Dear Editor,
In America, everyone has the freedom to feel offended by another’s acts or speech. Most of us, especially those who know something about the First Amendment, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2011 decision re: Westboro Baptist Church – would also agree that everyone has a constitutionally protected freedom to be offensive in act or speech, even if those acts or words offend others. SCOTUS: “…such speech cannot be restricted simply because it is upsetting or arouses contempt.”
However, it does not follow that anyone, even those deeply offended, has a corresponding freedom to be oppressive towards the perceived offender(s). Offensive acts or speech do not justify individual or group attempts to censor or repress them. That’s what living in a “Republic,” means – the rights of the minority are protected, by law, from abuse by the majority.
“Tyranny” is not compatible with our form of government! Just because you disagree with what someone says or does, you are not entitled to take any actions to silence them.
Unfortunately, recent events in our own country clearly indicate an erosion of the constitutional protections our founders created to preserve our freedoms and our liberty. If we, as individuals, fail to speak up when, in the name of “political correctness,” “social justice” or some “ism,” we begin to deny our fellow citizens their constitutional protections, who will speak up for us when we are the targets?
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Ron Tamaccio
Greenville, S.C.
LEXICON:
Offended: feeling displeasure, anger or resentment because of someone’s words or deeds.
Offensive: unpleasant, disgusting or repugnant words or actions.
Oppressive: tyrannical, overbearing authority.
Tyranny: an oppressive and unjust government. Cruel and harsh use of power.
SIC SEZ
Ron: As always, you provide a thoughtful take on tumultuous times. Agree 100 percent with what you’ve said here.
23 comments
This post is offensive. Take it down.
que the crybabies…… Wait was that offensive?
If you are called everything from “a” to “zyxt” without being offended, you are not normal.
If you are called everything from “a” to “zyxt” and only offended when certain people do it, you have a problem. Is selective indignation protected by the First Amendment?
Yes
Are you protected from selective indignation by the First Amendment?
No
The point being, is a white person calling a black person a “ni66er” any different than a black person calling a white a “cracka” or a “honky?” These words are often used in their own culture as a term of endearment.
I don’t get your point. No one can prevent you from calling a black people N*****s, as I am sure you frequently do. No one has the right to say a black person cannot be offended by you calling him a N***** but not offended by a black rapper using that word in a song. People have the right to interpret the words of others and the intent of their use. Words themselves are not offensive, it is the use of those words that is offensive.
Thank You,
You made my point.
What point was that?. You made no point at all.
You’re talking to a brick wall, Tom.
erneba seems to be confused that using derogatory racial slurs towards someone in a hateful manner is generally looked down on by society.
It’s almost as if most people don’t like it when an asshole is an asshole to someone else.
Too bad, I guess erneba will have to stick to vague dog whistles to get his racist message across to just the right ears.
Yes, there is a difference because cracka and honky are racist per se. The term Cracker for example was primarily used by educated white people to refer to poor uneducated rural white people, much the same as “po white trash”. It has been adopted by black people, but when used by black people it does not communicate the speaker feels he is of a superior race. He may feel he is of superior intellect or social status, but not race.
The origin of Honky is unclear, but there is no indication it is racist. It is more a statement of anger at a perceived common oppressor. Sort of like, “haole” in Hawaii.
N*****, except when used by black people almost always has a racist connotation. An indication the speaker, considers the subject to be of an inferior race of people..
Now if you want to understand how black people feel when you use the term N*****, you should listen to some of the phrases the Chinese and Japanese have for white people. They are notorious for considering themselves a superior race to everyone. One example, when a Chinese child attending an American schools receives an A on a test or report card, his parents may jokingly say he received an Asian C. There are subtle racist undertones to that joke, that Chinese and Japanese people would understand. Just as white people know the N word is racially derogatory.
Excuse me, I intended to say Cracka and honky are NOT racist per se.
Elephants have a tough hide. Just saying.
And they have a long snout, big ears,big ass, and large feet, just like my ex-wife.
A jewelry store owner in Five Points called the police station to report a robbery. “You’ll never believe what happened, Sergeant. A truck backed up to my store, the doors opened, and an elephant came out. He broke my plate glass window, stuck his trunk in, sucked up all the jewelry, and climbed back into the truck.
The doors closed and the truck pulled away.”
The Sergeant said, “Could you tell me, for identification purposes, whether it was an
Indian elephant or an African elephant?”
“What’s the difference?” asked the jeweler.
“Well,” said the Sergeant, “an African elephant has great big ears and an Indian elephant has little ears.”
“Come to think of it, I couldn’t see his ears,” said the jeweler. “He had a stocking over his head.”
Where did he keep the keeps to the vehicle?
In the trunk?
The zebra was driving…
PLUS 10. cool
Actually, Ron, I am going to have to disabuse you of a belief you obviously feel strongly about. The Constitution only protects you from having the government suppress or punish you for your speech. It does not protect you against private action by private persons or entities, so long as those persons or entities do not violate the law. Consequently, if for example I want to organize a boycott of your store because I find something you said offensive, I am free to do so. If I want to picket your store, I am free to do so. I do not really understand what you mean by an individual or group trying to censor or repress another person, but if we are talking about private citizens, so long as their actions are not illegal; private citizens are free take action against you for your speech.
In short, you have the right to speak and say what you want; but you have no right to freedom of consequences from your speech. Further, you have no right to speak anonymously. If a private citizen or group, publishes your speech, and identifies you as the speaker there is nothing illegal about that, so long as that is true. You have no protection from that. If they call on others not to deal with you because of your speech, they have the right to do that. That is also freedom of speech.
We middle class straight white male Christians are truly oppressed, we can’t openly say we hate n****rs or f****ts without being called racist or homophobic bigots. That’s worse than having ancestors forced into hard labor and being whipped, beaten, and shot if they slip up. That’s worse than not being able to be legally married and be protected by the same laws as others are.
Our fee fees are very important, more so than your feelings, your rights, your liberties, or even your lives.
‘Christians’ love nothing more than self-inflicted martyrdom.Angry sex is good.How about I fuck your fish-belly white ass till you start to cry?
Great letter.