Kathy Griffin, Jesus, & "Hate Speech"?

Question

Okay, because the courts have yet to define hate speech beyond the definition of porn ("I know it when I see it"), here is how wiki defines it:

In the United States, government is broadly forbidden by the First Amendment of the Constitution from restricting speech. Jurists generally understand this to mean that the government cannot regulate the content of speech, but that it can address the harmful effects of speech through laws such as those against defamation or incitement to riot.

They go on to say:
Since such laws often apply only to the victimization of specific individuals, some argue that hate speech must be regulated to protect members of groups. Others argue that hate speech limits the free development of political discourse and ought to be regulated, but by voluntaristic communities and not by the state. Still others claim that it is not possible to legislate a boundary between legitimate controversial speech and hate speech in such a way which is just to those with controversial political or social views.

So is Kathy Griffin's quote hate speech as many Christian groups have claimed? Is it funny? Is it just offensive? What is your opinion?

Oh... in case anyone missed it, Kathy Griffin said (Look away now, my Christian friends):

"Can you believe this s***? Hell has frozen over. Suck it, Jesus, this award is my god now."

Catholic Crusade, that edit in A Few Good Men pissed me off, too. I mean, that dialogue defines the caracter. Besides, as a woman, I don't find "girlie" offensive. I find it offensive when someone uses it as in insult... LOL

Answer 1

I think it was extreme.....but not offensive, at least not to me. And I'm a Christain. People can say pretty much anything they want in the US within certain limits. Unfortunately that means that I have to support the right of the KKK or Fred Phelps to say anything they want as much as I have to support people or ideas with which I agree. That is the double edged sword of the first ammendment. But, I'll take that edge over the idea that the government can regulate what I can and cannot say.

Answer 2

There lies the fine line between our rights and the errosion of them.

Can you go into a crowded theater and yell, "Fire"? Of course not, but in a text book sense insn't the phrohibition of that a violation of our free-speach rights?

I am of the assumption that when our forefathers crafted the Constitution and in later years the Ammendments that govern our society and our rights within that society they never intended the words to be an end-all, do-all for our government. Our Conststution is a living, breathing thing, and like so many other great works is VERY open to interpretation.

How do we define hate-speach and put it into a catagory? I don't think we can. As you mentioned above there is a provision that would allow the courts to address the "harmfull affects" of speach through laws. My thought is that is supposed to be addressed on a case-by-case basis and not as a blanket rule.

Two black men are meeting up on a corner. The one turns to the other and says" My ******. How you doing?"

Same black man applies for a job and is told at the interview, "Sorry, we don't hire Niggahs."

I don't think you need me to explain to you the difference between the two, yet the "word" reads the same. This illustrates my point in there being a need to address "hate speach" on a case-by-case basis.

A major problem lies in determining what exactly hate speach is anyway. If I'm a Buddist and you try every day to talk to me about Jesus and I'm very clear that I don't want to hear it, can that be rationalized as hate speach? Or is that Freedom to practice your religion? If it is than what about my religion?

This is a subject with no easy answers. My biggest fear is that the powers-that-be are using the very document authored to ensure or freedoms as a tool to limit and ultimately do away with them. When it comes to government I strongly beleive that less is more.

"then they came for me, and there was no-one left"

Answer 3

While Ms. Griffin's speech was very offensive and even blasphemous, I personally do not think it was a "hate speech." I would think that a "hate speech" would have to be directed against a group of people.

In her speech, Kathy Griffin said "A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus," an exultant Griffin said, holding up her statuette. "Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now."

Ms. Griffin has the freedom of speech to say very horrible things to insult many millions of people. But those millions of people also have the freedom of speech to tell Ms. Griffin that her speech was insensitive and offensive.

The Catholic League, an anti-defamation group, called on the TV academy to "denounce Griffin's obscene and blasphemous comment."

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences agreed and said in a statement, "Kathy Griffin's offensive remarks will not be part of the E! telecast."

Can you imagine the uproar if Ms. Griffin had said Allah or Muhammed instead of Christ?

http://www.comcast.net/tv/index.jsp?cat=TELEVISION&fn=/2007/09/11/760303.html&cvqh=itn_griffin

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

I cannot believe the comments I am seeing in this thread about Freedom of Speech, etc....who do you think gave any of you freedom???? It was Jesus. Who would want to love 70 or 80 years with maybe half of that in riches just to burn in hell for an eternity? Not me and I most definitely would not want to sit at the seat of Judgment to explain myself to Jesus either for him to say, I never knew you my child but rather, you have been a good servant of the Lord, you may enter into the gates of heaven. WAKE UP EVERYBODY PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone on here unfortunately seem to be the people that read a bible verse and interpret that verse to fit it in your sinful world because you are living for this world and your flesh and do not walk beside God. Read God s Word...It s called the Bible. Yes his law is hard, but if you accept him, he will break your heart and give you a new one and help you to live by his Word. I cannot believe anyone would say they were Christian and not offended by this comment. Then you are NOT Christian. We all need to pray for Kathy Griffin and each other daily!!! Especially the lost.

Answer 5

Christians jump all over things like this and Janet Jacksons nipple, but then cry when the ten commandments are taken off of court buildings.

What they don't seem to understand is that freedom of speech and law applies to all of us. So if you take away freedom of speech based on the level of insult taken by people, eventually you will loose all opinionated speech, completely.

Kathy Griffin, as unfunny and irritating as she is, has the right to claim that Jesus isn't real, just as much as Christian performers have the right to claim that he is the only way to avoid eternal torture.

If Christians want the right to spread the Gospel, they must accept the right of others to claim that it is a falsehood, otherwise there is no freedom and we would be living in a theocracy.

Many Christians appear to want this, but the funny thing is that once they obtained it, they would then breakdown into their denominations, and start trying to dictate which flavor of Christianity, should be adhered to. It is just Christian nature.

Free speech is essential, no matter how offensive individuals may feel it is.

Answer 6

Censoring anything is wrong. If you don't like what you see you have this thing called a remote control and you have the choice to not turn on your tv at all. The maggots even went so far as to force television makers to install a v-chip but the retards that wanted it don't know how to use it, so they're still crying when someone says a bad word on a TV-MA show.

Answer 7

I find it very offensive. I am a Christian. If someone said that about Allah everyone would be upset. We are a sick country. I don't care for her comment. I feel she is demon possessed. You wouldn't be able to say the things and do the things she has done and not be possessed. You can see through peoples eyes. I see the devil in her.

Answer 8

I don't know who Kathy Griffin is, and I think that's probably OK. I'm guessing we wouldn't get along.

As for "hate speech" that's a liberal, nonsensical way to try to control thought. Was she "hating" when she said it? WHo the hell knows?? I suppuse the argument could be made that yes, her comments fall into the category of "hate speech" but does it makes sense to try to convict someone for "thinking" about hate. Sheesh.....

Answer 9

I think her statement was very offensive and I hope at some time in her life she will repent. But in America we have the freedom to say what we want. We have to allow her to say what she wants if we want to keep the freedoms we have. I am afraid as a pastor if her rights were taken away then those who hate Christianity would lobby even more to take away the Christians right to express his faith.

Answer 10

I don't think it was hate speech. I think because she is a comedian, it is her job to shock and amuse. I don't know what her real feelings are about christianity or even Jesus. I don't think we can honestly say she is speaking out against christianity. If she had said, "I accept this award on behalf of everyone in this country and the world who thinks that christianity should be abolished!", then I would say she had an agenda. Her success in her business depends on how much press she gets and how much she is seen. I think that is all she really cares about.