China cancels NBA stuff / Silver issues statement (pg1) /Ongoing discussion...

[d00lttle]

Damn ... this statement from a ESPN story.

"We're strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver's claim to support Morey's right to freedom of expression," the statement read. "We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech."

You have idiots in the US talk about state secession (national sovereignty) all the time (I mean, I do live in Texas) but the federal government doesn't start taking things like social security or medicare away from citizens who talk about secession.

Pretty sure NBA will ban any employee who tweets secessionist symbols, like the Confederate flag.

But that would be because of it's links to racism, not separation from the Union. If somebody started a twitter account ranting about how California or Hawaii should split, the league (and the government) wouldn't care.

[Sedale Threatt]

Silver is in a tough spot. China wants blood on this issue to save face, they want Morey's ass fired.

BUT if he does that, he looks soft as charmin to his US fan base.

The thing is, the Rockets could not only fire Morey, they could also serve his head up on a golden platter in ritual sacrifice, as well as those of every NBA player's first-born child, and it won't make a bit of difference. This is a golden opportunity to whip up nationalist sentiment and play the victim, and the Chinese government is going to milk this for all it's worth.

[E-Balla]

So can't criticize China... Nope. Have to ignore them.

No matter what other countries are doing, have to turn a blind eye.

Personally my thoughts on the matter goes as far as this: Hong Kong is a symbol of British imperialism in the West that shouldn't exist and what China does with what's rightfully there's is their business. As a citizen of the West the criticism of China to me is a criticism of people lashing out against Western imperialism similar to the massive hate for Zimbabwe and the massive lashing out against South Africa when they said they were going to start forcing people to sell the government land.

You brought up Chinese freedom of speech violations as a whataboutism, deal with that same energy back (IDK what started this all I just saw your comment and felt it was a bit arrogant).

So all the current citizens, who have lived in a different situation? **** them? All those journalists, bloggers, etc, who have spoken out against Chinese human rights issues, you're basically signing their death sentence).

There's no whataboutism. China regularly prevents any criticism of their government and journalists who persist often are never seen again. There's no defending that. That's wrong.

I'm not defending it, I'm saying it's not my place to criticize it. The current citizens are citizens of China last I checked so I'm not defending them in a not so thinly veiled attempt of defending western imperialism. All types of freedom of speech issues pop up concerning the NBA but I don't remember nearly this much outrage when Turkey refused to show Portland's playoff games. Not hard to see why if you take 2 seconds to read between the lines.

[E-Balla]

100% this.

It irritatates me to no end that people think free speech means you can say what you want without ramifications.

Free speech just means you don't have to worry about going to jail for life or being executed.



LOL, when youve been to as many shipyards in Singapore like I have you'll see that Singapore has a vast underclass, usually Indian or Bangladeshi, that almost borders on servitude.

Amen. Tons of people use freedom of speech as a shield. They have consequences. Right or wrong.

Yes they still have consequences. Should also be noted no other country has freedom of speech even just in regards to not being thrown in jail

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FTFY

[LoveMyRaps]

Read on Twitter

[Stillwater]

so I admit I don't follow the politics much, but I wonder if this is mostly about China being communists which is the opposite of democracy and freedoms the NBA is striving for...
I mean the few times I have been there I see people are forced to sleep in 4'x4'x8' lockers serving as their home that are built into the walls of the facility that they are employed at. They have no freedoms they work for pennies on the dollar and the lack of EPA rules has polluted their environment so much that they are forced to wear masks outside.
F China governments and leaders... they treat the people there like slaves

[sikma42]

Oh no!! I hope thats not Shangahi Rucker. Im gonna be there next month playing ball. Will def get a friend to ask them about their thoughts on this

Read on Twitter

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[Catchall]

The NBA must have had a meeting and decided that having integrity in America is more important than appeasing China, hence this statement.

[Jim Naismith]

Damn ... this statement from a ESPN story.

"We're strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver's claim to support Morey's right to freedom of expression," the statement read. "We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech."

You have idiots in the US talk about state secession (national sovereignty) all the time (I mean, I do live in Texas) but the federal government doesn't start taking things like social security or medicare away from citizens who talk about secession.

Pretty sure NBA will ban any employee who tweets secessionist symbols, like the Confederate flag.

But that would be because of it's links to racism, not separation from the Union. If somebody started a twitter account ranting about how California or Hawaii should split, the league (and the government) wouldn't care.

Southern secessionism is linked to slavery.

Hong Kong separatism is linked to opium and British colonialism.

[Catchall]

Damn ... this statement from a ESPN story.

"We're strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver's claim to support Morey's right to freedom of expression," the statement read. "We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech."

You have idiots in the US talk about state secession (national sovereignty) all the time (I mean, I do live in Texas) but the federal government doesn't start taking things like social security or medicare away from citizens who talk about secession.

Could you imagine what would happen in China to media or individuals who talk about the politburo members the way American media talk about Trump? Those people would be imprisoned for 10 years.

[stuporman]

I find it interesting how this situation exposes authoritarian bigotry and how those who are bigoted use the excuse of other people fighting for their rights as why they are bigoted towards them....um, well, the truth is you are just bigoted regardless otherwise you'd support someone fighting for their rights, even if they different than you and have differing opinions.

That's the difference between being tolerant of others and being intolerant of others. Tolerance is supporting someone rights to free expression and right to fight for it even of you don't agree with them, intolerant is denying someone their rights to free expression and their right to fight for it. If you want to figure out if you are bigoted just use that measuring stick.

