5 Lessons Learned From Donald Sterling's Horrible Interview

By now, Donald Sterling’s picture can be found as two references in the dictionary; racist and fool. Last week, Sterling’s mea culpa failed its mission. His interview on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 left no doubt he was indeed as racists as the lawsuits said he was from years ago. He confirmed more than the public ever imagined. He solidified his entry into the Fools' Hall of Fame.

Sterling has made millions. If he sell the Clippers, he will make nearly a billion. If he does not sell the Clippers, he will still make nearly a billion. But his despicable words in the taped conversation with V. Stiviano actually paled in comparison to what was said on camera. Surely, he was prepped in some way as to what would be asked of him. But instead of rehashing his failed industry standard “I am sorry you found out I was racist misspeak”, let us looked at five lessons we can learned from the Donald Sterling’s debacle:

5.  Character Should Count

Donald Sterling was taped by his girlfriend. Sterling is married. Sterling had no shame showing the world he had a girlfriend. He didnot sneak around; he openly dated her. I know in the age of I am engaged but I am not yet divorced world, there are many who believe in marriage. If Sterling walks around with his girlfriend on his arms at games while still married to his wife who he also takes to the Clipper games, one can only imagine how well he would honor a contractual agreement with a business client. Or the NBA. Or the community. Even if one can overlook his personal life, the list of lawsuits that Sterling has won and lost over the years reveals he does not care about how business is conducted, just so long as he is making money.  

4. Ignorance is Bliss and Jealously is Obvious

Donald Sterling’s spouted pure ignorance about Magic Johnson’s HIV status. Sterling’s judgment of Magic being with ‘women in every city with AIDS” is said as if his affair with V. Stiviano was blessed by the Pope. Sterling’s disapproval of Magic’s conduct has got to be one of the best examples of pot meet kettle to date. But not only was Sterling ignorant about Magic but asking Anderson Cooper about dating girls sealed the deal that he must live in a gigantic bubble. Cooper is gay…and proud.  If you recall, Sterling requested Anderson Cooper to interview him.  Besides Donald Sterling being ignorant of other people lives and lifestyles, his jealously of Magic Johnson was front and center. The question, “Who is Magic Johnson?” was nothing but a veiled, I do not know why everyone loves Magic so much and not me. It is a classic case of a student of the game is now a teacher and can actually can enter the teachers’ lounge without permission. When one look at the culture of LA, hanging out with Magic Johnson sounds far more exciting than hanging out with old crusty Sterling.  But let us dig even deeper. Sterling’s teeth were kicked out when he needed to play “I am a good white man” race card and trout out a “my best friend is Black” to stand next to him during interviews and Magic refused to be that best Black friend. That knife seem to cut Sterling more than the betrayal of his girlfriend. Who says no to Donald Sterling? Sterling retaliated by reminding the public about Magic’s HIV. Good for magic being willing to set the record straight.  

3. You Are Known By the Company You Keep

In the number of interviews that followed Donald Sterling's disastrous foot in mouth sit down, the one that received much scrutiny was the escort service owner turned rapper named Maseratiet on CNN. Maseratiet shared with millions that he and Donald Sterling had been friends for years. And it was Maseratiet who actually introduced Sterling to V. Stiviano. Whenever a pimp, I mean an escort service owner introduces a man to a woman; there is rarely anything wholesome about that relationship. Pay to play get much emphasis here. The fact that Maseratiet was someone that Sterling considered a good friend who he called to share his version of truth is more than troubling. What type of person has an escort service provider as a confidante? Where was his lawyer or PR people? Surely, he had someone on his payroll to talk this through instead of a pimp. According to Maseratiet, he was the seller of the tapes not his friend, V. Stiviano. Now, a blind man can see Maseratiet and V. Stiviano conspiring to set up Sterling and they are on their way to making millions. There are hours of tapes and they have only sold the first few hours. Someone who sells women for money will sell his friend's taped secrets for money. Stay tune, more to come.

