Yesterday, I wrote a post (here) criticizing a lawyer who writes about and peddles the ware of “mindfulness.” My criticisms are not important right now. What is important is that I acknowledge a real fuck up that I made.
You see, Ms. Cho is Asian, and things descended, unintentionally, into a racist and sexist swamp.
Readers of “Above the Law” will recognize a commenter who goes by the moniker of “Partner Emeritus.” This guy makes constant satirical comments of a racist and sexist variety, but I have never read them as anything but poking fun at racism and sexism “” a la Archie Bunker, or if you’re from Jeena’s generation, Borat or Ali G.
So Partner Emeritus made a comment along the lines that Jeena might be better off working in a massage parlor, than as a lawyer “” satirizing a common racist trope. I then referenced that in my post. My intent was to laugh at his comment. However, I called his comment the “most on point.”
That was fucking stupid.
I thought my intention was clear. But, in re-reading it, I can see how it could be interpreted otherwise. I think a very fair reading of what I wrote would lead the reader to believe that I meant to state, or imply, that Jeena’s ideas are in any way less relevant or important on the basis of her race or her gender. I may disagree with her ideas, but I think that the way I ended my piece was insensitive and stupid.
I fucked up. I apologize. I should do better. I might be 9,000 years old, but I still can learn. Jeena might have ideas that I disagree with, but I can respect at least one thing about her philosophy “” she had the opportunity to really take a broadside at me over this. She, instead, handled it with grace and “mindfulness.”
That just made me feel even worse.
So, way to lead by example, Jeena. My apology is sincere and heartfelt.
And, in the future, I still might make a comparison to you on ethnic lines – but I’d say that you’re much more appropriately compared to Sun Tzu than to some racist trope.
