In light of what happened to Don Imus does anyone here feel that the right to free speech goes to far?

Question

As a Africian-American female I am more offended by the garbage in the rap videos.

Answer 1

It's not a question of free speech. It's a question of tolerance. The government provides freedom of speech meaning that people cannot be prosecuted for the speech they use (of course there are extenuating circumstances where that does happen) in a court of law. However, this does not mean that there aren't consequences. For example, while Don Imus is protected in his legal right to say what he said, his employers have the right to fire him.

The difference between Don Imus and rappers all comes down to money, as awful as that is. Don Imus' comments finally put his bosses in a sitatution where they were losing ads and supporters, and without them, they won't be profitting so it makes absolute sense for them to let him go. Rappers, however, are still selling their records, sometimes because of the profanity, therefore labels are not going to drop them.

In short, the only solution is that people demand accountability, as has happened with CBS, but yet to hit the recording industry. So long as we bring up young people who think that it is not only okay, but artistic to rap about beating women and using them for sex, then the recording industry will still make their money.

But what would happen if we stopped sending this message? The responsiblity is on us to educate future generations and put them in a position where their way out of 'the hood' isn't rap, but education. We need more role models like the rutgers women's basketball team to put a shift in the industry and destroy the market for it. I'm afraid that that's the only way a lasting difference can be made. The choice is ours.

Answer 2

The same people working on this Imus stuff are working on those. Did you hear that rap sales are down? This activism is partially responsible.

There are whole foundations devoted to this..

And free speech means THE GOVERNMENT will not do anything when someone says something negative, not individuals.

I am equally offended by both, more by Imus because I know people around the world and in America who call their country or ethnicity hurtful names...I would NEVER do the same.

Surely your mother taught you that someone can insult his or her family, culture, people, issues, etc, but not an OUTSIDER.

I protest ALL RACISM and HURTFUL SPEECH. But I end up having to protest stuff about black people more, particularly women, because no one gives a damn about us.

Did you know that most rap music is purchased by people who are not black around the world?

If you are still offended, get involved. Call the Take Back the Music Foundation and find out what YOU can do.

It is about making rap fun and conscious again, not racist toward other people or sexist the way it is now.

As for Don Imus being fired, if Tom Joyner had insulted the University of Kentucky cheerleading team or Paris Hilton, he would have been treated far worse, and you know it.

Answer 3

I agree with you there regarding the filth!

As far as the right to freedom of speech going too far.. I've always felt that the protection of this right in the first amendment is a little too broad.

However, the fact that the private sector can govern itself in some cases, is kind of a good thing. What Don Imus said is protected under the first amendment of the US Constitution, in that he has the right to express his opinion (whether that actually was his opinion or not).

But because of the fact that his statement was an undeserved, hurtful defamation of character.. prominent leaders and businesses rose up in protest. This put enough pressure to remove him from the airwaves. So where the government leaves off, the people step up and take action. It's good to see that people can still make things happen today.

Now we should definitely address the record labels that distribute the obscene, exploitive material that is regularly shown in BET & MTV.. or heard across the radio dial. I hold them as responsible for this garbage as the artists and venues themselves.

Answer 4

Our founding fathers never intended "free speech" to include filthy, abusive, degrading language over the airwaves - or anywhere else for that matter. The concept of "free speech" means that we have the right to speak out about our government and oppose what it does if we don't like it. Free speech never had anything to do with the hate spewed by Rush Limbaugh, the degrading dialog spouted by Howard Stern, or the racial remarks of any radio host. Civility within a society is what keeps us civilized and decent human beings; the uncivil tongue and all the vulgar language that comes from it only serves to further destroy our culture as we morally decay and become desensitized toward our fellow human beings. -RKO- 04/13/07

Answer 5

No, the right to bring down a person, and cause them to lose a career of 35 years, for using his freedom of speech, has gone too far. The wet behind the ears Liberal college students of American, and Columbia Universities don't think so, however. They will spit, throw food, and scream at you, so you can't speak your mind, or feelings.
What Don Imus said, was meant in jest, to be humorous. I guess Nappy-headed Ho's isn't as funny to the black community, coming from a white man, as it is a black rapper? Just a guess, here, but that doesn't seem to me like equal rights, or fair, or right.