2. White Privilege is Golden 

In his CNN interview, Donald Sterling showed us that white privilege lives and breathes. And it is lined with gold. Sterling is one of the wealthiest men in the country and he says on national TV what he really thinks without any true consequences. Donald Sterling did not have to mount a legislative agenda to take away voting rights, he did not have to back a campaign to get his will done, nor did he have to form a PAC that is meant to raise billions to elect puppets who will make less $200,000 a year to send to Washington to look after his interests. No, Donald Sterling only has to own an NBA Team with mostly Black players, sell them homes from his real estate company, let them play  a few rounds of golf with him, and have them deposit their money (that he negotiated for them) in the bank where he sits on the board. With white privilege, he can proudly tell you “I is what I is” and fuel the passion of those who are longing to bring back the Old South in every way. Donald Sterling makes the Koch Brothers seem like toddlers crying in their crib.

1    1. The Truth Can Set You Free

      Donald Sterling’s words about Magic Johnson seem to catch all the heat, but very few are addressing his statements about the Black Community. Donald Sterling does not believe the Black Community takes care of its own. He did not pull that out of the air. He has been around more Black people than most and is sharing his observations whether Black folks want to accept it or not. The fact that someone as lewd and racist as Donald Sterling has been given an NAACP Image Award is not lost on anyone. Especially, those who rather send a little cash than make significant changes in how business is done in the community of color. Sterling knew if he bought enough tables at events and gave away enough ‘free’ tickets, those actions would buy him clout in a community that has become more event centric than solution oriented. More galas, balls, and luncheons are held by civic groups, fraternities and sororities, and social organizations in the Black community than any other community. Yet, the Black community continues to have higher disparities in healthcare, consume more than is produced economically, and is lagging behind in education than any other group.  Sterling was not held accountable by the NBA but nor was he held accountable by the Black community.

Let the lessons from Donald Sterling’s confessions of a wealthy racist be a driver of what needs to change as a whole. One person can be toxic to an entire community and our country, but one person can also be a change agent in their community. If one can be a change agent, imagine what can be done if several groups came together to do and be. Sterling should be a reason for the Black Community to examine itself more closely and be willing to address and change what can be done from within. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Former NBA Owner Charles L. Ewing, Sr. Talks Ongoing NBA Saga on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

The saga surrounding Donald Sterling's leaked racist rants came under more scrutiny after his self professed silly rabbit and adviser, V. Stiviano, gave a confusing interview on ABC's 20/20 that was torturous to watch. To help us understand the "culture" of NBA owners Living Your Best Life Radio with Genma Holmes reached out to former owners of the Memphis Grizzlies, Charles L. Ewing, Sr. and Fred Jones.

Join us on Saturday, May 3, 2014 to hear Charles L. Ewing, Sr. give us a glimpse into the life of being an NBA owner. Mr. Ewing, CEO of Ewing Moving Services, will share his past experiences and how it relates to current events surrounding Donald Sterling and the culture of NBA owners. He will share about the journey to becoming an owner that included thoroughly being investigated. Every aspects of his life, personal and professionally, and the lives of his family, close friends, and business associates were put under the microscope before he was accepted as a minority owner of the team.

Mr. Ewing will talk his meetings with then 28 owners and try help us understand, in layman terms, the bylaws and constitutions of NBA. Mr. Ewing will give us an inside view of being a minority executive and not a basketball player in the NBA. Mr. Ewing will also try to answer questions like: Why has the media not pursued interviewing more minority NBA owners like him and Mr. Jones? Why has the media focused been on the players more than owners who set the tone for the team? Do other NBA owners believe they "own" the players? Did being an owner of a NBA team change how he did business with majority companies after he left the NBA? He will share lessons learned from his time as NBA owner and how is applying those lessons in his life today.

This show promises to empower, to inspire, and to motivate you to live your BEST life. Living Your Best Life Radio is heard on 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, the Inspirational Network, military bases, Tune In, and live streamed at Ustream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About Charles L. Ewing, Sr.