Oh and the NBA is one intellectual property China can't sell knock offs of, nobody will pay to watch LeBrom James.

[Duffman100]

Personally my thoughts on the matter goes as far as this: Hong Kong is a symbol of British imperialism in the West that shouldn't exist and what China does with what's rightfully there's is their business. As a citizen of the West the criticism of China to me is a criticism of people lashing out against Western imperialism similar to the massive hate for Zimbabwe and the massive lashing out against South Africa when they said they were going to start forcing people to sell the government land.

You brought up Chinese freedom of speech violations as a whataboutism, deal with that same energy back (IDK what started this all I just saw your comment and felt it was a bit arrogant).

So all the current citizens, who have lived in a different situation? **** them? All those journalists, bloggers, etc, who have spoken out against Chinese human rights issues, you're basically signing their death sentence).

There's no whataboutism. China regularly prevents any criticism of their government and journalists who persist often are never seen again. There's no defending that. That's wrong.

I'm not defending it, I'm saying it's not my place to criticize it. The current citizens are citizens of China last I checked so I'm not defending them in a not so thinly veiled attempt of defending western imperialism. All types of freedom of speech issues pop up concerning the NBA but I don't remember nearly this much outrage when Turkey refused to show Portland's playoff games. Not hard to see why if you take 2 seconds to read between the lines.

A) That's obviously a complicated situation
B) There has been constant outrage over Turkey and their dictator.

[RRyder823]

Amen. Tons of people use freedom of speech as a shield. They have consequences. Right or wrong.

Yes they still have consequences. Should also be noted no other country has freedom of speech even just in regards to not being thrown in jail

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FTFY

Not sure why you took out the "other the the US" part as its true but hey you do you

(unless grammar is just that big of an issue for you)

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[madmaxmedia]

Supporting a system of government where the whole population can elect its own members of state is something to apologize for?

Corporations do not care at all about human rights or social justice. It's all just marketing BS, best lesson to be learned here is the only appropriate response to give when a US corporation harps about their 'progressive values' yet does business with the CCP is to laugh and walk away.

Corporations are financial entities that literally exist to make a profit, for society to count on them to better our world is putting our eggs in the wrong basket (not disagreeing but adding to what you said.)

That being said, I'm not nearly as down on Silver and the NBA as others, after his second comment. He does not express any sort of opinion or judgement on the Chinese government, but at least he draws a clear line in the sand on not censoring the viewpoints of the NBA's employees. There's going to be more fallout and more opinions expressed in the days ahead, let's see how Silver responds to that.

Generally speaking I don't think doing business in China is necessarily an endorsement of the Chinese government. I don't know the nature of the NBA's business dealings in China though. Obviously it's a bit more than some small company wanting to sell widgets overseas to Chinese consumers.

[Pan Jia Yuan]

Making money - or doing the right thing.
In conflicts like this you can't have it both ways.
If you want to make money - fine.
But don't act like you're "the good", don't act like you're morally superior - like you care morally abt anything at all.
In conflicts like this all your BS PR blasts you in the face - with a jet engine.

Great lesson not only about the NBA as a corporate organization but about our entire world as it is today.

[Fitz303]

South Park just recently had all of their episodes blocked in China as well due to an unfavorable espisode that was just aired. They just tweeted out their "apology" as well. I really wish Silver would have taken this route...

[Imon]

Pretty sure NBA will ban any employee who tweets secessionist symbols, like the Confederate flag.

But that would be because of it's links to racism, not separation from the Union. If somebody started a twitter account ranting about how California or Hawaii should split, the league (and the government) wouldn't care.

Southern secessionism is linked to slavery.

Hong Kong separatism is linked to opium and British colonialism.

Uhhhh wut?
I'm pretty sure the protests in HK were orginally about opposition to the extradition bill. Now it's mostly about more power for HK to choose its own leaders. I don't actually think most HKers want (or realistically believe) they can be their own nation. So what does opium and imperialism have to do with the motivations of the current protests? Yeah, everyone knows HK used to be a British colony - that means HKers have become more accustomed to liberties that mainlanders don't share. Colonialism has had its ugly scars to be sure - greater personal freedoms is not one of them.

[TheProfessor]

Morey's an idiot, I think he deserves to be fired but he can't because of the **** it will create. Like honestly, I expect this out of a 21 year old poli-sci student not a 40+ grown man. What effect was really looking for when he tweeted? Was his tweet going inspire the masses? His tweet was just Tweetavism and is now costing his employer's as well their employers hundreds of millions of dollars because he wanted to feel good about himself while doing nothing.

If he really cared, he could A) Go to Hong Kong and protest. B) Donate to funds helping Hong Kong C) Talk to US elected officals and try to use his influence and wealth to do something. Not tweet like a pansy.

Also, for people saying this a freedom of speech/expression issue. It isn't. Freedom of speech only saves you from persecution from the government.

[nikster]

NBA banned Donald Sterling for a private conversation.

So? A league filled with African Americans didn’t want a racist owner. Not to mention the PR backlash and financial aspect. I guess that’s similar to an authoritarian government banning an animated children’s movie

So? A country filled with Chinese didn't want an anti-China general manager.

You were responding to someone mentioning bringing up Chinas ban of Winnie the Pooh.

And I would hope you hold sports leagues and superpowe governments to different standards

[RRyder823]

South Park just recently had all of their episodes blocked in China as well due to an unfavorable espisode that was just aired. They just tweeted out their "apology" as well. I really wish Silver would have taken this route...

That apology to China is the most American response possible and I love it lol

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