Words unspoken leave lessons unlearned. Gail Miller could have let the moment pass, and not stood up at half court before the Jazz game against the Timberwolves to decry racism.
For what she did, I nominate her as teacher of the week.If you would quell racism, you must speak against it. If you would curb any wrongful activity, you should speak against it. Your words may not reach the person you speak most directly too -- in this case Jazz fan Shane Keisel -- but they might discourage others from thinking the same way as him.
"I am extremely disappointed that one of our quote 'fans' conducted himself in such a way as to offend not only a guest in our arena, but also me personally, my family, our organization, the community, our players and you, as the best fans in the NBA," Miller said.
I'm not sure I would have used the same language. I might even have thanked Keisel for being a fan while expressing displeasure with what he did. But, I think it wonderful that Miller stood up and said such conduct as Keisel's is not condoned.. I truly believe her high-profile appeal will lead to fewer fans conducting themselves in such a fashion.
Lessons are not learned if they are not taught.
"This should never happen. We are not a racist community. We believe in treating people with courtesy and respect as human beings. From time to time, individual fans exhibit poor behavior and forget their manners; some disrespect players on other teams. When that happens, I want you to jump up and shout 'stop.' We have a code of conduct in this arena. It will be strictly enforced," Miller said.
Only if you tell someone they are doing something wrong will they be less likely to do it. Adults are children, too, and must be corrected like the children they are.
"The other teams are not our enemies; they are our competition," Miller said, conveying a wonderful lesson. We should not treat competing teams with contempt, but as friends in competition.
Miller also protected the integrity of the team and community, by making it clear that such racism as Keisel displayed is not representative of Utah as a whole. While I will fear there is too much of it -- that there are those sympathetic to what Keisel said -- I believe we as a community should distance ourselves from those such as Keisel. We make it clear we do not feel the same as he does, so there is no question as to what our beliefs are.
"No one wins when respect goes away," Miller said. I would say, No one wins when respect is lost. When you conduct yourself in an ill manner -- in a way that loses respect -- you are not a winner, regardless the score -- and, this goes for fan conduct as well as the conduct of players. If Keisel's conduct had been allowed to stand as a representation of the Utah and the Jazz organization, we would have lost even if we had won the game.
Neither team wins when sportsmanship is lost.
Nor does it go unnoticed on me that players on the Jazz stood up against Keisel. Though the fan was on their team, they did not shunt the event quietly aside and just hope it would go away. They boldly spoke against it. Others in the community also spoke out. I say, wonderful. The more who speak against it, the clearer it is that this is not us. And, the more likely it will be that those who have such bigotry will be likely to change and see that what they do it wrong.
I do offer one parting thought. Though what Keisel did is wrong, and though we want to make it clear what he did is wrong, we should be forgiving of him. Even in the moment of rebuking him, we should be gentle. Persuasion is not made in harsh words, but kind.
Plus, it is not a rebuke of one person, but many, for there is scattered among our community others who share Keisel's feelings. If alienate them, you fail to reach them. More than that, if you offend them, you only drive them deeper into their dispositions. For all the need to make this a moment when we teach against racism, we must not let go of our commitment to tolerate the beliefs of others. This can mean respecting those who do not respect you. You can -- and should -- try to persuade a person to not be a bigot. But, if they remain one, you should love them, the same. And, loving another person means being gentle with them.
(Note: End of blog added 3/17/19)
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