The Tragic Loss of Kobe Bryant An American Professional Basketball Athlete Was Dishonored And Christians Should Stand Against Racism

[HeraldtheNews]

Why is your focus on idolizing a deceased basketball player who made millions of dollars and who cheated on his wife? Surely, there must be others that are more deserving of your focus.

I'm not trying to idolize the athlete, only defend the honor of people of African descent that were not honored by the photo chosen by the Los Angeles Times.

 

[HeraldtheNews]

I thought this might be a good place for a lighter note that helps with cultural relations in sports: This is a short video clip of an advertisement that highlights dialog between Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, two basketball players, one of European descent, and one of African descent, in a potato chip advertisement: Unknown YouTube origin, unknown copyrights, used here only for demo purposes:

 

[HeraldtheNews]

To get to the bottom line of what you're saying: yes, racism is bad.

Actually, almost everything is bad and worth condemning. The media misrepresents people and ideas in order to fit an agenda or confirm the bias of their audience.

So while a Christian(s) could condemn something that's wrong, we would have to run a 24/7/365 never-ending dialogue of rebuking the media just to keep up with everything they say that is corrupt and ungodly.

Making people aware of their sins is normally only used in the great commission to inform people of their error, their fallen state, to convict them of their need for repentance and salvation. Once a person has faith in Christ, there is no new condemnation. There is no more judgement because that person has already passed from death into life, forever.

So open-ended condemnation and rebuking without offering a way to salvation and forgiveness has done a lot of damage to the Christian image and misrepresents Christ. This sort of indiscriminate lashing out over hot-button issues in the media is actually unChristian. Though I feel your heart is in the right place, slow down.

The best thing you can do is approach people on an individual basis, show them love, forgiveness, and pray.

Thank you, this is good advice.
Sorry if I did not get a chance to answer every reply in this thread. I have some concentration limitations at time, and this kind of writing stresses me out, but it is for a good purpose, to help make the world a better place and help us all work together to build peace.

 

[Dude653]

Does anyone have an actual picture of the magazine cover in question?

 

[7seasrekeyed]

I'm not going to post the photo of Kobe Bryant in question. Martin Luther (the German Monk) his role was spiritual warfare, like the Apostle Paul. But since Martin Luther's name came up, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's, "I Have a Dream," speech was the one that highlighted his life. He was not preaching angry, but was expressing Apostolic zeal for the oppressed, and for freedom in America and equal rights.

This is a photo I found at The Catholic News Agency website with an unknown copyright, used here only for demo purposes: I was not aware that he attended Roman Catholic Services.

from the beginning of your op, you have not been able to even point in the direction of the photo that you state was offensive

you bring up Martin Luther and now Dr King.....no one knows what you are even referring to and you are the ONLY person on the internet that seems to be upset by a phantom photo

people have only asked you what you are talking about and you cannot give a straight answer

since Bryant played for the LA Lakers, I doubt, truly and seriously doubt, they were doing him a dirty at the LA Times

I guess you just want to discuss racism so go ahead

but I know what racism is and since I didn't grow up in the US, I was exposed to far less than the average American...in fact, I was not exposed at all

so I will leave you to your conversation on racism but no one can find what you are referring to...I saw the LA Times cover...it didn't evoke the same reaction you seemed to have...so whatever

they printed a commerative issue, 1978 - 2020 , which is still for sale...check availability if interested

this is the image the LA Times ran and if that is somehow racist? pretty sure people would have been screaming their heads off

for some reason, you decided it was racist. my conclusion? nothing to see here

my last response to you

 

[tourist]

I'm not trying to idolize the athlete, only defend the honor of people of African descent that were not honored by the photo chosen by the Los Angeles Times.

Why single out this particular group for honor and not other groups? There are honorable people in all races, creeds and nationality.

 

[tourist]

from the beginning of your op, you have not been able to even point in the direction of the photo that you state was offensive

you bring up Martin Luther and now Dr King.....no one knows what you are even referring to and you are the ONLY person on the internet that seems to be upset by a phantom photo

people have only asked you what you are talking about and you cannot give a straight answer

since Bryant played for the LA Lakers, I doubt, truly and seriously doubt, they were doing him a dirty at the LA Times

I guess you just want to discuss racism so go ahead

but I know what racism is and since I didn't grow up in the US, I was exposed to far less than the average American...in fact, I was not exposed at all

so I will leave you to your conversation on racism but no one can find what you are referring to...I saw the LA Times cover...it didn't evoke the same reaction you seemed to have...so whatever

they printed a commerative issue, 1978 - 2020 , which is still for sale...check availability if interested

this is the image the LA Times ran and if that is somehow racist? pretty sure people would have been screaming their heads off

for some reason, you decided it was racist. my conclusion? nothing to see here

my last response to you

If this is the photo in question there is nothing whatsoever racist about it. The guy looks like a warrior, and as a former military service member, I think that description is rather flattering. He obviously brought his A game that day.

