THE JEW QUESTION

Racism: (1) a belief that race is the primary determinant  of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. (2) racial prejudice or discrimination.

Irony: a pretense of ignorance and of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other's false conceptions conspicous by adroit questioning - called also "Socratic irony.'

I started this blog about an hour after the conclusion of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's "sterling" (I apologize) news conference in which Silver displayed a strength much needed in professional sports leadership.

I "bagged" the original blog in recognition of a need to cool off. I also wondered if I was overreacting to a solitary question which I perceived to be yet one more example of racism in our society.

Here's the media question asked of Silver during the Q&A session ( as annotated by one media source):

 "You spoke about your personal response to (Sterlings racist remarks and his subsequent punishment) in terms of Donald Sterling self-identifying as Jewish, and you doing the same as well. I'm wondering if there is a specific kind of pain associated with that for you, and if you felt a certain responsibility within the Jewish community to be responding to this in this way."

Silver's excellent reply was short and to the point": I think my response was as a human being."

My question - why the question? By the very definition of racism doesn't it beg an interpretation of more racism - the very heart of the whole matter under discussion and the subject of the news conference?

Innocent? Racist? Ironic? You decide.

It's doubtful you'll read much about the question in the mainstream media. However, I did some research online and was pleased that the question posed by Howard Megdal - who is with "Sports on Earth - and is also Jewish - did receive some comment.

One unknown writer from "Heeb Media"  (which by itself could be seen as offensive by some . Perhaps in the media it's like being OK if one Afro-American addresses another Afro - American by using the "N-word"), described his reaction to the question:

"Ah Ha! A Scoop. Jews feel Jewishly about other Jews! Or Something."

Another by respondent Abby Sherman Rosthenthiler: " So, it would seem only certain groups can be offended by racist comments? Hmmm."

My question, "What did this question have to do with anything that was decided, and did it make any difference if Sterling, the reporter, and/or the commissioner are Jewish? You see, to me that's racist.

Is it OK to put one entire race of people (The Jews) in the same basket but wrong if you do it to Afro-Americans? Why are we relying on inclusiveness to determine the traits of one race simply by the actions or words of one or more individuals?

Does this not fit the definition of racism in "Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary?"

My immediate reaction to the question was "What the Hell is wrong with people in the media?"

But, that would be an inclusive question, as well. Right?