“To Whom Much Is Given Much Is Required” 

The President/CEO, Charles Ewing, Sr. donates his time and resources to numerous charitable causes. He serves on several local, regional and national boards of directors in hopes that he can help make life better for those around him.  The employees of the company are encouraged to follow his example and do the same.  Ewing Moving Service, Inc. is committed to giving back to the community. 

Below are some of the present and past organizations that Ewing Moving Service, Inc. supports: 

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis
• Soulsville USA, STAX Music Academy & The STAX Museum of American Soul Music
• Society of Entrepreneurs
• The University of Tennessee
• St. Louis Federal Reserve Board
• Memphis District Laymen’s Movement
• Regions Advisory Board
• Grizzlies Foundation
• City of Memphis Mayor’s Advisory Council 

More About Ewing Moving

 Ewing Moving Service, Inc. is an independent local and long distance relocation service specializing in complete packing and warehouse storage. Established in 1980 by Charles L. Ewing, Sr. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with an additional office in Nashville, Tennessee.

The company provides relocation services for residential and commercial clients throughout the continental United States and internationally.

We aim to assure the quality of the customer's experience from the beginning to the end of their move. We stand behind every service commitment and we employ friendly, skilled, knowledgeable people who are professionally committed to meeting your needs.

If Missing Nigerian School Girls Were Passengers On A Missing Malaysian Plane

If 234 Nigerian school girls ages 7-17 who were kidnapped was a Malaysian plane with 239 on board that disappeared in the middle of the night here is how the world would have awaken to the news the very next day:

There would have been a scramble for all media outlets to finds a reporter to begin immediate coverage. Never mind experience or credentials, a live feed and a body would have worked until the cable networks had teams on the ground.

The network graphics team would have immediately put up a map to educate everyone where this remote part of the world is for those who never heard of the country.

 Google Earth would have been the go to tool until more feeds from the obscure reporter became part of the cycle for the first full day.

                                                        

Network bookers would have been frantically looking for experts, real and not so real, to discuss probable causes of the why the girls, like the passengers, went missing. The first round of experts would have been to dissect if a terrorists were behind the disappearance. Military experts would sound the alarm that such a thing could happen in name-the-country and the names of terrorists who might be responsible would have been given an in depth storyline within the first few hours. Although the plane did not go missing in U.S., updates from the state department would have been part of the initial coverage. In the case of the missing 234 Nigerian school girls, they were taken by terrorists, Boko Haram, but there has not been an endless cycle of military experts on the networks telling us about this militia and if there are possible cells in the U.S.

Believed to Leader of Boko Haram

Now if the 234 missing Nigerian school girls were a missing Malaysian plane with 239 passengers, Pentagon experts would had weighed in with a hastily assembled press conference. All networks would be on standby throughout the day waiting for any information, accurate or hearsay. With the eyes of the world on the operators of MH 370 and the government at a press conference, officials would want to show their concern and that are doing everything feasible to find out what happened. Network anchors would want to track what is trending on social media to make sure they are asking the questions the world want to hear answered. The tragic news of the missing would be shared and mourned by a worldwide audience. 

Missing Malaysian Plane Press Conference

UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa Region, Manuel Fontaine speaks about kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Because of a worldwide audience, prayerfully, other countries, near and far, would have helped search for the missing Nigerian school girls if they were missing passengers on a Malaysian plane. Countries would have searched their radar to see if  "something" crucial may have been overlooked. The U.S. and other countries would have searched through thousands of terrorists emails for any 'chatter' relating to the incident that may have taken place in prior months. The Nigerian school girls fate and the pain of their families would have been felt. Interviews with families would start to become part of the news cycle. The anguish of parents, spouses, children would have been embedded in the stories as expert after expert continue to give gloom mixed with hope. The viewing audience would have wondered if the missing suffered. The possibility of being of alive would be discussed over and over. Special hash tags for special news segments would have part of the plane coverage by the networks. Prayers would have been openly spoken by anchors as they moved from one topic to the next relating to the 234 missing girls if they were the 239 missing passengers.

