If you listen to the mainstream media, you would think America is the most racist country in the solar system. Of course, we all know that is not true, as most of the world takes racism to the next level.
Truth is, there is no better place than America to be a person of color, gay, trans, or any other fringe ideology that is today’s flavor of the week. In the United States, you can pretty much do you. Want proof? Look no further than sports.
In Europe, there are actually signs in soccer stadiums warning fans not to be racist. Sometimes, the message still falls on deaf ears. In the American version of the sport, MLS, or Major League Soccer as we call it, New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir, who is from Belgium dropped an unfortunate slur in a game and now is facing a six-game suspension. This ain’t Europe Dante! Check this out.
New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir has been suspended for six games and fined by MLS for using a racial slur during a game against the San Jose Earthquakes. The decision from the league comes after the Belgian had stepped away from the team of his own volition.
A statement from MLS also states that, on top of the undisclosed fine and six-game suspension, Vanzeir will be required to participate in “education sessions as well as a restorative practices program.”
NY Red Bull manager Gerhard Struber called Dante Vanzier’s racial slur “a tough moment” for him and the club.
I asked Struber why it has taken this long to hear from him publicly. A #RBNY official answered that MLS is still investigating the incident. “We cannot comment.” pic.twitter.com/GhXDOo3v3A
— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) April 13, 2023
Dante learned the hard way that in America, you can’t just throw out racial slurs like that. Despite what CNN would have the rest of the world think, in the United States we actually are generally civil to people from other races. Shocking, right?
Now the Belgian soccer player will also learn about another American practice; “education sessions as well as a restorative practices program.” I have no idea what that means, but I’m sure he will emerge as a much more tolerant, different person.
So, what happened that elicited this punishment from the Red Bulls?
San Jose’s Jeremy Ebobisse, who is black, alleged that Vanzeir used a racial slur during the second half of the 1-1 game. Some pushing and shoving began which resulted in a lengthy delay during the contest.
For his part, Vanzeir is doing and saying all of the right things. That is of course not counting the racist nonsense that landed him here.
“I will do everything I can to be part of the change that needs to happen in this sport and our world. I also want to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the organization and our fans,” he said in a statement. “I made a mistake and will take all the necessary steps to grow.
“While I did not intend to cause any harm or offense with my language, I know that I did and for that I am deeply sorry,” the statement read.
Vanzeir is playing in his first season in MLS starting in one game and appearing in five scoring one goal along the way. The 24-year-old has appeared in one game for the Belgian national team in his career as well.
While Vanzeir is saying and doing all of the right things, this type of behavior isn’t unusual in Europe. He has a lot of unlearning to do, and incidents like this should remind Americans that we are, in fact, not the racist white devils we are made out to be by CNBC.
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