Answering my fan mail

 

Photo Credit: John Russo

Regarding Horton Hears a Racist....
I have enjoyed the various responses to my blog on “Horton Hears a Racist." I didn’t seek to try to pin a ‘racist’ label on the makers but I just don’t think that they thought about the whole effect of the story on young minds. We need to promote the worth of all of our children and seek to have them all, boys and girls, achieve all that they can. Dr. Seuss’ original text was not focused in the way the movie is. The additional subplot, in my view, clearly points to girls as being less capable and less valuable than boys.

My 61st Birthday...
I survived my birthday without having any traumatic events transpire. Herbie Hancock and Smokey Bill Robinson played Happy Birthday for me. It was a great night. I'm gonna post some of my birthday party pictures later, so stay tuned. Thanks to one and all for your birthday wishes, it was very much appreciated.

Answering a couple of fans...
To Charles from Hong Kong, stretching and cardio work well keep you where you want to be as far as maintenance. To keep the pounds off remember to check your positions when you sit at the table.
Rasbad and Rocky. You guys need to do something everyday to maintain your conditioning. Cardio and stretching are the best.

Nina Simone...
I met Nina Simone one time only.  But Nina was always true to her ideals. I was impressed totally by her integrity and sense of humor. The music she left us well endures. Enjoy. K.

Comments

[mary LB]

Look forward to the BD photos. My first crush: Smokey!

Knowing you endorsed Senator Obama, I have a suggestion for you. I am tired of hearing about Obama and bowling. I watched a couple of his games with middle school students (3 on 3) and I think it was Fort Bragg military training guys/gal.

How about you, Barkley, Craig Robinson and Barack? Or leave out the bro-in-law and add Magic to the mix. Yeah, Obama plays well against middle school kids~in good shape at 46, and held his own with the better in shape military guys, but I would love to see some old pro's on the court with 'bama.

Thanks for listening.

[Aaron Konopasky]

Hello,
I recently came across the story of when your house burned down, and you lost your jazz collection. It reminded me of my own experience, when my house was lost in Hurricane Katrina. One of the things I lost was a ball autographed by you and some other top 50 players.

Your story got me thinking that I should try to rebuild my collection again, and I have a ball that I'm getting people to sign again. Of course, I'd really like to have your signature, but I don't know whether you're signing. Are you going to be making any signing appearances soon, maybe that do mail order?

Either way, keep staying strong.

[Nicholas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mimaNFEbg6U

Kareem check out this Obama youtube clip. He can play!

Nicholas from Seattle

[Jon K.]

Great photo, by the way, Kareem, and nice suit.

Hey, have you found Hitler's lost Nazi gold yet for Stephen Colbert? If not, you need to get on that.

By the way, it must have been pretty awesome to have Smokey Robinson and Herbie Hancock play at your birthday. I don't know how anyone could be disappointed by that.

Question: What's up with Reverend Wright? To me he's coming across as an incredible egoist to feel the need that he has to go on a lecture tour even though it is obviously going to weaken Obama's standing during the crucial final laps of the primaries. What infuriates me most is that he seems to be compelled to speak less about Christian love and to speak more about doctrinal self-righteousness. As an Obama supporter, even I am beginning to ask, "Dude, why was this guy your pastor?"

[Ian Henry]

Hello Kareem,

I am extremly proud of you being from west indian parentage as I am one of the english born children born to west indian parents as well. When are you going to come to London England, we brothers would love to see you and share some of that rich historical talk that you love to indulge in. Tell me something, did you have problems adjusting to life without playing basketball? What do you think of blacks in other countries and have you travelled near and far to embrace your learning of others cultures?

We have a budding black community here in england and I come from the same area as steve bucknell, do you remember him, he played for the lakers around 89, 90 I think, he was a rookie.

Also if you love soul music and jazz fusion and I know that you probably listen to it all the time, please check out www.generationradio.co.uk and listen to my soul show there, my name is Ian Henry, and you will enjoy the music as I play a lot of ronnie laws and also grover and not forgetting lonnie liston smith, do you know of them?

Finally, do you miss playing basketball?

[Rocky]

Kareem,

I have been been doing cardio everyday. I do need to mix in some stretching though. Do you have any good stretching techniques that you can pass along?

I have to chime in on this Rev Wright controversy. I can't believe everyone is taking his words out of context. I watched his speech, his interview, and the press conference yesterday, and I didn't find anything wrong with what he was saying. People are taking little tidbits of what he says and they're taking it totally out of context. The guy is saying the things that nobody else has the balls to say. I didn't hear any hate speech, anti-american speech, or racist talk. So what's the problem here?

Rev Wright is obviously well educated and his views are shaped by his experiences like everyone else. These aren't some off the wall, or as he said, bombastic views. These are long held views by a large segment of our society. To dismiss those views like many people in this country and media are trying to do, is to dismiss that whole segment of the population.

I don't blame Rev Wright for coming out to defend himself. I think America needs to hear his message as a Christian pastor. I think Rev Wright actually should have his own TV show, like Pat Robertson does. There would be nothing wrong with that right?

""Well, I totally concur." –Pat Robertson to Jerry Falwell following the Sept. 11 attacks, after Falwell said, "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say: "You helped this happen."

God Damn America! ~patriotically throwing my flag pin into the gutter~

People, are you going to let what a pastor says determine how you vote? This is America, not the Taliban, not Sadr City, not Tehran. We are not a bunch of religious fundamentalists here in America, so why would we vote like it? It makes no sense to me.

The words of a pastor should have no impact whatsoever on a political election. For people to use the words of a pastor to judge Barack Obama is unjust plain and simple.

[Mitch]

Hi Kareem,

I have wanted to join the NBA since I was just 7, and now I am 14. I can shoot sky-hook shots from as far out as 7-9 feet. I am 5"4' but I can jump high. Now don't get me wrong, you rock at basketball, but I love the way you document history as well. I am just about to get 'On The Shoulders of Giants' from my local library. So anyways, thanks for all of your work in the NBA and such...

I hope to hear from you soon.
-Mitch

[frederick warrick]

mitch
it's good to see you checking out books, no matter the source, no matter the reason.

read and learn, young man, read and learn

the world is a bigger place than your block, your town, this country

[STEVE LIEBMAN]

Kareem,
I am currently reading your book On the Shoulders of Giants and had read years ago your Autobiography. I am originally from Queens living in San Diego for the last 27 years. I just wanted to let you know as a big sports fan, and a person who loves to look at how people react as they get older, I am so impressed with your growth as a man. I happened to see you accepting with great humility the Milwaukie Bucks retirement of your number ceremony. As a younger guy I admit I could not stand you. You now appear to me to be the most humble of men and I have the utmost respect for how you handle yourself. I love your book about the Harlem Renaissance, ( I am not done reading it yet). I wish you and your family only the very best.
Thanks for being a great role model.
Sincerely,
Steve Liebman