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cyberdude611 -> RE: NBC News cancels MSNBC Imus simulcast (4/12/2007 5:38:17 PM)
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ORIGINAL: domiguy
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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611
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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611
Apparently in America you have freedom of speech, just as long as your speech isn't hateful, racist, sexist, anti-gay, anti-muslim, or anything that might hurt someone's feelings or offend someone.
Not true, Cyber. You can say absolutely anything about conservatives.
Im not quite sure what you are trying to say. I've known both conservative and liberals that have been racist or sexist. That has nothing to do with political affiliation.
I am not a fan of Imus. I rarely ever listened to his show. And I do not agree with his comments of the Rutgers womens B-ball team. But it is my philosophy that the most important part of the US Constitution is the 1st amendment and the freedom of speech. And I am categorically against any attempt to limit or reduce that freedom based on what society thinks is appropriate. In my opinion, whether it is society or the government...it is the same thing. Freedom of expression is being suppressed. And suppression of speech by society is all I see here.
Everyone keeps saying that firing Imus, it will send a message throughout the nation that racism will not be tolerated. GIVE ME A BREAK! You think anybody who is racist gives a damn whether Imus is fired or not. Now perhaps this firing might prevent some people from saying something out in public, but this won't change people's feelings. Suppressing speech does nothing to stop racism. In fact, people who really are hateful and racist, stories like this only enrage them more. These stories actually re-ignite those fires and debates.
Humans are not born racist or sexist. Humans are not born to hate someone because they have a different color skin. It is society and the media that is teaching racism. Society needs to change...both whites and blacks. Banning phrases and words won't do a damn thing.
I have no idea whether Imus is a racist or not...But at the very least he used extremely poor judgement....And yes, hopefully his firing will cause people to pause before spewing out racially inflamatory nonsense....And you are right, in that it will probably not cause anyone who is a racist to change their own personal views.
But he still has the right to speak his mind he has just lost this specific "platform." Look, the bottom line is that he is an employee....And I doubt if you went into your "work" and said to your boss "I don't want to work with so-and-so because they are black" That you would expect to be employed much longer...See it really has nothing to do with free speech but more about using common sense at the work place. Even if you and I are the biggest racists on the planet....Our work may not be tolerant or sympathetic to us utilizing our right to "free speech" while on the job and being compensated.
These are two completely unrelated topics
You are comparing apples and oranges. First off, Imus never refused to work with someone who is black. So we can throw that argument out the window. Second, if you or I were to make an offending comment, it would never generate this kind of news. The media is in fact a catalyst in this debate which in opinion made this remark far worse than it really was. I'll tell you the truth the first time I heard the comment, I said... "That's all? That's it?" I hear worse insults in movies on HBO or music videos on MTV every single day. But it is understandable...we are in a society that over-reacts when it comes to racism. There is a number of people that actually benefit financially when debates like this come up. I gurantee you that Jesse Jackson's Rainbow-Push Coalition just got some grants. Black Panthers picked up some funds too I am sure. Then there are those that wish to benefit politically.
Have you ever listened to office gossup? Employees calling other employees insults? This type of stuff occurs in the workplace all the time. Just the other day I overheard one woman call another woman that works in another department a "slut." Several people heard it, no one got fired.
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