Quick thought of the day:
People who focus on the Fort Hood shooter's religion are doing themselves as well as future crime prevention a disservice. For instance, what would we learn if we focused on Bernie Madoff's religious background? Nothing. In fact, by focusing on his religious background, we would spend less time on relevant issues, such as how to best prevent fraud for all securities customers. In addition, since we can't change someone's religion or legally discriminate against someone on the basis of religion, we cannot implement effective defenses against criminal activity even if we did find a high correlation between a person's religious background and a particular criminal act.
For instance, continuing the Madoff example, even if we find that high-level financial advisors happen to be Jewish (something I highly doubt), what do we do with such information? If we subject Jewish financial advisors to more scrutiny, all we're doing is making it more expensive for them to serve their clients. We're not actually preventing fraud or helping the general consumer avoid fraud.
In fact, focusing on a perp's religion is a triple-loss--it injects irrelevant data into an analysis, skewering any results; castigates religious practitioners who are innocent of any wrongdoing; and causes us to spend less time focusing on relevant data, which we could then use to create new, effective regulations or new methods.
"And if an epitaph be my story, I'd have a short one ready for my own: I had a lover's quarrel with the world." -- Robert Frost
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
New York Vinnie on Haddadi/Clippers/Racism
New York Vinnie from Le Basketbawl emailed me his thoughts about the Clippers announcers comparing Iranian NBA player Hamed Haddadi to Borat:
Let me add this to your conversation. Borat is a negative stereotype just like Stepin Fetchit for African Americans, Charlie Chan for Asian Americans, and the Frito Bandito for Latino Americans.
We do not see those stereotypes any longer because each of those ethnic groups have large enough sway in this country to make sure it was eliminated. Native Americans for years have been still subject to this type of Crapolla because they do not have a large enough voice. Look at Chief Wahoo for the Cleveland Indians or the Tomahawk Chop for the Atlanta Braves. Now we have the Persian culture of Iran and the Arab cultures that we find okay to denigrate. New York Vinnie does not support the Govt. of Iran but Haddadi is a private citizen, it would be like a kid from the USA playing in Israel. They are not politicians or representatives of their governments.
New York Vinnie is half Italian and half Puerto Rican; I know what it is to be racially profiled. Those same racist PUDs would call "New York Vinnie" Guido or Jose, and call New York Hymietown! You can take that to the Frickin' Bank My Man!
I like New Yorkers, and I had a great time when I visited New York. In general, the people I met were more talkative and friendly than Californians. New Yorkers tend to say what they mean, and they're proud to say it to your face instead of behind your back. In case anyone is interested, my original post on the Haddadi situation is here.
Let me add this to your conversation. Borat is a negative stereotype just like Stepin Fetchit for African Americans, Charlie Chan for Asian Americans, and the Frito Bandito for Latino Americans.
We do not see those stereotypes any longer because each of those ethnic groups have large enough sway in this country to make sure it was eliminated. Native Americans for years have been still subject to this type of Crapolla because they do not have a large enough voice. Look at Chief Wahoo for the Cleveland Indians or the Tomahawk Chop for the Atlanta Braves. Now we have the Persian culture of Iran and the Arab cultures that we find okay to denigrate. New York Vinnie does not support the Govt. of Iran but Haddadi is a private citizen, it would be like a kid from the USA playing in Israel. They are not politicians or representatives of their governments.
New York Vinnie is half Italian and half Puerto Rican; I know what it is to be racially profiled. Those same racist PUDs would call "New York Vinnie" Guido or Jose, and call New York Hymietown! You can take that to the Frickin' Bank My Man!
I like New Yorkers, and I had a great time when I visited New York. In general, the people I met were more talkative and friendly than Californians. New Yorkers tend to say what they mean, and they're proud to say it to your face instead of behind your back. In case anyone is interested, my original post on the Haddadi situation is here.
Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays
Ken from Popehat.com has written yet another flawless post. I don't know any other website I regularly visit where I think, "It's like he's writing what I think, if only my IQ was 100 points higher, and I had a better sense of humor." Click HERE for Ken's post on political correctness, Jesus Christ, and the Christmas spirit.
Ken, I bow down to your superior wit.
Ken, I bow down to your superior wit.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
California Spending
Imagine a place where everyone knows they have a spending problem, no one cares, and no one minds passing the financial consequences to their children. Welcome to California.
Fun facts: California paid out $2.1 billion in bonuses, overtime, and other extras in 2007. (See SF Chronicle, Erin McCormick, A1, June 30, 2008.)
A Superior Court Judge makes $178,789 a year; an Appellate Court Justice makes $204,599 a year; and a state Supreme Court Justice makes $218,237 a year. All state judges are eligible for generous pensions, dental benefits, health benefits, basic life and AD&D insurance, supplemental life insurance, vision service plans, long term care insurance, a voluntary tax savings program (FlexElect), and a savings plus program (a Thrift Plan, i.e., a 401K, and a Deferred Compensation Plan (IRC 457)).
