

But look let me school you here star. It was an earthquake. Its not like the Haitians were playing with guns or bombs and something accidentally went off. No it was an act of God, a natural disaster, it could have happened to anyone so seriously how can you blame the victim for the disaster?

And how distasteful that you telling people wear condoms and bout birth control. Star ya mudda neva teach ya nuh rass manners? Ya aint got no broughtupsy or what? Ya uncouth and out of line, rude and out of order. In basketball terms that means ya flagrant category 2, now shut up and get ya tail out the game.

And to think I read a few of your ESPN columns over the course of the years when you were struggling playing in the minor leagues and telling people what it was like to be striving to get back in the NBA and such and thought he's a nice guy, he trying real hard I hope he makes it back.

No instead now I see you as worse than the pampered current lot of NBA players cause you sir cant even have a little compassion for your fellow man that down on his luck.

I mean nuhbody aint saying you have to donate no money but at least realize that this is a tragedy any which way you look at it and that while yes things could have been better in Haiti we not sharing no blame to innocent people and if we were to be sharing blame realize that a whole heap would have to go to you and your country so hush up.

Imagine you comparing giving these people money to giving it to homeless street people that going waste it and comparing the people themselves to cavemen building unfit to live in abodes. Eh eh, rudebwoy ya really really going too far with this thing.

Compassion, Empathy, love for your fellow man star. And thank God that you were born where you were and had the ability to play a game for a living and make more money in a few years than a whole heap of these Haitian people pooling their resources could ever see in their lifetimes.

Clearly you know nothing about Haiti, clearly you are just chatting for chatting sake so please go away. David Zirin at the Nation magazine said it best though Dear Paul Shirley, I only wish your father had taken your own advice and worn a condom. Go to hell.

Whats even worse is you should see the comments on the original article agreeing with him. wow, says alot about some of the human race.

5 comments:

Chennette said...

wow. i am amazed that someone could be so arrogant as to believe that they have a complete view of the situation historically and everything else so that they could NOT give even charity of thought to Haiti. He has no real clue about how poor countries come to be poor except that it's their own fault. But he's so sure he's completely right. So sure that his view is just unfashionable to hold... And even if government has some responsibility, you going to blame the woman on the street for not fending for herself?
He tries to make linkages that are shaky and still come to conclusions - how exactly do you blame the victims of a natural disaster for the natural disaster when the city has been standing there forever. I guess we all poor and stupid to be living in the hurricane belt in small islands. Iz our own chupidness that bring us here to these islands.
Frankly it's awful writing anyway since he doesn't develop any argument just reveals his inability to use the critical thinking skills he is proud of.

Empath said...

Well one good thing to come from this is that ESPN has fired the loon. *SMH*

Crankyputz said...

So many eediats for one life time.

Abeni said...

Never heard of Paul Shirley until this. All I can say is the ignorance is just appalling

rosy said...

He is a real pompous jerk .Here is a man giving simplistic answers to complicated questions.Paul Shirley you are too smart for your own good. Good riddance