BOISE, Idaho (AP) – The Boise State running back who scored the winning points in the Fiesta Bowl, then proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend on national television, says he has hired security for their wedding because of racial threats.
Ian Johnson, who is black, and Chrissy Popadics, who is white, are due to be married Saturday in Boise.
Since his Jan. 1 proposal, Johnson said, he has received phone calls, letters and some personal threats from people who object to their marriage plans.
If he takes actions to make himself into a public figure, he should expect to experience the downside of no longer being anonymous. Every celebrity gets stuff like this.
If you can’t take the heat, don’t go in the kitchen. Memo to potential newsmakers: There are wackos out there.
I think the commentary here is that two white people getting married publicly don’t have to put up with what a black and white couple getting married publicly do, and that this is a sad thing.
Kind of like when a guy goes into the LR and gets called a bigot?
Read what Jackmott wrote and take a second shot to clarify yourself. Right now what I am gathering is that you see nothing wrong with people disaproving of interacial marriage (and sending hate mail). Here’s a picture. She sure is a nice looking young white girl. Tell us what you’re feeling, Art.
They’re a lovely couple. I wonder what they’re kid(s) will look like? Do you think their kids will have any problems with the other kids at school? Do you think she’ll continue to experience any racial bias during their marriage from family and friends? I wonder what the divorce rate is in inter-racial marriages? Do you think they are aware of the extra issues surrounding inter-racial marriage? Do you think that maybe they aren’t thinking clearly?
So BarryP, you are assuming they would have gotten less email’s from waco’s if they were both white?
I would have to agree they probably would but I think Art’s point is he did something on national TV He should have considered the consequences. And yes, accept the fact that there are people who do not want interacial marriages.
People are given freedom in this country to think how they want, does not make them correct but they are allowed to have there opionion.
Yes, it is to bad they are getting threats, but thats life. And they better know that they will get comments from some for the rest of thier lives.
Just like if he had proposed to another guy, some one of a different religion ect…
Just like if he had proposed to another guy, some one of a different religion ect…
And it would still be wrong for people to send them hat email.
Keep in mind, the couple did not write the article, nor did they whine about the threats. They said they knew full well what to expect. So THAT point is moot.
I’ll be interested to see where this thread ends up, but so far I am getting reinfocement that Americans still have a problem with interrecial marriage. So far the repponses indicate a feeling of “they should know better,” rather than, “its wrong for people to send hate mail for something as normal and harmless as interacial marriage.”
As I said on an earlier thread, people seem to be more upset at me calling someone a bigot than the actual bigotry itself.
“Right now what I am gathering is that you see nothing wrong with people disaproving of interacial marriage (and sending hate mail)”
It figures you would gather that from what I said.
Maybe you need to repeat the grade in which you were supposed to learn how to read.
Prior to your post, I was not aware of the race of either person. The fact that they got nasty mail or whatever was expected regardless.
It is people like you that judge situations based upon the group membership of the individuals involved. I was aware only of a football player scoring the winning touchdown and staging a proposal on national TV. Romantic, but it is an action that is clearly going to result in consequences. Some will be good like being the morning talk show item for a day. Some not so good.
If you don’t want the latter, don’t take actions in pursuit of the former.
I wonder what they’re kid(s) will look like? Do you think their kids will have any problems with the other kids at school? Do you think she’ll continue to experience any racial bias during their marriage from family and friends? I wonder what the divorce rate is in inter-racial marriages? Do you think they are aware of the extra issues surrounding inter-racial marriage? Do you think that maybe they aren’t thinking clearly?
Lewis hamilton is half black, he is the rising star in F1 right now and seems well adjusted
Tiger woods is half black, he is the best golfer ever, and also seems well adjusted
Derek Jeter is half black, an all start baseball player and well respected and loved
.
I wonder if the folks who get engaged at the finish line of an IM get hate mail. I mean, other than from the people finishing behind them getting their finisher photo ruined.
No, I’m not. They live in Idaho for God’s sake, not the most racially diverse place in America. You don’t think they or their kids are going to have problems at every level? Get your head out of the sand.
Classic! People are trying to get across to you how it is. You post that the couple actually see the world they live in, yet you are upset because all are not ignoring what exists and only seeing what should be. Are you pissed at the couple for expecting, and even worse, not worrying, about those that disagree with their actions?
Barry, I’m with you brother. It makes me sad that this is what people STILL have to go up against. Makes me sad.
You know what REALLY pissed me off? If you remember the interview, that DUMBASS reporter was asking questions about the game and then says something like this… I understand you wanted to propose to your girlfriend? WTF!!! he took the thunder right out of the dudes moment! that fella shoud be buying them a reeeeeaaaallllllly nice wedding gift.
