Posted on 11/13/2007 12:30:44 AM PST by panther33
OPINION COLUMN
We ought to give Dog a second chance
By: Joshua Sharp
Tuesday Opinion Columnist
Daily Trojan
It's always a good day when "Dog: The Bounty Hunter" is on TV. Bored by the prostitutes and stab victims on "Cops," I enjoy watching Duane "Dog" Chapman and his family hunting down meth-crazed fugitives on the Hawaiian Islands.
The long-haired strongman, accompanied by his trademark sunglasses and busty wife, usually ends each arrest by giving fatherly advice to his capture and offering a cigarette - if that's his or her thing.
But production of the show is now suspended indefinitely after the bounty hunter's estranged son, Tucker, recorded a private phone call where Dog repeatedly used racially charged language. Tucker then sold the tape to the National Enquirer for a reported $15,000.
In the call, Dog was chewing out his son for his relationship with a black woman whom Dog suspected was leading recently paroled Tucker back into trouble.
"I heard this girl was maybe not being the best for Tucker - and I'll leave it like that - so I tried to interfere," Dog explained on "Larry King Live." "I don't care if she is black at all. He's on parole for a 20-year sentence, and if he messes up, he goes back."
Dog's recorded rant was an angry, obscenity-laced tirade. But what's worse, Dog used the n-word to refer to the girlfriend.
Over the past two weeks, Dog has been rightfully vilified in the public sphere for using such indefensible language. But knowing Dog's track record of compassionate public service, and after his repeated, presumably sincere apologies, we need to forgive and move forward. ...
Continue reading "We ought to give Dog a second chance," by Joshua Sharp in today's Daily Trojan...
So in that sense, he owes no apology. He is what he is. His pandering to the media just makes him seem weak.
I’d agree with you, in fact, I hope Dog continues to do his bounty hunting regardless of whether it’s on t.v. or not. He is a good guy who has always been hated by leftist, Cop hating, liberals, they just had a chance to exploit his language etiquette weakness, Senator Byrd got a pass.
The thing about name calling, the more they know it bothers you, the more they will use it.
Dog shuld be forgiven.
Its the Liberal socialist aristocracy who have taken Dogs use of the "n" word oout of context , and they brand him for the use of the word, when in fact it is an everyday word to the neighborhood from which Dog sprang.
Dog's sidling up to the liberals does make him look weak, but it goes to show you who has the cultural power these days.That has to change ASAP!
I agree with your analysis of the conversation, but disagree with your conclusion that he shouldn't apologize.
He used a term he shouldn't have, and his use of it has hurt many people. Even though he could have never anticipated that his son would betray him to the National Enquirer, he ultimately said those words and therefore does owe an apology to those he hurt. However, as I wrote in my column, the condemnation should end there.
Btw, I don't think an apology makes him weak at all.
I love the Dog. It was wrong of Dog to say what he said; however; it was a private conversation. Now tell me a fairytale about alledged minorities not saying really nasty things about whites or other races or each other. Dog’s opinions are not the point in this case. The point is his son sold him out. And his girlfriend planned it. Dog is the wrong person to be held accountable here. His son and girlfriend should be. Just like that case in Boulder where that couple’s land was taken. They say ignorance of the law is no excuse. Well, there is no excuse for judges and lawyers, politicians, big business; etc to steal from the public either. These people should be held accountable too. We meed to make the real culprits responsible.
Thank you. Like you, I hope Dog is back in action soon. Get those fugitives shakin’ in their boots again. :)
Well said. Thanks for sharing.
I hear you. As a Communication major, I'm worried to see us shift to a "sound bite society." Context is almost always lost in translation.
If you look back, Mark Furman lost his career and probably the case against OJ over something this stupid.
Get rid of Chris Mathews, or Oberman if you want to clean up TV. And for God's sake, don't bring back Rosie.
Good comment. I found it interesting, though, how Dog responded to that thought on Larry King Live. He said regardless of whether the law was broken in obtaining the conversation, and regardless of whether it was a private call, he said it and that’s that.
I was happy to hear Dog respond that way. As they say in the military: “No excuse, sir!”
Yes, I didn't find the conversation particularly offensive in light of far harsher statements said by others.
But in today's media, you're one statement away from "career suicide." Sad.
If you heard the language I use at white people who don't signal and cut people off in traffic, you'd never worry about what dog said about black people. Then again, I'll never get that reality show on A&E.
In perspective: Dog said a dirty word. N-word, I don't give a hoot. Really don't care. If Rap and Hip-Hop can gain such a foothold in black culture, considering the extent of the verbal abuse that comes out of it, then Dog didn't do anything wrong by their own standards.
Bad Dog. No biscuit.
Never got a reply, if more were sent who knows?
Wonder when gangsta rap tunes will not include ‘Offing You White MF’s’.
Great idea. Can you post the e-mail, or a link?
Well said.
You're absolutely right. Thanks for posting.
That'll happen the moment it doesn't become profitable.
Somebody bring me a lawn chair.
heck he didnt say anything NEAR as bad as RAP LYRICS
I think he deserves a second chance. I understand that even Whoopi was pretty conciliatory when speaking of it on The View.
I agree with you. He is taking responsibility.
Thank you for commenting.
Dog also had a right to expect some degree of loyalty from his son which he did not get. If I were Dog, I would tell the kid no problem, you're on your own, and when your girlfriend gets done using you and kicks you to the curb, don't come crying to me.
Sounds like the kid needs to be reminded which side his bread is buttered on.
As long as the N word is in popular music by black artists, used by black comedians and so forth I could not care less who uses it. It is an offensive word regardless of who says it.