If the missing Nigerian school girls were passengers on a missing Malaysian Plane, the need to know what happened to them would have been 24 hour coverage within the first few days. The media's appetite would have been feed by the teams of reporters camped out in hotels (or a remote desert shanty) waiting to report anything. Anything. Cutaway after cutaway to report the smallest detail about the missing would have been part of every news segment. Ships would have poured into roughest seas on earth. Scientist would have shared their knowledge about the depths of the sea. An African desert, like the Indian Ocean, is extremely dangerous. The networks could have filled hours educating the public on geographical boundaries of the desert and how long someone could survive in the heat as they continue to apply pressure from the lens of the world on the government to continue to search for the missing. Planes, private and government, would have flown over barren landscapes as if they were large bodies of water looking for any sign of life. "Show and tell" would have been part of the coverage by allowing cameras to capture every angle of the most advanced technology gear in the scientific community being used to find pieces of the plane, or in the case of the missing Nigerian school girls, evidence that the militia who took them are camped out in the brush in the desert.

 

As the days of searching turned into weeks, investigative reporters would have researched the background of the missing Nigerien school girls if they were missing passengers on a Malaysian plane. The media would have shined the spotlight about previous abductions of girls from schools in Nigeria. Reporters would have landed in small rural villages to interview the villagers with stories of the brutality of men who would do anything to stop women and girls from being educated. Those stories collectively is what happens in remote communities when first world countries look the other way while lawlessness becomes the law of the land. The eyes of the world would have turned to the UN for them to answer why world leaders are not held accountable for the systemic destruction of  people by extremists. The around the clock media coverage would have exposed repeated patterns of atrocities when young women, world wide, seek education for themselves to not only have a chance at a better life but to help change the lives of their fellowman.

If the missing Nigerian school girls had been passengers on a missing Malaysian plane, the urgency to find the pings from the black box before the batteries die would have take center stage. The pings, like the Nigerian school girls' cries from being ravished by monsters, would have been analyzed by manufactures and reporting from a flight simulator would be the lead story every hour on the hour.  In the case of the missing Nigerian school girls, women who have escaped the horrors of being kidnapped from schools and forced into a life of slavery would have replaced the engineers from manufacturers of the black box. Their stories of repeated rapes and abuse would have caused millions to want find evil and cut it out. The experts would have been women like Marcia Dyson whose mission in life is to help women become independent and thriving in their communities. Social media change agents like Luvvie would have added insight to the conversation surrounding the missing the girls. Networks that preach empowerment of women would have owned this story.

Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinskif, author of Knowing Your Value, could have been an expert on how the devaluation of women in the marketplace has roots in how women are treated around the world. Ariana Huffington, who is traveling the country promoting Thrive, could have shared about women pulling themselves up by the boot straps and shown that economic empowerment lectures are not for the educated Ivy League but for women are in a league of their own trying to defend their rights to learn to read and write. CNN, host of CNN Heroes could have easily booked Heroes like, Kakenya Ntaiva, Laurel Stachel, Razia Jan, Jason Kaguri (to name a few) who are live their lives defending social justice, educating women and girls, fighting to end global poverty, and who have risked their own lives to stop sex trafficking of children.

              

"Knowing Your Value" Author Mika Brezinskif 

(Being Devalued)

If the missing Nigerian school girls had been passengers on a missing Malaysian Plane, the lens of the world would have demanded to know why the government is not more transparent in sharing information with the public and the families of the missing. The Malaysian Prime Minister's press briefings about the missing passengers were often times spotty and details were deliberately left out Likewise, Nigeria's leaders were initially vague on the information regarding the missing school girls. Both governments concerns for the lives of the missing have come under fire. And rightly so.

