In a recent post to this group, Mr. Mike Noon suggested that all
Dominican males "between the ages of 2 months and 20 years" had been
signed by the New York Yankees.
While the effort was apparently intended to be humorous, due to the
racial overtones, and in light of Mr. Noon's many past comments on
racial issues, the Committee felt a close analysis of the post would
be in the best interests of ASBBO:
*********
"The New York Yankees today announced the signing of the Domincan
(sic) Republic.
In a bold move, George Steinbrenner signed all males between the ages
of 2
months, and 20 years, to conditional Yankee contracts, thus barring
all
other Major League Baseball teams from acquiring Domincan (sic) talent
for at
least a generation."
*********
Strictly speaking this paragraph is not in and of itself racist.
However, it does exhibit poor judgment, as the idea of a rich white
American signing up the under 21 male population of an entire nation,
raises disturbing images of racial exploitation.
*********
"Added the Yankee owner, "The cost of running scouts through there was
getting ridiculous, so I said to myself, "Hey, for crying out loud,
how much
do these people live on per year?" It turns out we could sign every
male in
the country for a grand total of about $40,000 and an old VW Microbus
thrown
in here and there. It was brilliant." "
*********
This paragraph is laden with racist overtones and is clearly
derogatory in nature. Notice how the words "how much
do these people live on per year?" mocks our less fortunate neighbors.
When he suggests that the entire under 21 male population of the
Dominican Republic could be signed for "about $40,000 and an old VW
Microbus", Mr. Noon again mocks the lack of material wealth present in
the Dominican Republic. Additionally, we now see racial stereotyping
of the most base sort when Mr. Noon mentions an "old VW Microbus".
What is Mr. Noon's intent? Is there any non-racist cause served by the
insertion of an "old VW Microbus" into the post ? The Committee can
see none. While it is evident that Mr. Noon finds poverty "funny",
he further ridicules the Dominican people by implying that they place
an unusually high value on old, and presumably near worthless,
automobiles. This implication in turn plays upon well worn stereotypes
of other racial and ethnic groups.
*********
"Several competing Major League teams attempted to warn Dominican
residents
of the descending Yankee onslaught to sign away their male population.
Residents were encouraged to shield their homes by hanging pictures of
Bud
Selig on their front doors, but apparently the effort was too little
and too
late, and many homes had no doors."
*********
This final paragraph is the capstone of Mr. Noon's insensitive and
deplorable remarks. He draws a picture of a people who must be
"warned" to avoid the absurd "offer" thus implying a general stupidity
and/or gullibility in the Dominican population. He writes of hanging a
picture of "Bud Selig on their front doors" as though the people of
the Dominican Republic are superstitious and foolish. This comment
could also easily be construed as ridicule directed toward Dominican
religious beliefs. Finally, Mr. Noon continues his derisive tone, as
he states that "many homes had no doors". Those last jeering words
sum up the contempt Mr. Noon exhibited throughout his post, toward the
peoples of the Domincan Republic.
After due contemplation and a full consideration of the evidence, the
ASBBO Select Committee on Fairness finds Mr Noon guilty of extreme
cultural insensitivity, reckless disregard for human feelings, cruel
and mean spirited stereotyping, and poor humor judgment.
He is hereby sentenced to write the following words 10,000 times:
"I will not ridicule people less fortunate than I."
ASBBO Select Committee on Fairness
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