Freedom of Speech?

Question

I am no racist and I think that it is morally wrong to be such... however I wonder why freedom of speech is okay when slandering the government, corporations and whatever else people choose to do with it....

But when a person such as Don Imus's comment about that basketball team causes protests and instant firing -- wasn't he using this freedom that was given to him -- yes it was wrong and he apologized for it but I've heard worse things that were able to slide without any words of protest or even apology! Is this sort of hypocrictical? Can we only use this freedom when what we say is "right" and if this is the case who decides what we should think is right?

Well if he is fired cause the amount of pressure is employment is getting from Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson -- why is this right?

Definitions aside.... Freedom of Speech is used by everyone TO slander, TO insult, TO say anything about anyone and is used as an excuse to say this -- and so I feel that using Freedon of Speech in my question is revelant.

Answer 1

What I've read of his comments, I fail to see what is racial about them and why these racial organizations' collective knees are jerking so. Yes it is very offensive and he should be chastised for calling these athletes "nappy-headed hos", but to say that those comments are racial is stretching it. I think he is well within his First Amendment rights of freedom of speech. I have read nothing of his comments that he refered to anyone by a racially degrading mark or even refer to their race(s) at all; even if he had he should still be protected by the First Amendment. We should not have a double standard when it comes to The Constitution. We should have EQUAL protection under the law, especially the Bill Of Rights.

Yes he can (and probably should) be fired from his job; what he said was wrong. But what was RACIAL about it? Racism has become the buzzword of late, much like communism during the McCarthy era. Everyone is so afraid of being labeled as a racist, that the mere mention of the word sends fear into most people. These racial organizations are eager and quick to capitalize on this, so that anytime someone says or does anything negative to a member of the particular race that they represent they jump on it whether or not it was racial in nature or not.

Answer 2

An American's right to free speech, WITHOUT PENALTY, is basically limited to government issues. The policy is that political speech is extremely important to the free exchange of ideas and should not be fettered by the government. Here, Mr. Imus made a comment, not political in nature, while in the context of his work. A private individual or organization can both stop an employee from speaking on issues they consider inappropriate and they can fire the individual as well.

You used the word "slandering" which means that the person is stating lies, not opinion, about the the target of his speech. Slander is always actionable in civil court and an individual or an organization can get an injunction to keep the individual from speaking along with damages.

The employer basically says what is the right and the wrong thing to say. If you think about it, the policy makes sense. If you were working for Dennys, it would probably be against the Dennys' policy for you to tell customers to go down the street to IHOP because IHOP had better pancakes.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The first amendment guarantees our right to say whatever we like without fear of reprisal from our government; nothing more. This law was instituted so people wouldn't be thrown in jail for speaking out against those in power, which happens today in countries all over the world. This freedom was never designed to protect people from criticism by private citizens. In the case of Don Imus, he can't be arrested for what he said but he CAN be criticized by any person or group that didn't like what he said. Does he deserve to be fired for what he said? Good question. Personally, I think his comments were completely out of line and the most appropriate punishment I can think of is that every member of the Rutgers women's basketball team should get a chance to give him a good hard slap across the face, but that's just me.

Answer 4

Yes- Freedom of speech means you have the right to say what you want, lie or not. The part people get caught up in, is that the freedom of speech does NOT mean you don't have to take responsibility for what you say. All of our actions have consequences, as they should. I have the right to tell you a lie- whatever the consequences of that lie are, I have to accept. Therefor, you should always think before you speak- you have the right to say whatever it is- but do you want to take the fall-out from it?

Answer 5

You're right, freedom of speech should not be a "if - then" issue.

However with Imus, I think the outrage stems from the fact that becuase he is in a position of such influence, he is morally responsible to those whom he conveys his opinions to. Having said that, you could just change the channel. I mean Bill Orilley slanders people all the time and gets away scott free. With freedom, comes responsiblity and part of that responsibilty in a society is to the people of that society. His comments intice anger and hate and that is what was objectible, not that he didn't have the right to say it.

Answer 6

Political correctness has nothing to do with it! Law Suits and winning them usually stops bad behavior. It is called by definition Slander to call a person something that they are not and to imply a person is of the opposite sex, of loose morals, when they are not and demean their character. He is Free to say anything he wishes, there is a cost to include his job. He could ruin their reputations and be held libel, just like corporations, colleges, individuals can be sued. It is also called contempt for their gender otherwise misogynist, because it used to be an all male sport. I hope they have deep pockets...His producers may as well get their wallets out their goose is cooked! It is not the first time he has done it over the years!

Slander:The utterance of false charges, or misrepresentations which defame another's reputation; a false and defamatory oral staement about a person compare LIBEL Webster's Collegiate dictionary.

Answer 7

I totally agree with you. Freedom of speech has gone down the drain for the sake of political correctness. I, for one, don't give a dam about being politically correct. For the most part people just get their panties in a twist because there is always some truth in what people say. Yes, Don Imus was wrong for calling the women's basketball players "nappy hair hoes," but he still has the right to say it. People that don't like it, don't have to listen to it. It's OK for a black guy to call me a cracker, but it's not OK for me to call him a n*****. What's the freaking difference! The african american community thinks that we as a white race still owe them something, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Someday we won't be able to say anything at all about anyone because it "might" make someone mad. So much for the rights that founded this country.

Answer 8

Freedom of speech is not freedom from repercussions. Freedom of speech also just applies to the government, Imus might have offended people but he isn't facing jail time or heading to a re programing camp for it. I found his comments inapropriate myself and it seems he is facing public outcry, but has not actually been fired for what he said.

Answer 9

Because he has the freedom of speech to make the comments...but the protestors have the right to say how they were offended...you would be violating their freedom of speech to ban it.

It is up to his employer whether to fire him or not...if they fire him it is because they felt he was more of a liabilty than a profitable employee.

Companies don't know if their customers are unhappy until the customer speaks up.

Answer 10

Freedom of speech means you can say what you like; it does not guarantee you a forum to say it, or a job.

So, he has an absolute right to say what he wants, but the company that employs him has a right to fire him if they don't like what he says.

This isn't a freedom of speech issue, it's an employment contract issue.