Posted on 03/09/2007 12:57:28 PM PST by SmithL
The Chronicle's story today on the ongoing furor over Ann Coulter and the 'F-word', reports that the backlash includes a campaign initiated today by a gay rights group and media watchdog to persuade mainstream media outlets to dump her for good.
The organizations in question, GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign, are seeking to get rid of Coulter from the airwaves and from being syndicated to newspapers.
Is all this a step too far?
Ironically, GLAAD itself is the target of a campaign by the American Family Association to get the Ford Motor Co., a development noted by the gay web site, Queerty.
Taking a leaf from HRC's book, should other organizations petition to take Bill Maher off of HBO because of his off-color remarks on the possible untimely death of Dick Cheney. That happened to Maher once before, when "Politically Incorrect" was summarily dispatched from ABC after he made comments perceived to be politically incorrect about Al Qaeda.
So, how far might, or should, this erosion of offensive speech go?
Is there a difference between activist organizations pushing to boot Ann Coulter off the air, and, say, the government of Turkey banning You Tube because of perceived undignified references to Kamal Attaturk (since lifted by a Turkish court). Or schools and libraries banning literature considered "dangerous." Or New York City banning the "N-word", no matter how much it is part of the vernacular (as is the "F-word"). Or, for that matter, Europe criminalizing Holocaust denial.
All terribly offensive, of course, but so are Klan marches, and neo-Nazi marches through Skokie, which the ACLU defended
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The people who are doing this are the same people who talk about the Dixie Chicks like they're Saint Stephen, Patron of Martyrs.
Go Ann Go!
First Schlesinger now Coulter. It seems the conservative white women are the only ones willing to risk anything to stop the homo/race pimp/liberal agenda. Why are white men so unwilling to do what they have done?
San Fran tried to ban Fox News so no one could see O'Reilly. Free speech as long as you believe what WE believe.
I've always found people who try to silence their opponents far more offensive than even the most outrageous speech.
Dixie Chicks?
"So, how far might, or should, this erosion of offensive speech go?"
Efforts to limit the commercial exposure and viability of Ann Coulter do not affect her free speech.
If not being on network news is the measure of the freedom of a person's speech, I am virtually without a voice!
Ann brought this on herself.
She has a right to free speech. Everyone else has the right to object to what she says.
Whats the problem?
This has nothing to do with Free Speech. Coulter isn't being prosecuted by the government. She has the right to say what she wants, and others have the right to complain, boycott, or whatever. It wasn't a Free Speech issue when Freepers boycotted the Dixie Chicks, and it isn't a Free Speech issue now.
I'm tired of being annoyed by the NAGGERS!
Whatwhatwhat? : )
Stick to your guns Ann!
Neither what Ms Coulter said, nor what the Dixie Chicks said, is particularly outrageous, imo. Outrageous is, for example, David Duke or Louis Farrakhan in some of their more "out there" moments.
Somebody who was offended might reasonably not buy any more of the offended party's merchandise (whatever it may be).
But to go out of one's way to kick them from the marketplace is just a cheap ploy to limit debate.
I'm neither attacking nor defending Coulter. All my post did was point out how the Human Rights Campaigns of the world that are so intent on silencing Coulter are the same people who are horrified by the "censoring" of the Dixie Chicks.
Literacy is a valuable skill.
LOL!!!!!
Whatwhatwhat? : )
LOL!! Caught me off guard.
>>Ann brought this on herself.
She has a right to free speech. Everyone else has the right to object to what she says.
Whats the problem?<<
I'm with you on this one. She knows what she is doing here and it is high entertainment to watch the detractors squirm.
And with every controversy, she becomes more and more of a household word - first derided, and then applauded as people educate themselves.
Human beings are fascinating!
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.