We all have opinions, and our opinions are shaped and molded by in large part by our experiences in life. It is also molded by our enviornment. But no matter what our opinions are we need to use caution when expressing them especially when it comes to hot button topics. There is a simple rule in life we all have heard before but may at times disreagrd…think before you speak. Once it is spoken you can’t tkae it back. This is the case of Stephen A. Smith of ESPN. When the subject came up on ESPN’s First take about Ray Rice and his 2 game suspension for abusing his then finance’ now his wife, this was the opportunity for Stephen A. not to be provocative but just striaght forward in saying that Ray rice was wrong in putting his hands on his finance’ regardless of the reason. Had he just said that he would have been fine …but then he went further …but for what reason ? to sound more intellegent than everyone else? There is always more than one side to every story I know that. Yes I know of women who will provoke a man try a man dare a man to hit them …but that still is no reason for any man to hit a woman period. End of sentence. But to say that an abuse victim should learn about the elements of provocation is …senseless. Again think before you speak. As mightly as he tried he (Stephen A. Smith couldn’t take those words back fast enough. He angered his coworker Michele Beadle who tweeted a response to Smith’s statement, alluding to the rationale of a rapist who believes the victim asked for it by wearing provocative clothing:
So I was just forced to watch this morning’s First Take. A) I’ll never feel clean again B) I’m now aware that I can provoke my own beating.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
I’m thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend…I’d hate to think what I’d be asking for by doing so @stephenasmith. #dontprovoke
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
ESPN was within their rights to suspend Stephen A. now where does he go from here? Will he learn from this suspension both short term and long term? Will he learn that simple lesson that he himself forgot…to think before he speaks,? Once it is spoken you can’t take it back no matter how many I’m sorry’s you say? Only time will tell that is for sure. But it bears repeating no man has the right to put his hands on a woman in a violent and abusive manner. Period. End of sentence.
smallthoughtsinasportsworld 