Don't you think that people should be able to take a joke, even if it isn't a joke?

Question

You have some basketball playing girls who can't be talked about in any light that they do not agree with. Good thing they're not representative of our CONSTITUTION where we are all granted FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

BUT, I think it's great that they get to offer their own version of free speech as they attack someone else's right to speak freely. Isn't America great?

Who's business is it what is said? After all, we are free to be whatever we want. This is a "free Country" isn't it? Whomever doesn't like it can always move. That's the beauty of being FREE.

How difficult is it for people to turn the channel if they don't want to listen to a broadcaster?

If I were to insult my boss and he fired me for that reason I could sue him and I would HAVE to win as that would NOT have a bearing on my job performance. Get it yet?

Answer 1

yes,but you notice some group will always be offended. the ones that were angry over kerrys joke(that he messed up) are now angry at sharpton. Me i don't care for kerry and the imus issue(or non-issue) does not have a bearing on the fact sharpton has made a living off of racial division. let people speak

Answer 2

Good morning Whatnex....I'm assuming you are referring to "Imus In the Morning Show" and what he had said about the girls basketball team...right? Well first of all consider the source on where this statement was made. I'm not downgrading Imus, I watch him periodically now and then in the morning. Imus speaks his mind and he's blunt and to the point on his view on things and different topics and issues. This is Imus. This will always be Imus. Sometimes we all say things before we think on the consequence. Sometimes are mouth overrides ones butte'. We all need to think before we speak! I'm sure that Imus just wasn't thinking at the time he said what he said. Or maybe he didn't realize that what he said wasn't appropriate. I didn't hear what he said about the girls basketball team but it must had been something to where the activists are screaming that it was a racial remark. Now i have to admit that some people take remarks way out of proportion and to the extreme, but if Imus is apologizing, he must feel some regret or else he wouldn't apologize. Imus is a good man, he means well, but like everyone else, he's not perfect. We all make mistakes at one time or another. Sometimes I feel that some people ride on others emotions and this is where it esculates into something much worse or unreasonable. The actions given to Imus were justified and he was given a two week suspension. That's enough punishment if you ask me. He said his apologies to the team as well as others, so to me he's been punished enough not to mention his own humiliation. Now as to our Freedom of Speech, yes we still have that Right but when it comes to the FCC ruling it may not apply...lol. The FCC has certain guidlines that one must follow and evidently they feel that Imus went a little overbounds with the guidelines when he made his statement. Television networks and radio stations must follow these FCC guidelines to stay in business or to be fined or cancelled. So this is why the corporation that handles his broadcast had to listen to the FCC regulations or cancel his show or to repromand him in some way for what he had said to protect the broadcast and the company as well. Now if they wanted to really get bilgerent about the issue one could take legal actions against Imus and the corporation that handles his broadcast. I hope this is not an action for them but it could be if Imus apologies aren't accepted. Some people take it to the next level just to hurt others. And to your statement...Yea..America is great! Sarcastically speaking on certain issues. Have a great day!

Answer 3

Considering I am from Rutgers, I was kind of annoyed by Don Imus's comments. We have a freedom of speech, yea, but that doesn't mean you can go around and demean other people, especially on the radio. That would be like going on the radio and begging someone to ressurect Hitler so he could wipe out all the Jews.
Freedom of Speech is very important to the US, and that's why there isn't much legal action going against Don Imus. He just got suspended by hsi Radio station.

Answer 4

We really aren't that free. I think people should be able to say what ever they want on yahoo answers. But no if you say something someone doesn't like then you get a violation. I can take a joke or even cuss words. Your speech that you think is so free will in most situations get you into trouble. Just because you can say something doesn't mean you should say it, or you might get fired, or beat up, or killed. Go walk up to a judge or a police officer and curse them up one side and down the other and then see how free your speech is.!

Answer 5

You are misunderstanding freedom of speech. This is for the relationship between citizens and they're government. You are not free to say whatever you want. It depends on your situation. Imus has an employer, he cannot say whatever he wants. No one on the radio can. You cannot use some words of profanity on the radio. Try this: Go to your boss today and insult him or her and let us know how that works out for you.

Answer 6

First of all--Inus has done this too many times to excuse it. He's a racist pure and simple.

Second--the First Ammendment only requires that the state not limit speech. It does not entiltle anyone to a soapbox. Inus has NO RIGHT to be on the air if the people paying for it don't want to put up with him.

But that's typical. The racists always start whining when confronted, just like any other bully.

Answer 7

It's a huge pet peeve of mine when people say Americans have the right to free speech & think that means you can say anything without negative consequences. The government isnt preparing to throw idiot Imus into jail. He has the right to say whatever the H*ll he wants without being prosecuted for it. He doesnt have the right to keep his job if his employer wants to fire him for saying something stupid. I cant mouth off about whatever I feel like at my job. Can you?! And regarding the media firestorm he's under those people have as much a right to free speech as he does.

Answer 8

How many white team members get called whores on a national broadcast?
It's not the one insult - it's the fact that people like Imus feel free to copy the thug terminology against any black woman no matter how little she is involved in that lifestyle.

Answer 9

Freedom of speech still exists, and when someone says something you disagree with you should simply state your disagreement and move on.
Now, if someone who is representing an organization and they say something that the organization does not think is representative of them, they have the right to take action to make sure that sort of speech does not harm their goals.

Answer 10

"nappy-headed hoes" is not a joke in anyone's book. That become a slur and an epithet and is meant to demean.

If he wanted to make a comment that they were really men in disguise, he would have been on safer ground.

[Be advised I am using the term to show the statement. I cannot and do not support such a horrible thing to say about anyone]