To Mel, two below me. I understand your point, but why is America tolerating Rappers, calling their sisters horrible names, and they don't lose their sponsers, but Don Imus did, a white shock jock, of 35 years? I am not a black woman, but a woman, and I want to know why the heck it is okay, for some to be allowed to cut-down their own people, get away with it, and get rich off the ones who they cut-down, but a person from another race can't say the same thing, in a jest, and lose their job? Can you give a reasonable answer to that?

Answer 6

Anti pol has answered this eleoquently.

I think our society, makes allowances for some folks to say what they like, however, another person can say the same thing and be hung out to dry.

For anyone that has watched Imus in the morning would know he is an extremist known as the Shock Jock. He is very controversial and many people enjoyed listening to what he just might say today. I am white and no disrespect to any African American, Imus did not say what he said as a personal attack on the team. Also, listen to what Howard Stern gets away with saying, he is down right repulsive......I think that the public must now stand firm and get rid of them all. It is my opinion that a precedence has been established by the firing of Imus and What is good for one must be good for another.

If you look at our election campaigns, these folks get right down UGLY with personal attacks. Listen to Shawn O'Hannity on O'Hannity and Colmes (Fox News) he makes very personal appearance attacks on Hillary as does Bill O'Reilly. I think that this is very similar to the statement made by Imus.

You are right about the rappers as well they too are a prime example of folks who are getting away with racial slurs but they continue to get record deals. Businesses make money off of this stuff and Imus had listeners who tuned in to listen to hear what might be said today and the sponsors made money off the listeners who tuned in!

The whole truth be told is that the African Americans today have a leg up on the caucasians...there is no all white only colleges, there is no NACP for caucasians with a Jessie Jackson (adulterer), Al Sharpton. I think that caucasians have laid down their arms and recognize that our freedoms of speech have been lost. If the "N" word is okay for people of color to use however, forbid that a caucasian use this word and people are on it like "fly on stink". SOMEONE PLEASE SET THE STANDARDS FOR EVERYONE TO FOLLOW AND ENFORCE IT ON EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED OR COLOR, then we will find it a more harmonious and respectful place for all.

Answer 7

Same here!

I am more offended by rap videos, too. These are supposed to be our brothers, yet they feel as though they can talk to us any old kind of way and we have to support them unconditionally.

I don't think so. No black rapper, artists, man, woman or kid has any more right to insult me or anybody else then white people.

As far as free speech goes, people should be able to whatever they want, generally. However, they must also be prepared to accept the consequences for thier words as well.

Answer 8

As for blacks having a leg up on whites, I think not! I am a black female and I struggle everyday. There is racism within the black race not just from other races. Ask any black person and they will tell you! Anyway, what Imus said was really stupid and a man his age should have known better. As for the firing, it had to do with the sponsors pulling out and the station just decided it would be better to get rid of him. They really did not get to the heart of the issue.
I have to also agree with the first post and say I am offended by rap videos. The language and the women who are in them is a disgrace to women of any color!

Answer 9

You should be offended simply because you're human.
I think Imus said a bad thing, but I think the Blacks went overboard in their pursuit of "justice"
Free speech is saying what you think, not calling people names.
It is going to a place where the Blacks want to run the country and whine about everything that doesn't comply with their standard of fairness.
We are all messups, so the Blacks need to shut up and sit down!
It is always about what Blacks want.
Others have rights also.

Answer 10

When your speech is governed by sponsers, it's not free speech. Don Imus has the right to say what ever he wants, the sponsers have the right to say we are no longer going to pay him to say it.