Fun facts: California paid out $2.1 billion in bonuses, overtime, and other extras in 2007. (See SF Chronicle, Erin McCormick, A1, June 30, 2008.)
A Superior Court Judge makes $178,789 a year; an Appellate Court Justice makes $204,599 a year; and a state Supreme Court Justice makes $218,237 a year. All state judges are eligible for generous pensions, dental benefits, health benefits, basic life and AD&D insurance, supplemental life insurance, vision service plans, long term care insurance, a voluntary tax savings program (FlexElect), and a savings plus program (a Thrift Plan, i.e., a 401K, and a Deferred Compensation Plan (IRC 457)).
Quotes re: the American Constitution
"With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but with tyrants, I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost." See here for more quotes from great Americans.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith: Resign
You know why this story ticks me off? Because Los Angeles has between 500,000 and one million Iranian-American residents. If L.A. Clippers announcers felt comfortable denigrating Iranians in Los Angeles--as close to "Little Tehran" as you can get in America--what does it say about America and its willingness to respect the top performers who come here? What does it say about America's willingness to extend the American Dream to Middle Eastern immigrants?
Also, if you think this issue concerns only a mispronunciation, you are wrong. The announcers compared NBA player and consummate professional Haddadi to Borat. They did so only because of Hamed Haddadi's national origin. They would not have made such comments if Haddadi was from England, Japan, China, or Mexico. Is anyone seriously saying it's okay to make disparaging comments against someone because of where he was born?
Moreover, people who think the announcers made the comments only because Haddadi looks like Borat unwittingly raise a good question: if Lawler and Smith are completely blind, should they continue announcing games? In other words, are people seriously saying the announcers only compared a 7 foot 2 inches Iranian NBA player with olive skin to a much smaller, much lighter-skinned character because they thought the mustached Borat and soul patch Haddadi look so much alike? You know you have problems when your "argument" is just a variation of "All black people look alike, don't they?" (And imagine the consequences if a baseball announcer asked, "Doesn't Jackie Robinson look like Sambo's older brother?")
Some people say if Hamed Haddadi accepted the announcers' apologies, then we, too, should move on. This sentiment is wrongheaded and ignorant. It rewards the announcers who made the racist statements and ignores the victim's silent anguish. After all, what else could Haddadi do but be gracious in the face of overt racism and crassness? Let it be known, however, that had the announcers made similar remarks about Jews or African-Americans, they would have been fired. Or have we forgotten Howard Cossell's remark about "the little monkey" and his subsequent departure from Monday Night Football? And don't forget baseball analyst Steve Lyons' termination after he referenced Lou Piniella's Hispanic heritage.
Below is the transcript of the conversation between Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith, which occurred late in the Memphis Grizzlies game:
Smith: “Look who’s in.”
Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”
Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith mispronounces "Iranian" as "Eye-ranian.")
Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,” repeating Smith’s mispronunciation.
Smith: “He’s the only one.”
Lawler: “He’s from Iran?”
Smith: “I guess so.”
Lawler: “That Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: "The real Iran?"
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “Wow. Haddadi that’s H-A-D-D-A-D-I.”
Smith: "You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older
Also, if you think this issue concerns only a mispronunciation, you are wrong. The announcers compared NBA player and consummate professional Haddadi to Borat. They did so only because of Hamed Haddadi's national origin. They would not have made such comments if Haddadi was from England, Japan, China, or Mexico. Is anyone seriously saying it's okay to make disparaging comments against someone because of where he was born?
Moreover, people who think the announcers made the comments only because Haddadi looks like Borat unwittingly raise a good question: if Lawler and Smith are completely blind, should they continue announcing games? In other words, are people seriously saying the announcers only compared a 7 foot 2 inches Iranian NBA player with olive skin to a much smaller, much lighter-skinned character because they thought the mustached Borat and soul patch Haddadi look so much alike? You know you have problems when your "argument" is just a variation of "All black people look alike, don't they?" (And imagine the consequences if a baseball announcer asked, "Doesn't Jackie Robinson look like Sambo's older brother?")
Some people say if Hamed Haddadi accepted the announcers' apologies, then we, too, should move on. This sentiment is wrongheaded and ignorant. It rewards the announcers who made the racist statements and ignores the victim's silent anguish. After all, what else could Haddadi do but be gracious in the face of overt racism and crassness? Let it be known, however, that had the announcers made similar remarks about Jews or African-Americans, they would have been fired. Or have we forgotten Howard Cossell's remark about "the little monkey" and his subsequent departure from Monday Night Football? And don't forget baseball analyst Steve Lyons' termination after he referenced Lou Piniella's Hispanic heritage.
Below is the transcript of the conversation between Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith, which occurred late in the Memphis Grizzlies game:
Smith: “Look who’s in.”
Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”
Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith mispronounces "Iranian" as "Eye-ranian.")
Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,” repeating Smith’s mispronunciation.
Smith: “He’s the only one.”
Lawler: “He’s from Iran?”
Smith: “I guess so.”
Lawler: “That Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: "The real Iran?"
