Peak Wokeness

This is really a gift that just keeps on giving….

As a reminder, Daryl Morey – general manager of the NBA’s Houston Rockets – tweeted a few days ago: “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.”

All hell broke loose: the NBA makes a lot of money in China, NBA teams were playing in China, the Chinese government cancelled various promotional events and tore down banners.  It may be the most expensive tweet in history.

Then we had the most outspoken woke leaders of the NBA either silent or wishy-washy: Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, and the many over-sized personalities to be found amongst the ranks of the players.  None of them ever shy to criticize something of America or Trump – but never the important stuff like war, empire, or all spying all the time (in fact, these same people are found praising one or more of these).

No one from the contingent of the woke said anything of substance…until now.  Following is from an interview with Lebron James; his team – the Los Angeles Lakers – was one of the teams in China when all hell broke loose. 

LeBron said Morey was ‘misinformed’ about the ramifications of his tweet, and not ‘educated’ about the situation.

He then said ‘so many people could have been harmed, not only financially, but physically, emotionally, and spiritually.’

If that wasn’t enough, he went to twitter to clarify things:

My team and this league just went through a difficult week.  I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others.  And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen.  Could have waited a week to send it.

It is interesting that counsel for considering what a tweet or statement can do is offered only when Lebron’s personal safety or wealth are at stake.

Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet.  I’m not discussing the substance.  Others can talk About that.

Consequences and ramifications…rarely stopped the woke thought leaders before.  And when has Lebron not discussed the substance on any social issue?  I guess only when his personal safety or wealth are at stake.

Regarding his comments, the hypocrisy is overwhelming.  As was the reaction.  You really should go to the link to read the many powerful reactions – from some pretty well-known people.  A few samples:

Isaac Stone Fish: This is just stunning. The Lakers LeBron James, one of the most influential people in basketball and an outspoken voice in support of rights issues in the United States -- sides with the Chinese Communist Party and criticizes the Houston Rockets GM.

Derek Hunter: There was no confusion, LeBron. You care more about making more millions than you do human rights. You are also happy to attack the country that enabled you to make millions, but not the one paying your league billions. You have your priorities and freedom isn't one of them.

Clay Travis: Ultimately @KingJames, the woke media's star athlete, is a hypocritical sell out. If you pay him enough money, he won't just shut up and dribble, he'll also kneel before his Chinese masters

You get the idea.  Meanwhile, in Hong Kong:

Protestors in Hong Kong cheered when a ball dropped into the basket after smashing into a photo of LeBron James' face that was placed above the hoop.

They also trampled on jerseys bearing his name and gathered in a semicircle to watch one burn.

And now today:

…James was asked whether he had a sense of how his own comments would be felt in Hong Kong among protesters.

"No, I had a sense of [how] what I said felt for me," James said after the Los Angeles Lakers' practice. "And like I said yesterday, when I speak upon things, I speak from a very logical standpoint on things that hit home for me. Yesterday, obviously, I gave thoughts on what I felt and how I saw things that transpired from that week that we were [in China]."

The narcissism is cute, isn’t it?  Kind of makes you feel all warm and cuddly inside.  Daryl Morey should care about how his statements impact other people, but not Lebron James.  “It’s all about me and how I feel.”

If we haven’t yet reached peak wokeness, we aren’t far off.  I suspect every time James or any of the woke NBA players and executives speak out on some woke social justice cause from now on, they will get this episode shoved back in their faces.

Wokeness will consume itself, as it must.  This is a very obvious example, but it is true from top to bottom.  Taking individualism to an extreme, intersectionality is an ongoing and never-ending process.  Women vs. men; minorities vs. whites; gays vs. straight.

Then what? Minority women vs. minority men; minority women vs. white women; minority lesbians vs. minority straight women.  But what about the white lesbian vs. the minority straight woman?  Who wins? 

Now, start adding five or six of the newly privileged labels and then figure out the priority order of social power.  The list is endless, what with Facebook offering 71 (and growing) gender options, multiplied by a long list of nationalities / races, raised to the power of body shape and body shaming.

It will be a war of all woke-ees against all woke-ees.  They will consume themselves, while normal human beings stand back and watch.  Meanwhile, the search for meaning by many young people points to some hope for sanity in the coming years.

Conclusion

We have reached peak wokeness; this episode marks the event.  I don’t know if Daryl Morey made his now-controversial statement with this end in mind, but this is where we are.

All I can say is thank you, Daryl.