The Malaysian plane with over 239 passengers dropped off the radar on March 8. The search has been intensive and the media coverage non-stop with daily updates still going strong. The world wants to know what happened to everyone on the plane. The lives of those missing on the Malaysian plane are being mourned. We should want to find them to bring closure for their families and love ones.What happened to the plane will haunt us for years to come and we should want to find answers.

Every child is precious. What happens to one, happens to all of us.

 

The 234 Nigerian school girls were kidnapped on April 14, 2014 and the world has just begun to show concern. The lives of the Nigerian school girls are being mourned as well. They are still alive. We should want to find them and bring them home to their families. The men who terrorizes women and children who seek a better life by wanting to learn to read should be hunted down and brought to justice right away. What happened to the Nigerian school girls should haunt us and we should desperately want to find answers to help put an end to these atrocities that continue around the world. May we continue to pray for the girls return.

Photo credits: The Guardian, Reuters, Vanity Fair, Color of Change, CNN, Getty, AP

When Cavemen Learn to Use The Computer...They Usually Send Sexist Emails

I have written several posts about emails that can leave stains on a city, an institution, an organization and a person’s character. An email sent without regards to the consequences usually reveals much about the ignorance of the sender. Emails with contents immersed in racism or sexism can be the most damaging to a sender’s reputation.

Past emails bursting with racism sent by individuals in the Nashville area have all made national headlines. Where one form of “ism” exists, there are others, simmering in the same pot of shame. Recently, a Metro Nashville Public School (MNPS) male supervisor sent an email to female subordinates that has gone viral. In the food service department, the female to male ratio is 9 to 1. An email with a cartoon depicting a caveman telling another caveman that he has decided to teach the woman to talk and asking “what harm can it do?” is not funny. Period. With the caption above the cartoon titled, “The Original Sin”, one wonders will folks ever learn.

I contacted several MNPS food service staff members at area schools to ask them about their work environment which the email made me question right away. No one wanted to go on record for fear of losing their jobs but all agreed that email that I read was a glimpse behind the drawn shades of a school system that has become synonymous with devaluing its support staff like the janitors and bus drivers.

Hopefully, this post will encourage Dr. Register, director of Metro Schools, to round up all the cavemen at MNPS and teach them what actual harm an “ism” email can cause when the send button is hit without regards to consequences.

Michael Steele's Coonery Tour Has Ended

Michael Steele was elected as the first African American Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) in January of 2009. He was elected shortly after President Obama became the first African American President of the United States. Many believed that Mr. Steele would be the Republican’s answers to President Obama. Mr. Steele could attack the President without it appearing racial. Mr. Steele promised that during his reign of the RNC, he would make sure the Republican Party reached out to more ethnic minorities across the country.


But Mr. Steele’s leadership seemed to cause more division among conservatives and was not inclusive of minorities. The RNC lost a chuck of its base to the Tea Party. The Tea Party organizations from around the country ran candidates against not only incumbent Democrats but Republican as well. The Tea party members called Republicans out in many races and promised that once they got to Washington they were not only going to hold the President accountable, but Democrats and Republicans to their vision of how they want the government work.

Down South, my grandparents used a term to call intelligent Black folks who played down their abilities and mocked their communities coonery. In many conservative circles, Michael Steele’s coonery was blamed for helping topple the RNC. Nothing prepared Republicans for his antics and out of control foolishness that came out of Steele’s mouth often. Not only was he an embarrassment to old school Republicans but many Black folks did not know what to make of Steele’s constant ignorant outbursts. His love of self-promotions made in him a comedy routine regular on The Daily Show. A Muppet like character was created to depict Steele using his street slang. His made up homeboy sayings had even people from the streets scratching their head questioning what he was talking about. Nothing from Steele’s background would have predicted how badly he would lead the RNC.

