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Stupid White Men: Don Imus' Racial Trash
David In Indy:
Dottie, actually I think you and I are on the same page, and I agree with what you say.
On a sidenote: I do agree that people have a right to speak their minds, no matter how hateful, hurtful or awful their words might be. Freedom of speech is one of our most precious rights in this country. I am always very hurt when someone calls me a "faggot" (or other choice words). But I would always defend this person's right to say it to me. In addition, I would even defend his right to shout it out to entire group of people. We will know for certain that our rights as Americans are gone when people are imprisoned for voicing their opinions.
BUT.....
I don't think people have a right to voice intentionally hurtful and hateful comments on the publicly owned airwaves. This is a gross abuse of a Constitutional right.
Arresting and imprisoning Don Imus for his comments would be an example of denying him his American right to free speech. Firing him for such comments would not be. He has a right to say it. But he should be ready to suffer the consequences should he decide to say it.
I am an accountant for a counseling center. If I went to work one day and cried out "All mentally ill people should be imprisoned or deported", should I be surprised if I was fired for it? What about my right to free speech? But I should be fired, shouldn't I? It was hateful and inappropriate. Not to mention just downright wrong and bigoted.
Now, this is what Don Imus did, but only worse because he did it on the public airwaves. His freedom of speech was not denied to him. He won't be going to jail for what he said. But he should suffer the consequences of making a very stupid and bad decision.
But, for the most part Dottie, I think you and I agree with each other. We should never deny free speech to anyone, no matter how hateful or stupid it might be. :)
dot-matrix:
--- Quote from: David on April 11, 2007, 08:18:27 pm ---Dottie, actually I think you and I are on the same page, and I agree with what you say.
On a sidenote: I do agree that people have a right to speak their minds, no matter how hateful, hurtful or awful their words might be. Freedom of speech is one of our most precious rights in this country. I am always very hurt when someone calls me a "faggot" (or other choice words). But I would always defend this person's right to say it to me. In addition, I would even defend his right to shout it out to entire group of people. We will know for certain that our rights as Americans are gone when people are imprisoned for voicing their opinions.
BUT.....
I don't think people have a right to voice intentionally hurtful and hateful comments on the publicly owned airwaves. This is a gross abuse of a Constitutional right.
Arresting and imprisoning Don Imus for his comments would be an example of denying him his American right to free speech. Firing him for such comments would not be. He has a right to say it. But he should be ready to suffer the consequences should he decide to say it.
I am an accountant for a counseling center. If I went to work one day and cried out "All mentally ill people should be imprisoned or deported", should I be surprised if I was fired for it? What about my right to free speech? But I should be fired, shouldn't I? It was hateful and inappropriate. Not to mention just downright wrong and bigoted.
Now, this is what Don Imus did, but only worse because he did it on the public airwaves. His freedom of speech was not denied to him. He won't be going to jail for what he said. But he should suffer the consequences of making a very stupid and bad decision.
But, for the most part Dottie, I think you and I agree with each other. We should never deny free speech to anyone, no matter how hateful or stupid it might be. :)
--- End quote ---
EXACTLY you and I are most certainly on the same page. Would it piss me off if I heard some jerk call you a faggot? HELL YES! Would I be sorely tempted to rip his tonsils out? YOU BET! Would I tell him what a small minded foul mouth jerk he is? IN A NEW YORK MINUTE! But, does he have a right to publically state his unenlightened, ignorant and hateful opinion....Yep he does
HerrKaiser:
it's interesting timing that the Imus controversy is taking place while the so-called Duke rape case has climaxed. Imus' words are clearly not illegal, yet racist, and he will pay a price on a personal level (most generally econonmic). What's interesting to me is how the Imus affair is being played by the media as a far greater story and racial "offense" than the a outrageously horrible racist bigotry that befell the young men from Duke. These men have endured (and will likely continue to suffer) racism comparable to a 19th century lynch mob, yet we see the country focused on Imus and his stupid line that in actuality harmed only himself.
Scott6373:
I heard an interesting radio commentator (ok so he is a sports commentator possesing the Republican brain of a gnat with a lobotomy), who took exception with the Admins and the coaches of the school for "parading" those girls out there in front of the press. Guess everyone has an opinion...good or bad...it is free speech...almost as misused as free will.
Scott6373:
;D
So they did have the cajones to do it...good for them
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