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> But we also can't say anything because China makes all our stuff. Thinking of Lebron James who hypocritically spoke up about BLM and not about human rights a

> But we also can't say anything because China makes all our stuff. Thinking of Lebron James who hypocritically spoke up about BLM and not about human rights abuses in China[1]. We cannot place our hopes in capitalism to deal with these human-rights atrocities, even though there is much the NBA could do to use their financial power to influence the region and demand change. MLK would use boycotts to force racist businesses to grapple with losing the black people's dollar if they did not stand up for justice. We can still learn from this; the Western gov'ts are not the only players in this game. [1] https://www.newsweek.com/lebron-james-nba-players-told-move-china-boycott-1528069 https://www.newsweek.com/lebron-james-nba-players-told-move-...

platinumrad 6y ago
It's hypocritical to focus on issues in your own country?
- smithza 6y ago
  The BLM movement is important; I have no interest in distracting from this problem. Lebron was explicitly asked about the CCP and their human-rights abuses after an NBA manager unpopularly criticized the CCP. The NBA would rather not talk about the CCP and the manager was effectively shamed for doing so. Capitalism cannot look past the $$$. China makes up 10% of NBA revenue [1] [1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nba-needs-china-revenue-growth-leverage-170102327.html https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nba-needs-china-revenue-growt...
  - platinumrad 6y ago
    It's absolutely reasonable for NBA players to not want to comment on complicated issues that are outside of the scope of their political interests[1][2]. It would be nice to see the same humility in other aspects of our public discourse. [1] https://www.radio.com/sports/nba/former-nba-star-anti-china-propaganda-similar-to-iraq-war https://www.radio.com/sports/nba/former-nba-star-anti-china-... [2] https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2019/10/12/nba-players-china-free-speech-hong-kong-oppression/3944832002/ https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2019/10/12/nb...
    - medium_burrito 6y ago
      "Complicated issues", ie outright slavery, which is very much on the minds of Americans?
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
    - smithza 6y ago
      These news articles are fallacious appeals to ignorance. We are not ignorant of the very blatant oppression in China. The Hong Kong issue is just another example of communism seeking to squash autonomy and basic human rights. You say 'humility' and another says 'cowardice'. I side with the latter.
madenine 6y ago
> Thinking of Lebron James who hypocritically spoke up about BLM and not about human rights abuses in China[1]. I don't understand this take. Why does LeBron James have to address human rights in China before he, a Black American, can address human rights abuses against Black Americans in America?
- twobuy 6y ago
  You're right that he shouldn't feel the same obligation to speak out in defense of Tibet. But the issue with James is his history of comments that support the PRC's regime in Uyghur land. He isn't neutral on the issue of China. See: his comments during the Houston fiasco.
- adventured 6y ago
  That's a false choice, as James can do both things. He can choose to focus to a greater degree on matters in the US, and focus to a lesser degree on China, since his priorities are obviously in the US. Why should he take an interest? Beyond the matter of being a world famous person with a giant bullhorn to speak from, he's also making an obscene sum of money from China and its people and stands to keep doing so. That's vulgar morally if you then simultaneously ignore what's going on there and refuse to say anything with your platform. It is not difficult in terms of time or technically, for James to say something about China's human rights abuses on his prominent Twitter account (whether about Xinjiang or Hong Kong as two prominent examples). It would take a very small amount of effort and time. He doesn't do it because he's a hypocritical coward and knows China is a giant financial golden ticket and he doesn't dare upset them because he knows how they would react (the same reason so many are afraid of China and yet not afraid to say something against the US). The whole of the NBA is very terrified of China economically, the NBA hasn't been very subtle about their trembling post the Houston Rockets incident.
- defen 6y ago
  > Why does LeBron James have to address human rights in China before he, a Black American, can address human rights abuses against Black Americans in America? Because as bad as the human rights abuses against Black Americans in America are, they pale in comparison to what China is doing. But that's not the only issue. The bigger issue is that LeBron James chooses to make hundreds of millions of dollars by staying silent on the China issue. I think he could have a tremendous impact by rejecting that money and denouncing China...what are the Lakers going to do, fire him? He can do both things. With BLM he's just one of many, many, MANY celebrities saying the same thing. What people with his level of reach are saying anything about China?

platinumrad 6y ago

It's hypocritical to focus on issues in your own country?

smithza 6y ago
The BLM movement is important; I have no interest in distracting from this problem. Lebron was explicitly asked about the CCP and their human-rights abuses after an NBA manager unpopularly criticized the CCP. The NBA would rather not talk about the CCP and the manager was effectively shamed for doing so. Capitalism cannot look past the $$$. China makes up 10% of NBA revenue [1] [1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nba-needs-china-revenue-growth-leverage-170102327.html https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nba-needs-china-revenue-growt...
- platinumrad 6y ago
  It's absolutely reasonable for NBA players to not want to comment on complicated issues that are outside of the scope of their political interests[1][2]. It would be nice to see the same humility in other aspects of our public discourse. [1] https://www.radio.com/sports/nba/former-nba-star-anti-china-propaganda-similar-to-iraq-war https://www.radio.com/sports/nba/former-nba-star-anti-china-... [2] https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2019/10/12/nba-players-china-free-speech-hong-kong-oppression/3944832002/ https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2019/10/12/nb...
  - medium_burrito 6y ago
    "Complicated issues", ie outright slavery, which is very much on the minds of Americans?
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
  - smithza 6y ago
    These news articles are fallacious appeals to ignorance. We are not ignorant of the very blatant oppression in China. The Hong Kong issue is just another example of communism seeking to squash autonomy and basic human rights. You say 'humility' and another says 'cowardice'. I side with the latter.

madenine 6y ago

> Thinking of Lebron James who hypocritically spoke up about BLM and not about human rights abuses in China[1]. I don't understand this take. Why does LeBron James have to address human rights in China before he, a Black American, can address human rights abuses against Black Americans in America?

twobuy 6y ago
You're right that he shouldn't feel the same obligation to speak out in defense of Tibet. But the issue with James is his history of comments that support the PRC's regime in Uyghur land. He isn't neutral on the issue of China. See: his comments during the Houston fiasco.
adventured 6y ago
That's a false choice, as James can do both things. He can choose to focus to a greater degree on matters in the US, and focus to a lesser degree on China, since his priorities are obviously in the US. Why should he take an interest? Beyond the matter of being a world famous person with a giant bullhorn to speak from, he's also making an obscene sum of money from China and its people and stands to keep doing so. That's vulgar morally if you then simultaneously ignore what's going on there and refuse to say anything with your platform. It is not difficult in terms of time or technically, for James to say something about China's human rights abuses on his prominent Twitter account (whether about Xinjiang or Hong Kong as two prominent examples). It would take a very small amount of effort and time. He doesn't do it because he's a hypocritical coward and knows China is a giant financial golden ticket and he doesn't dare upset them because he knows how they would react (the same reason so many are afraid of China and yet not afraid to say something against the US). The whole of the NBA is very terrified of China economically, the NBA hasn't been very subtle about their trembling post the Houston Rockets incident.
defen 6y ago
> Why does LeBron James have to address human rights in China before he, a Black American, can address human rights abuses against Black Americans in America? Because as bad as the human rights abuses against Black Americans in America are, they pale in comparison to what China is doing. But that's not the only issue. The bigger issue is that LeBron James chooses to make hundreds of millions of dollars by staying silent on the China issue. I think he could have a tremendous impact by rejecting that money and denouncing China...what are the Lakers going to do, fire him? He can do both things. With BLM he's just one of many, many, MANY celebrities saying the same thing. What people with his level of reach are saying anything about China?