The recent comments by Don Imus about the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights women’s basketball team begs the question, how should free speech be accommodated on the public airways?
The first amendment to the
Question # 1: How can we have freedom of speech and at the same time produce citizens that celebrate the values of diversity and civility?
Question # 2: Who should decide and how do we draw the line between what’s tragic, offensive, or funny? What price should journalists, shock jocks, rappers, etc. pay when they cross that imaginary line on the public airway?
2 comments:
Freedom of speech is one of our rights and I believe one can say whatever he chooses to say when he is not at work in a public place. In this instance Don Imus was speaking as an employee of a radio station. The radio station had to apply for a license from the governmental agency the FTC. The FTC has certain rules and regulations to which the license holders must adhere. I’m sure those regulations must have standards about derogatory language and racial slurs. The government can regulate language and behaviors, but regulating thought is a bit tricky, not to mention controlling.
How do we produce citizens that celebrate the values of diversity and civility? This has to start at home by a child’s parents and care givers. If this kind of sensitivity is not started early in a child’s development, it may not ever get the attention.
Don Imus is a very smart man and he knew what he was saying would blow-up like it did. I don’t think drawing the line is going to have an impact on anyone like him. The bottom-line is that his statement has probably increased his ratings and listenership.
I say we write to the sponsors of the show, but they too may benefit from increase listeners.
I would suggest that yes we can have freedom of speech but when it comes to offending someone that is where we should draw the line. I think that their shouldn't be a specific person that drws the line of what is appropiate and whta isn't it should just be common sense. If you wouldn't like someone saying it about you or your mother than you shouldn't say it about someone else, that is the bottom line, it is just common sense.
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