 

[tourist]

Does anyone have an actual picture of the magazine cover in question?

I think that only HeraldtheNews has actually seen it.

 

[tourist]

I thought this might be a good place for a lighter note that helps with cultural relations in sports: This is a short video clip of an advertisement that highlights dialog between Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, two basketball players, one of European descent, and one of African descent, in a potato chip advertisement: Unknown YouTube origin, unknown copyrights, used here only for demo purposes:

Two excellent players that excelled in the game. Lay's potato chips are good too.

 

[tourist]

I thought this might be a good place for a lighter note that helps with cultural relations in sports: This is a short video clip of an advertisement that highlights dialog between Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, two basketball players, one of European descent, and one of African descent, in a potato chip advertisement: Unknown YouTube origin, unknown copyrights, used here only for demo purposes:

I enjoyed the clip. I believe that I actually saw it on TV years ago.

 

[tourist]

well go ahead if you can find that picture

er....painting...find that painting

his role was spiritual warfare?

I can't keep up with it....... View attachment 213793

Maybe Martin Luther King's role was spiritual warrior?

 

[HeraldtheNews]

I enjoyed the clip. I believe that I actually saw it on TV years ago.

Yes I remember the ad too, that's why I posted it. I grew up when Kareem was playing basketball, and I actually learned how to shoot his classic hook shot, over the head. I remember watching both players in games on TV. They both did well with the dialog for this ad.

 

[7seasrekeyed]

I think that only HeraldtheNews has actually seen it.

nope

it's actually the photo I posted

here is what he said earlier

I just reviewed dozens of photo's of Kobe Bryant on the internet. Most of them seemed respectful of his career as a basketball player.
However, the photo chosen for the cover of the Los Angeles Times newspaper after the tragic loss of his life, along with his young daughter, and I believe 7 other individuals on board the aircraft, was the same photo chosen for the Los Angeles Times Commemorative magazine issue, which was clearly disrespectful of his career as a star basketball player, since the photo chosen, out of hundreds and hundreds over his career, was one that depicted him as an angry warrior in a fit of rage, when he was probably enjoying a moment of victory related to a basketball game, shouting to express the joy of victory. Basketball is a non-contact sport, with strict rules of non-violence and accidental or deliberate contact between players during the game.

I think he took it in a way that is his own personal interpretation

nothing to do about that

 

[7seasrekeyed]

If this is the photo in question there is nothing whatsoever racist about it. The guy looks like a warrior, and as a former military service member, I think that description is rather flattering. He obviously brought his A game that day.

yeah that's it

 

[HeraldtheNews]

If this is the photo in question there is nothing whatsoever racist about it. The guy looks like a warrior, and as a former military service member, I think that description is rather flattering. He obviously brought his A game that day.

Being a warrior is not the issue. Basketball is not a warrior sport. They are not at war with a basketball. They are not taking a hill in battle. It is a ball game with strict rules about contact between athletes. The photo did not accurately portray the sport of basketball. Even football is not a battle between angry warriors.
To deliberately portray an African - American athlete as an angry warrior was demeaning, considering that there were hundreds, if not thousands of other photos that would have been culturally respectful. A deceased athlete can not defend themselves, which made it a cowardly act, likely done by a wealthy elite that thought they could get away with treading on the grave of a minority athlete, which makes them the aggressors considering the reckless endangerment media can cause with sensitive and dangerous cultural issues. Even soldiers at war do not do battle with angry hatred. The Los Angeles Times committed a white collar media felony, in my opinion.

 

[blue_ladybug]

That dishonors his memory, his gifts and talents and you know it.

Oh brother.. We ALL have gifts and talents. yet none of us are better than another, we all the same in God's eyes..

 

[tourist]

Being a warrior is not the issue. Basketball is not a warrior sport. They are not at war with a basketball. They are not taking a hill in battle. It is a ball game with strict rules about contact between athletes. The photo did not accurately portray the sport of basketball. Even football is not a battle between angry warriors.
To deliberately portray an African - American athlete as an angry warrior was demeaning, considering that there were hundreds, if not thousands of other photos that would have been culturally respectful. A deceased athlete can not defend themselves, which made it a cowardly act, likely done by a wealthy elite that thought they could get away with treading on the grave of a minority athlete, which makes them the aggressors considering the reckless endangerment media can cause with sensitive and dangerous cultural issues. Even soldiers at war do not do battle with angry hatred. The Los Angeles Times committed a white collar media felony, in my opinion.

I really don't understand your concern about this. I am sure Kobe Bryant saw that photo when he was still alive. Like I have said, he probably considered it flattering.