|
|
|
July 17, 2004
Good news for the heart and soul?
Whoopi Goldberg recently stated her view on America's heart and soul: "America's heart and soul is freedom of expression without fear of reprisal," she said in a statement.Cool! I hate reprisals too! QUERY: Does the no reprisal rule apply to Dr. Laura too? Or are some expressions more free than others? In a way though, I think Whoopi is right. Although I don't think she meant her statement literally, if we take it at face value she isn't saying that freedom of expression without reprisals is America's heart and soul; only that an absence of fear is. I am all for an absence of fear as America's heart and soul, and I note that in the past, Whoopi has been quite outspoken, even facing serious criticism merely for saying she was an American: subordinated individuals often employ individualism as a buttress to racial stigma. An example is Whoopi Goldberg, who denies her connection to Africa by saying, "Don't call me an African American, I am an American."Believe it or not, it took courage for her to say that, and despite the current flap, I haven't forgotten it. (Even if I disagree with her assessment of her current predictable predicament.) posted by Eric on 07.17.04 at 09:43 AM
Comments
I must confess that I find Whoopi Goldberg to be sexy, and I also like Slim Fast products. Steven Malcolm Anderson (Cato the Elder) the Lesbian-worshipping gun-loving selfish aesthete · July 18, 2004 12:37 AM Whoopi Goldberg is sexy WITHOUT the Slim-Fast products. It's all in the attitude... Raging Bee · July 19, 2004 11:43 AM I can't believe you just equated Dr. Laura with Whoopi. Is there no distinction between hate speech (leveled at a class of people) and criticism (leveled at a person)? There also needs to be a distinction made between "reprisal" and "consequences". One should always expect consequences. But should one always expect "reprisal" (punishment)? SixFootPole · July 26, 2004 01:23 AM As you point out, Dr. Laura and Whoopi are quite different. But the First Amendment is content neutral, and does not distinguish between a class of people (homosexuals, Jews or Republicans) and a person (Andrew Sullivan, Howard Stern, or George Bush). The consequences for saying what others don't wish to hear may or may not include reprisals. Whether they're legal or illegal, I don't think we should live in fear of them. Although sometimes, reprisals are to be expected. I saw vicious reprisals against local city commissioners -- including me -- who didn't vote the way certain people wanted. I was spat upon and had bottles thrown at me for Second Amendment advocacy in the "wrong" place. Depending on the employer, I might expect to be fired for things I have written in this blog. I am not defending such reprisals (some of which are criminal conduct), and I would not engage in them. But the First Amendment only protects speech against government encroachment. Eric Scheie · July 28, 2004 07:59 AM |
|
March 2007
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR
Search the Site
E-mail
Classics To Go
Archives
March 2007
February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 May 2002 See more archives here Old (Blogspot) archives
Recent Entries
• War For Profit
• How trying to prevent genocide becomes genocide • I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight • Wind Boom • Isaiah Washington, victim • Hippie Shirts • A cunning exercise in liberation linguistics? • Sometimes unprincipled demagogues are better than principled activists • PETA agrees -- with me! • The high pitched squeal of small carbon footprints
Links
Site Credits
|
|
I'm proud to be an individualist.