Freedom of speech American style
In the sports section of the Peoria Journal Star today (2/15/07) on page D5 was a very short news article. Quoting it in its entirety: “Retired guard Tim Hardaway, known for his candor, said on a Miami radio show Wednesday he would not want a gay (homosexual—my addition) player on his team, would ask for him to be traded, and went so far as to say: ‘You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.’”
Of course, the politically correct crowd immediately jumped on this and according to radio and TV reports also aired today Mr. Hardaway has since apologized. I’m not particularly concerned with what he said—some of which in my mind was uncalled for including that he hated homosexual people. You can hate the sin without hating the sinner.
However, notice the immediate reaction. Mr. Hardaway must apologize. So, what happened to freedom of speech? What happened to being able to express your views no matter how outrageous they may be? The fact seems to be that the politically correct crowd only accepts the concept of freedom of speech when that speech agrees with their point of view.
Now, image if Mr. Hardaway had said something entirely different. What if he had declared on the same radio show that he hated rich, white owners who lorded over black athletes? Would there have been the same uproar and the same demand that he apologize for his comments? What if he had declared that he hated President George Bush for sending black soldiers to die in Iraq? Would there have been the same demand that he apologize for his comments? What if he had declared that he hated Christians because they were the cause of slavery? Would there have been the same demand that he apologize for his comments?
What do you think? Is freedom of speech just appropriate for speech that is considered politically correct or does it include all speech no matter how offensive it might be to some segments of society? Ask the politically correct crowd. Do you think they will tell the truth?
In the sports section of the Peoria Journal Star today (2/15/07) on page D5 was a very short news article. Quoting it in its entirety: “Retired guard Tim Hardaway, known for his candor, said on a Miami radio show Wednesday he would not want a gay (homosexual—my addition) player on his team, would ask for him to be traded, and went so far as to say: ‘You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.’”
Of course, the politically correct crowd immediately jumped on this and according to radio and TV reports also aired today Mr. Hardaway has since apologized. I’m not particularly concerned with what he said—some of which in my mind was uncalled for including that he hated homosexual people. You can hate the sin without hating the sinner.
However, notice the immediate reaction. Mr. Hardaway must apologize. So, what happened to freedom of speech? What happened to being able to express your views no matter how outrageous they may be? The fact seems to be that the politically correct crowd only accepts the concept of freedom of speech when that speech agrees with their point of view.
Now, image if Mr. Hardaway had said something entirely different. What if he had declared on the same radio show that he hated rich, white owners who lorded over black athletes? Would there have been the same uproar and the same demand that he apologize for his comments? What if he had declared that he hated President George Bush for sending black soldiers to die in Iraq? Would there have been the same demand that he apologize for his comments? What if he had declared that he hated Christians because they were the cause of slavery? Would there have been the same demand that he apologize for his comments?
What do you think? Is freedom of speech just appropriate for speech that is considered politically correct or does it include all speech no matter how offensive it might be to some segments of society? Ask the politically correct crowd. Do you think they will tell the truth?
posted by Christian Gunslinger at 4:57 AM
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