What’s It Gonna Be

‘Cause I can’t pretend.

This post has really has nothing to do with sports, but was inspired by a story I saw yesterday.  Stay or leave at your own discretion, but please stay. 🙂

Yesterday, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and member of Team USA’s basketball team from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio came out with a statement apologizing to Vanessa Carlton for “negatively” reacting to her song “A Thousand Miles” when his fellow Team USA teammates were belting the song.

The video, filmed by DeMar DeRozan, featured at overzealous Jimmy Butler belting the song, a strangely robed KD, and, in my eyes, a pretty indifferent ‘Melo.  But I see how it can be interpreted as the face of someone who is slightly annoyed at his younger teammates.

But I have a serious case of RBF, so I’m pretty sure my normal face looks like that, which is why I think he looks indifferent.

I have two issues with this story:

1. Why is this even a story?  Seriously, who actually gives a flying fuck that the guys were singing a song brought further into prominence by a metrosexual Terry Crews in a terrible-yet-so-good movie?
2. Is Carmelo Anthony not allowed to have an opinion, especially an opinion regarding a song?  Why did he have to apologize to a virtually irrelevant one hit wonder singer who I often get confused with Michelle Branch?  He came out saying in his apology that he actually likes the song, but I have to ask, does he really like it, or is he simply saying it to save face and appease the masses?

Which brings up a bigger philosophical equation: are we, as people, not allowed to have opinions on anything, in an attempt to not hurt others’ feelings?

As a Millennial, I can say with confidence that it is hard to have a conversation with my fellow Millennials without offending some of them.

I am someone with a very crude sense of humor.  I find many things funny, or can find the humor, in situations that are typically considered reprehensible.  This doesn’t apply to everything, such as dog fighting or rape; there is nothing funny about those.  But it does apply to racially charged, satirical jokes.  These jokes, which harbor such a heavy amount of stereotypes about the race in question, are funny, because although a stereotype, there are cases in which these stereotypes hold true.  Do I believe in these jokes and stereotypes?  No, but I find the racial satire hilarious, hence my love for The Boondocks.

But there are times in life when there are overly sensitive people that take these jokes, and really everything, so damn seriously.  And unfortunately, most of these people are of my generation, which is why I say that this generation needs to grow a fucking backbone.  It is so tiresome to constantly keep myself in check, and censor everything I say just so I don’t offend someone.  This isn’t to say that social norms in society are good; there are definitely things that need to get fixed, but there are things that we need to get over.  I can’t say anything without offending someone.

For example, I said the word, “Bitch,” to an overbearing feminist acquaintance, who was subsequently at my throat, yelling that the word is offensive to women, and as a female, I need to stop saying the word.

My response: “Bitch, shut the fuck up.”

I do believe in equal rights and treatment for women, but if I say that word, it’s my choice. You choose not to say the word, and that is your prerogative; you have an opinion on whether or not using the word is socially correct, and whether or not I agree, I respect the fact you have an opinion.

However, the majority of my generation doesn’t have the same mindset as I do.  All they care about is not offending someone, and if offended, they get incredibly butt-hurt (big words, I know) and express that emotion to everyone, whether or not anyone actually cares.  This fragile mindset of my generation utterly disgusts me, and I can’t help but wonder how we became like this.

I am a first generation American; I was raised by two immigrant parents who taught me to stand up to others and to criticize myself before criticizing others.  These two ideologies have blossomed into my being as a woman who has strong beliefs, but who can take criticism because I criticize my beliefs often, finding the holes in my ideologies, so I can strengthen them.  Because I practice this, I am able to take criticism and other negative opinions about me or my beliefs relatively well.  However, many of my millennial counterparts are unable to do so, and it aggravates me.

So, to my fellow Millennials, grow a backbone.  Realize that not everyone is going to agree with you, no matter how right you may be.  So instead of getting offended at worked up at someone’s obviously reprehensible views, take the time to educate them in a non-overbearing manner.  If they are unresponsive, let it go, and realize not everyone is going to change.  Realize that there are bigger problems in the world than someone not liking a song by an irrelevant artist.  Realize that getting offended by everything in the world will literally get you nowhere in the world.  Yes, there are plenty of ideologies that need to be changed in the world, but we cannot constantly sweat the small things.

So, my message to Carmelo: Take your apology back.  You’re entitled to your own opinion.