“I know I’ve hurt [the black community] very, very deeply. Now I can say I’m deeply sorry for this and proceed to go to healing.”

–Michael Richards

“We might turn this minus into a plus.”

— Jesse Jackson

Days after comedian Michael Richards appeared on Keep Hope Alive, Jesse Jackson’s nationally-syndicated radio program to deliver yet another apology for his racial slur-filled tirade, during which he seemed to express sincere regret and indicated that he is ready to go into therapy to figure out where the rage within him came from, it appears that Jackson is neither ready to keep the hope of healing alive or turn a minus into a plus…just yet.

He has now called for the boycott of the new Seinfeld DVD boxed set, Season 7, that has just been released.

I’m not a fan of Seinfeld. In fact, I’m probably one of the few people who has never watched an episode. I just have never been into the show. But if I was into the show, and wanted to collect it and watch those presumably-entertaining reruns, I certainly wouldn’t not buy it because of an inappropriate rant that occurred eight years after the show left the air. What does that sitcom have to do with Richards’ own feelings, whatever they are? What do the rest of the cast, the producers and the others who stand to make money on the continued sales of the show have to do with Richards’ personal views that apparently spilled over in a moment of rage?

Nothing.

Understand that I’m not trying to defend Richards. There’s no defense for a tirade like the one he delivered. But at the same time, I can’t see the logic in inviting someone to your show so that they can apologize, then continuing to kick him while he’s down by trying to hurt him financially — and one might wonder how much of a cut Richards himself would get from the sale of a DVD set — when you’re a preacher talking about “turning a minus into a plus.”

What, exactly, is the “plus” in this situation that Jackson was speaking of? Revenge?

I just don’t see it.