Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Ann Althouse: “I remember the broad 1960s era commitment to free speech. There was a special zeal to protect those who said outrageous things. Today, we’re back to the kind of repression that in the 60s seemed to belong to the 1950s. What the hell happened?”
Ann Althouse: “I remember the broad 1960s era commitment to free speech. There was a special zeal to protect those who said outrageous things. Today, we’re back to the kind of repression that in the 60s seemed to belong to the 1950s. What the hell happened?”
We're back to McCarthyism....just sub anti-"gay" for communist. We have on our hands a genuine upside-down witch-hunt.
Both Lenin and Stalin knew that if they could control language and limit free speech, they could dominate the masses. The minstream republicans know this, too.
Now, whenever anybody disagrees with a person of special interest, they are immediately classified as being a hater, communist, marxist, anti-american, muslim appeaser, enemy of freedom etc
The hypocrisy runs deep in this thread.
Wasn't the progressive movement born from the failed socialist/communist parties of the early 20th century? Marxism and communism go directly against our Constitution, making them anti-American ideals.
One minute the left is cheering that the Republican party is dead and then you say they are dominating the masses at the same time. It's pathetic to see how far people will reach to try and change a persons mind. I doubt you've changed anyone's mind.
Democrats own main scream media by 7 to 3. Do you really think anyone believes that it's the Republicans who are brain washing people? OMG, how can you even suggest such a thing with the displays of absolutes when it comes to following Obama.
In any normal world Reed, Pelosi, Waters, Feinstein, Boxer would be considered clowns. If a Republican tried to pass a bill by saying "we must pass it in order to know what's in it" he would have been tarred and feathered, but not Pelosi.
You say the hypocrisy runs deep. I say it's insanity and ignorance running deep in here.
Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from negative repercussions of speech.
Phil Robertson said what he had every right to say.
People who were offended by his speech voiced their displeasure, which they had every right to do.
A&E made a business decision to suspend Robertson in an attempt to deflect criticism, which they had every right to do as well.
It's ironic that, in all likelihood, many of the people who are criticizing A&E are also probably the same ones who spout off and argue that businesses can cut any damn person they please from their payrolls, under circumstances that are far more benign than the climate currently facing the network. Which is it?
Now personally, I don't really agree with the knee-jerk decision to terminate someone every time they hurt someone's feelings. I think it's dumb to fire an entertainer, a broadcaster, or public figure every time they happen to say something offensive. People say dumb things. People make mistakes. They should be given a chance to recover from it and grow from their experience as people. The only thing constant boycotts and coercion is to create a counter-reaction in which people offensive celebs and their fan base become even more defiant and hostile toward cultural sensitivities. You can't make people love you through the threat of force; there should be dialogue, openness, and understanding. If someone willfully chooses not to engage in that process, then yeah, maybe they should be fired and replaced with entertainers who contribute more positive things to social discourse.
Having said all of that, if there's one thing I'm even more sick with it's the fake martyrdom of so-called "Christians" who in all truth are very un-Christ-like. How very ironic that dolts like Sarah Palin whines about how she and other conservatives are being pilloried by the 'liberal' media yet stands in firm unison with someone who has clearly offended so many people needlessly and ignorantly. The problem with Christian conservatives is that they're the classic bullies of society: they can dish it out at other people, but they whimper like a puppy with its ear caught in a mousetrap the moment someone calls them out. Beyond sick of them.
This threat is real, and it is happening every day. The PC crowd want no discussion. They embark on a propaganda assault, using all means to silence an opposing point of view. They call the opposition every name in the book. And they are fully supported by the MSM. It is against all the principles this Country was founded on. And everyone should be condeming it, but they are not.
Does it really make us a better Nation, when people cannot speak their point of view? Not in my opinion. Different opinions are healthy, and debate resolves conflict. Stifling free speech does not.
Not even close.
The mealy mouthed PC crowd are already wearing on everyones nerves. The PC crowd are quickly approaching street corner, bible-thumping preacher status, and becoming the source for pop culture jokes and ridicule.
Wasn't the progressive movement born from the failed socialist/communist parties of the early 20th century? Marxism and communism go directly against our Constitution, making them anti-American ideals.
One minute the left is cheering that the Republican party is dead and then you say they are dominating the masses at the same time. It's pathetic to see how far people will reach to try and change a persons mind. I doubt you've changed anyone's mind.
Democrats own main scream media by 7 to 3. Do you really think anyone believes that it's the Republicans who are brain washing people? OMG, how can you even suggest such a thing with the displays of absolutes when it comes to following Obama.
In any normal world Reed, Pelosi, Waters, Feinstein, Boxer would be considered clowns. If a Republican tried to pass a bill by saying "we must pass it in order to know what's in it" he would have been tarred and feathered, but not Pelosi.
You say the hypocrisy runs deep. I say it's insanity and ignorance running deep in here.
Nancy "Embrace the suck." Pelosi, she's all you need to know to see how far the Democratic Party has fallen under the current surge of liberal progressivism.
I believe this is one of the biggest threats we face now.
All it takes is for a group of idiots to elect someone who thinks like them to get the ball
rolling in washington to get it started by taking our rights away.
Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from negative repercussions of speech.
Phil Robertson said what he had every right to say.
People who were offended by his speech voiced their displeasure, which they had every right to do.
A&E made a business decision to suspend Robertson in an attempt to deflect criticism, which they had every right to do as well.
It was a vocal activist group GLAAD who forced the issue, not viewer feedback.
Same with Cracker Barrel only in the case of CB their customers told CB exactly how they felt about it all and CB apologized and put all that stuff back on the shelves.
Vocal activists should not be running the show here.
They are the extremists here and you seem to be applauding A&E's reaction.
What if you get a neo-Nazi activist group doing the same ?
Feel the same way now ?
It was a vocal activist group GLAAD who forced the issue, not viewer feedback.
Same with Cracker Barrel only in the case of CB their customers told CB exactly how they felt about it all and CB apologized and put all that stuff back on the shelves.
Vocal activists should not be running the show here.
They are the extremists here and you seem to be applauding A&E's reaction.
What if you get a neo-Nazi activist group doing the same ?
Feel the same way now ?
You cannot let extremists take over the country.
I agree completely! There's a huge difference between using ones right to free speech and having people disagree, and quite another to have an extremist group exploit those rights. GLAAD seems to believe they have the right to suppress freedom of thought, which makes them hypocrites and dangerous.
This threat is real, and it is happening every day. The PC crowd want no discussion. They embark on a propaganda assault, using all means to silence an opposing point of view. They call the opposition every name in the book. And they are fully supported by the MSM. It is against all the principles this Country was founded on. And everyone should be condeming it, but they are not.
Does it really make us a better Nation, when people cannot speak their point of view? Not in my opinion. Different opinions are healthy, and debate resolves conflict. Stifling free speech does not.
My God you cons are pathetic. It wasn't the left that cost Martin Bashir his job. It wasn't the left that made Ed Schultz apologize and wanted him to lose his job, luckily they failed there. It wasn't the left that used all means to silence the Dixie Chicks
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