Steele was adopted by a Democrat leaning working class family as a baby. He lost his farther at an early age but his mother later remarried and had a second child. His half-sister, Monica Turner, later married and divorced Boxer Mike Tyson. Steele attended Catholic schools and even studied to become a priest. He graduated from John Hopkins University with a degree in International Studies and later received his law degree from Georgetown University Law School. Steele was employed as a corporate securities associate at the Washington, D.C. office of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen, & Hamilton. From 1991 to 1997, he specialized in financial investments for Wall Street underwriters, working at Cleary's Tokyo, Japan office on major product liability litigation and at its London office on corporate matters. He left the law firm and founded the Steele Group, a business and legal consulting firm. He was active in politics.

Mr. Steele severed as Lt. Governor of Maryland and was the first African American to hold that title. He was instrumental in helping establish Minorities Business Enterprise program and made education a priority.

Several minority business owners that I know personally from the DC area have credited Steele for helping them establish their businesses. But they quickly point out did not recognize the Steele that was chair of the RNC. Steele, a bright and intelligent person prior to becoming a national political figure, became someone who played up the worst stereotypes of Black in mainstream media. He became a caricature from the hood that put on a suit and a bow tie that made white folks chuckle with glee and Blacks folks hold their breathes in dismay. Watching him tell his humorless jokes on TV would leave me baffled but hearing him in person left me wondering why I was even trying to comprehend his logic on the occasions I heard him speak. He truly reminded me of an Amos and Andy routine. He attacked the President as his paycheck required him to do but rarely did any of his attacks stick.

Steele could have used his talents from his previous careers to convert independents who became disillusioned with President Obama. But he could not even get ants to an outdoor picnic. He allowed racial rhetoric go too far too long. Steele’s justified statements that he knew were inflammatory nightly on cable news. He only countered it when RNC members started complaining about his lavish spending, questionable nightclub outings, and how he seemed to pocket money from his book tour instead of giving the money to the RNC. When he came under scrutiny, he ran to Black radio crying racism in the RNC. Hmm, how convenient.

Steele had no shame. Folks on Coonery circuits usually don’t. Being the head of the RNC, Steele showed us classic coonery. Right out the bat he tried to bring hip-hop to the RNC in order to reach the youth. Who say hip-hop anymore? Publicly feuded with Rush Limbaugh only to back track and kiss Rush’s Ring. And other parts. Didn’t know pro-choice did not mean pro-life. All Catholics know the difference. Swore that white folks were afraid of him. Really? In January 2010, predicted that the GOP would not win very many seats. They won 63 House seats. Said he wrote his book before he was Chairman of the RNC. Lied. Claim Afghanistan 'Was A War Of Obama's Choosing. Nope, President Bush took us to war. Twice.

Steele ended his gaffe filled two year coonery tour this month with a response to a question at the RNC chair debate. The candidates were asked what their favorite book was. Steele said his favorite book was War and Peace by Tolstoy, and then quoted: "It's the best of times and the worst of times," triggering laughter throughout the hall at the fact that Steele had in fact quoted A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens. Shameful. Thankfully, the tour is over!


Article first published as Michael Steele's Coonery Tour Has Ended on Blogcritics.

Since Loughner didn't have a prayer rug...the Media refuses to call him a Terrorist

The tragic shootings in Tuscon, Arizona have left our country shaken to the core. I sat glued to my television on Saturday afternoon, flipping channels as I soaked up the coverage. Representative Gabby Giffords was originally pronounced dead by several media outlets but she miraculously survived a gunshot to the head by gunman Jared Lee Loughner. Representative Giffords was holding her regular “Congress on your Corner “ with her constituents at a Safeway grocery store. Six were killed and 13 wounded on Saturday.

The dead identified by the Pima County sheriff's office are: U.S. District Judge John Roll, 63; Dorthy Murray, 76; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; Christina Greene, 9; Phyllis Scheck, 79; Gabe Zimmerman, 30. Ironically, 9 year old Christina Greene was born on September 11, 2001. She was excited about the political process since the election of President Obama. Christina was newly elected to her school’s student council. She went with her neighbor to meet Rep Giffords’ to learn more about the political process. Along with Rep. Giffords, 12 others are still hospitalized.