Condemning him for using the N word is racist.
“I think he deserves a second chance”
Second chance implies he did something wrong. Its the people vilifying him that are wrong.
You hit the nail on the head. Thanks for commenting.
“Its the people vilifying him that are wrong.”
That’s very true.
Having paid scant attention to this “controversy”, but still more than I wanted to, I would point out that Mr. Dog was telling his son that he did not want to get caught up in some BS racial grievance firestorm, and that is what got him caught up in some BS racial grievance firestorm.
His use of the N-Word in that tape was not denigration, but an example or the language that he might use. He was having a discussion about language, and thought he was in a situation where he could use the actual word he was talking about, instead of saying “The N-Word”.
The fact is, Mr. Dog’s public act, which has made him a lot of money, requires him to use coarse language and racial slurs from time to time. He was merely pointing out to his son that he did not want somebody in the family making a big deal out of it every time he did so. This is a perfectly reasonable position and really has nothing to do with racial denigration or the individual girl involved.
And it turns out that Mr. Dog was right.
I think the whole ordeal makes A&E look worse than Chapman. He has obviously used the language before and A&E didn't care as long as nobody actually heard it.
I'm just as offended when blacks call me "Honkey", "Whitey", and "Cracker" as they are when they are called the much celebrated "N-word", even by each other. As a redhead, I'm also offended when people call me "Carrot Top", "Red", and "Rusty". My life goes on, though, despite my objections to these names. I grew up in the "old south". Folks who are upset by all of this clearly don't have enough to do in their own lives.....or they are out for financial gain.
It amazes me that people expect a member of the Devil's Disciples who is a 7th grade dropout to use genteel language. Dog has done far worse things than use foul language. Yet not a single gripe about them. He has used the M-F word. And he has committed adultery during previous marriages. Ask any woman: "Which is worse, your husband having an affair or your husband using bad language with an adult son in a private conversation?"
I forgive ‘Dog’.
But I won’t be watching his TV show.
As many posters have pointed out, the Clintons also have used this kind of language and look where Hillary is now: front-runner for president of the USA.
But some of the Freeper comments here make me want to puke! Where are the conservative and Christian standards and expectations?? Dog revealed himself for who he really is. He has two choices now - stand up and be authentic and NOT apologize....or apologize and (oh, what is that Christian word that Christians like to ignore in their own lives...? OH YEAH..) REPENT!!
Some of these ‘freeeepers’ are no more a positive difference in this world than Lefties! This ‘two wrongs make it ok’ justifications are mentally weak. Where is your intellectual rigor and community standard? We’re going to lose to the Facist-Muzzies if we don’t admonish each other, support each other, and repent with AUTHENTICITY.
Revile and admonish the actions of Dog but not the person. What in his life do we see in our own? Where are we mentally weak?? What do we hide?? Why DO we just give ourselves justifications and a ‘pass’?? YAWWWN!
How many of us are so damn quick to justify who Dog is (as he cowardly hides himself from the world) but at the same time were so eager to send ‘’Rev’’ Fred Phelps to hell (as he gladly exposes himself to the world)? I didn’t see any of the mentally slovenly Freepers just say ‘’Well, he is a Kansas Baptist. It’s just in his DNA. Live and let live, duuuuuude.’’
No!! Most the great Freeps stood up, were vociferous, and took action - quick to admonish the acts of hate!
Who are we that we are a Conservative? Who are we that we Freep?
Dog has done far worse things than use foul language. Yet not a single gripe about them. He has used the M-F word. And he has committed adultery during previous marriages. Ask any woman: "Which is worse, your husband having an affair or your husband using bad language with an adult son in a private conversation?"
Good points.
With regard to your first rebuttal about Dog betraying us, he did betray our trust to a certain extent in that he is a role model for many and was not more careful with the way he referred to that woman. I understand that it was a rant, I understand that it was in private, but what he said was not acceptable or defensible and is now in the public domain.
How do the parents of kids who looked up to him explain why Dog is on the TV apologizing instead of bounty hunting?
When you make yourself a public figure and role model, you have to take on a higher moral standard for yourself. We all make mistakes, but what he said was indeed a small betrayal.
I agree that Tucker's the (much) bigger rat here, but he does not have young fans across Hawaii and the world. His transgressions of recording and selling the tape should not obscure the guilt of the owner of those words.
I agree. I strongly feel that A&E withdrew their support prematurely. They should have stood by him -- he's brought fantastic ratings for the channel, and if they hadn't pulled their support I'm not sure the comments would have seemed so "career-ending."
I hope when they re-consider the issue in a few weeks, they choose to stand by Dog.
Thanks for posting your thoughts.
You're right that authentic repentance is what's needed in this situation, instead of making excuses or justifications. It is my belief that Dog has already begun that process.
I also particularly liked your comments about self-reflection. I think it's helpful to use this time as a chance not to muzzle ourselves completely, but still to remember what a huge effect words can have.
Think before you speak, I always tell myself. Still working on that one...
Duane Chapman and his clan perform a necessary role in civil society ... but they are far from the heroes that some make them out to be. A&E has paid this family a small fortune and they still won’t buy a shirt. I couldn’t care less if the show never airs again.
Neither do most of Larry King's viewers. But then they aren't his peers, and they don't understand his background.
There's something wrong when a man is forced to apologize to the whole world for what was said in a private conversation, in which he had an expectation of privacy.
Well at least he hasn't checked into some kind of rehab (yet).
FYI, here's that land-grab case in Boulder, CO.
Don't tell me you're an anti-idiotarian! Shocking! /sarc
Here's the tape of Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd on The View, talking about Dog's situation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.