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “Wow. Haddadi that’s H-A-D-D-A-D-I.”
Smith: "You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older
brother?"
Smith: “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”
Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”
Smith: “Especially the post players.
Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.”
Lawler and Smith need to resign, not just apologize. Comparing a professional basketball player to a boorish caricature like Borat is unacceptable because the joke relates to Haddadi's national origin. The announcers would not have made their statements unless they believed Haddadi was from a country they perceive as backwards.
In addition, their statements demean not just Haddadi, but the American Dream itself. America's prosperity relies in part upon the sweat and toil of immigrants--like Haddadi--who have taken risks to come here, seeking the American Dream. The American Dream stands for the proposition that any immigrant from any country--not just countries that happen to be portrayed positively in the media--can come to America and become American. Had Haddadi been from a European country, the announcers would not have made such comments. The announcers made their comments only because Haddadi was from a country they viewed negatively. Their statements were based on Haddadi's national origin (Iranian) and race (perceived as non-white).
By the way, I was lucky enough to meet Haddadi at a local Golden State Warriors game. The Warriors held an Iranian Heritage night to attract Iranian-American fans. Hundreds of Iranian-Americans attended the game and boosted the Warriors' and the NBA's bottom line. If the NBA cares about its image, it will take further action. (Pictures from the Warriors' Iranian Heritage Night are here.)
By the way, the person who complained to the network was Arya Towfighi, vice president and assistant general counsel for Univision Communications Inc. in Los Angeles, California. He complained to "highlight the issue that a lot of folks wouldn't consider saying such things about African-Americans or Hispanics but because this was an Iranian player it just flowed more easily." According to journalist Diane Pucin, Mr. Towfighi said he shooed his 8-year-old son out of the room before replaying the exchange. "I didn't want my son to hear that," Mr. Towfighi said.
Update: some people have commented on this post. Feel free to leave your own comment.
Bonus: click here or here for one of the most awesome NBA pictures ever.
Update on December 21, 2009: I wanted to clarify something. If Haddadi had known Lawler and Smith reasonably well, or if they had a pre-existing congenial relationship, perhaps the analysis would be different. In this case, however, Lawler and Smith had no interactions with Haddadi prior to comparing him to a caricature and focusing on his national origin.
Bonus (added on January 31, 2012): here are two other links on controversial topics:
http://willworkforjustice.blogspot.com/2009/11/fort-hood-shootings.html (Fort Hood Shootings)
http://willworkforjustice.blogspot.com/2011/02/is-christianity-peaceful-religion.html (Is Christianity a Peaceful Religion?)
Smith: “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”
Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”
Smith: “Especially the post players.
Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.”
Lawler and Smith need to resign, not just apologize. Comparing a professional basketball player to a boorish caricature like Borat is unacceptable because the joke relates to Haddadi's national origin. The announcers would not have made their statements unless they believed Haddadi was from a country they perceive as backwards.
In addition, their statements demean not just Haddadi, but the American Dream itself. America's prosperity relies in part upon the sweat and toil of immigrants--like Haddadi--who have taken risks to come here, seeking the American Dream. The American Dream stands for the proposition that any immigrant from any country--not just countries that happen to be portrayed positively in the media--can come to America and become American. Had Haddadi been from a European country, the announcers would not have made such comments. The announcers made their comments only because Haddadi was from a country they viewed negatively. Their statements were based on Haddadi's national origin (Iranian) and race (perceived as non-white).
By the way, I was lucky enough to meet Haddadi at a local Golden State Warriors game. The Warriors held an Iranian Heritage night to attract Iranian-American fans. Hundreds of Iranian-Americans attended the game and boosted the Warriors' and the NBA's bottom line. If the NBA cares about its image, it will take further action. (Pictures from the Warriors' Iranian Heritage Night are here.)
By the way, the person who complained to the network was Arya Towfighi, vice president and assistant general counsel for Univision Communications Inc. in Los Angeles, California. He complained to "highlight the issue that a lot of folks wouldn't consider saying such things about African-Americans or Hispanics but because this was an Iranian player it just flowed more easily." According to journalist Diane Pucin, Mr. Towfighi said he shooed his 8-year-old son out of the room before replaying the exchange. "I didn't want my son to hear that," Mr. Towfighi said.
Update: some people have commented on this post. Feel free to leave your own comment.
Bonus: click here or here for one of the most awesome NBA pictures ever.
Update on December 21, 2009: I wanted to clarify something. If Haddadi had known Lawler and Smith reasonably well, or if they had a pre-existing congenial relationship, perhaps the analysis would be different. In this case, however, Lawler and Smith had no interactions with Haddadi prior to comparing him to a caricature and focusing on his national origin.
Bonus (added on January 31, 2012): here are two other links on controversial topics:
http://willworkforjustice.blogspot.com/2009/11/fort-hood-shootings.html (Fort Hood Shootings)
http://willworkforjustice.blogspot.com/2011/02/is-christianity-peaceful-religion.html (Is Christianity a Peaceful Religion?)
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