the general population. I lived with them in barracks, led them in wartime. I know what happens when people relax with a beer, what they say under duress, and that sometimes words come to blows because in the Army, it isn't just race, sex, or sexual orientation that play a factor, but the persons upbringing, background, and culture. You aren't just mixing black and white, you are mixing people from the deep south, with people from inner cities like Chicago and Detroit.

So I can tell you that those 40 black men in that locker room have no room to point fingers at anyone. I will bet that if their private conversations and speech were recorded and revealed, that you would find much more prevalent statements about white people, women, and even gays.

This is the problem I have. We act like only white people make racist, misogynistic, or homophobic slurs and statements. And that is far, far from the truth. And holding out Gruden as a pariah because his was in email form, and 10 years old is just ridiculous. Those 40 men were almost all in junior high or elementary school when he made those statements. He wasn't aiming it at them.

And again, should he apologize? yes. Regardless of when it was said, he should apologize. But that is where it should end, and everyone, including those 40 men should consider if they are worthy to cast the first stone.