Should Everyone be Punished like Sterling for Racial Comments?

   The punishment of society can be much harsher than that of government. Case in point: Donald Sterling. With the First Amendment promising free speech, government is not in position to create laws against non-threatening verbal forms of racism.
   But, society? It might demand Clipper owner Sterling lose his franchise. And, the NBA might do everything it can to agree. Sterling's racial comments reaped his being banned from the NBA for life, fined $2.5 million, and put on warning that if the owners will do it, he will be forced to sell the team.
   I listened to a fan on the radio saying all that was not enough, for Sterling is still making money. He should be forced to sell without being able to get the profits of the sale.
  What did Sterling do to get in this mess? He turned to an alleged girlfriend and said, "Yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people,  Do you have to?"
   The girlfriend (who is part black) had posted a picture of herself with former NBA star Magic Johnson. "Don't put him (Magic) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me," Sterling said. "And don't bring him to my games, okay? You can sleep with them, you can bring 'em in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that, and not to bring them to my games."
   Racism is not good. No, not all. But, but society has posted a heavy penalty upon Sterling, one that government, even if there were not a First Amendment, likely would not have imposed. Understandably, wealthy people can afford heavy fines better than the rest of us. And, understandably, a private organization has the right to police its own. Those two things make this different that if an average person in everyday life had said these comments. Still, it is of note that if all people who uttered racial comments were to be fined $2.5 million -- much less the rest of the punishment -- this would be a most interesting world.
   What has happened to Sterling also begs the question as to whether every organization should come down on its own for racist comments. Should Lions clubs, churches and employers? Should you be banned for life from a movie theater or a skating rink or a bar if you are caught saying racial things?
   True, Sterling is a public figure, and public figures must answer for what they say more than John Q. Public. But, if it is what is said that is wrong, not the person who said it, it doesn't matter if you and I are not famous. Wrong is wrong, regardless who says it. So, I wonder if we all shouldn't be subject to some of the same type of punishment if we make racial comments.
   (Last paragraph added 4/30/14)