The attempted assignation of the Representative Giffords is very similar to the Fort Hood, Texas mass shooting that took place on November 5, 2009. A gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, killed 13 people and wounded 30 others. Both shooters were struggling with mental issues. Automatic weapons were used to shoot innocent individuals. Both men were loners and many stated they acted weird and express anti-government sentiments. Thankfully, Jared Lee Loughner was denied acceptance into the Army because of drug use and Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, was becoming increasing agitated by an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.


Both men committed unthinkable acts but one glaring difference between the two is the how the media has depicted both men. Major Nidal Malik Hasan was called a terrorist from day one. Terrorist experts and military talking heads saturated the networks discussing Hasan minutes after the shootings were reported at Fort Hood. Jared Lee Loughner has been painted as a “troubled youth” who did not get the mental health he needed. Every mental health care professional and parents of mental patients have discussed mental healthcare issues while the media has pondered what could have added to his “stressful” life. Not one cable talking head has called him what he is; a deranged terrorist.

According to the United States Law Code, terrorism is “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.” New evidence alleges that Loughner possibly planned for years to assassinate Gifford. But a whole host of major media outlets seem to disagree.

Cord Jefferson helps us take a look at what other media outlets are reporting and the language that is noticeable absent.

The Wall Street Journal stated Loughner “raged against the government” and “discussed terrorism,” which, when you actually think about it, is a vague, nearly meaningless sentence. (Since 9/11, everyone has talked about terrorism.) In The Atlanta Journal Constitution, the main story is that Loughner was denied entry into the military because he failed a drug test, while the only talk of terrorism comes in a confusing quote from a blog posting from Loughner himself: "If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is ad hominem.” And, in The Los Angeles Times’ lead story on Loughner on Tuesday, the word “terror” doesn’t appear once.

Compare this nebulous coverage to that on Nidal malik Hasan in November 2009. Hasan is Muslim, a fact every news outlet would not let you forget while speculating about his terrorist ties.

Four days after the attack on Fort Hood, the Wall Street Journal published two stories suggesting that Hasan was a terrorist, one of which included the assertion that it was a terrorist act because Hasan spoke Arabic while he shot. The Los Angeles Times spoke to counter-terrorism experts for an article on Hasan. And, in The Atlanta Journal Constitution, blogger Kyle Wingfield actually gave credence to a Forbes argument claiming that Hasan “went Muslim.”

Some will argue that Hasan’s terrorist intentions were proved by communications he had with radical cleric Anwar al Awlaki, but, in fact, experts who reviewed the pair’s e-mail exchange deemed it totally innocuous.

It should be noted that the FBI Director Robert Mueller has said he's not ruling out terrorism charges against Loughner, but nothing's certain yet. In Dubai, Hillary Clinton called Loughner an "extremist," though, like the media, she stopped short of calling him a terrorist. From the sidelines, the message this sends is pretty obvious and very insidious: When a white man executes a political attack, he’s likely crazy. If he’s black, he’s a dropout from a single mom home with an incarcerated father. When it’s a Muslim doing the shooting, he’s a terrorist.

Folks must call the Arizona shootings exactly what they are; acts of terrorism. Whether the shooter is white, black, or brown equal scrutiny should be given to a person who commits crimes of this nature. A person’s religion and the length of his name should not determine how the crime is reported. A terrorist is a terrorist. Because many allow the media to shape their thoughts and drive the conversation, the media helps facilitate racial flames at its leisure. The political pundits are carefully picked for their skills at stroking the audiences depending on what outlet you watch. Dumb pundits are chosen to play down a point and hateful pundits are picked to create more intolerance. They play us like puppets. People of color must not allow the media to soft ball crimes contributed by white terrorists. White people must see that Jared Lee Loughner is what he is, a terrorist, and should be discussed just like Nidal Malik Hasan or Nene’s son who robbed the corner liquor store. As a country, we should take a serious look at the actions of the media and the political atmosphere that they profit from that may have fueled the actions of a crazed man’s terrorist acts.