We ought to give Dog a second chance (Daily Trojan)

Daily Trojan ^ | 11/13/2007 | Joshua Sharp

[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...

[panther33]

I wrote this for the USC student paper, the Daily Trojan. Fellow FReepers, I'd love to hear your feedback!

[zipper]

That type of language is who Dog is. If you hang out with street people, spend time in prison, and have a slight education, that's just the reality of not only how you talk but who you are. It's second nature to use the n-word for them, just as it is for rappers, drug dealers and addicts. To them it's a routine, mild term. Prison permanently desensitizes anyone to harsh language. He wanted to insult his son's girlfreind, to let him know of his disapproval, because Dog was afraid his son would end up in the slammer for 20 years on a probation violation because of her influence. He was just trying to keep his son from making a mistake -- not because she was black, but because he perceived her as a threat to her son's future. He's not a racist, but he is protective of his family. If she'd been white he would've picked an equally offensive term to describe her -- to emphasize to his son what he thought of a woman he perceived as a threat to his son's freedom.

So in that sense, he owes no apology. He is what he is. His pandering to the media just makes him seem weak.

[Son House]

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.

[Candor7]

Agreed.

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!

[panther33]

So in that sense, he owes no apology. He is what he is. His pandering to the media just makes him seem weak.

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.

[oldenuff2no]

As a retired military person I’ve heard the N word a lot. It almost always cam out of the mouth of a black person. I’ve also been called every name under the sun. Oh well, life goes on.
Give the dog another chance. You can’t carry this racial crap around forever.

[freekitty]

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.

[panther33]

Thank you. Like you, I hope Dog is back in action soon. Get those fugitives shakin’ in their boots again. :)

[panther33]

Well said. Thanks for sharing.

[panther33]

... it goes to show you who has the cultural power these days. That has to change ASAP!

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.

[chuckles]

Go to any police station booking room. Go to any military base. I don't care where you go, even to schools, you will hear the "N" word. This is who he is. It is part of his life. Asking him to change his language is like changing your DNA. You might be able to cut back, but you will never completely change it. A TV show can Bleep it out, but if the boy's girlfriend heard him or his employees saying it, all hell would break loose. I've seen his show and don't care one way or another if it stays on, but to kill it over this is stupid.

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.

[panther33]

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!”

[panther33]

I don't care where you go, even to schools, you will hear the "N" word.

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.

[Caipirabob]

I wrote this for the USC student paper, the Daily Trojan. Fellow FReepers, I'd love to hear your feedback!

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.

[Hunterite]

As a retired military person I’ve heard the N word a lot. It almost always cam out of the mouth of a black person. I’ve also been called every name under the sun. Oh well, life goes on. Give the dog another chance. You can’t carry this racial crap around forever. Oh yeah you can, its the bread and butter of liberal demagoguery.

[highpockets]

I sent an email to A&E telling them our family was boycotting all of their broadcasts until he is given a second chance.

Never got a reply, if more were sent who knows?

[Westlander]

Wonder when gangsta rap tunes will not include ‘Offing You White MF’s’.

[panther33]

I sent an email to A&E

Great idea. Can you post the e-mail, or a link?

[panther33]

Dog didn't do anything wrong by their own standards.

Well said.

[panther33]

Oh yeah you can, its the bread and butter of liberal demagoguery.

You're absolutely right. Thanks for posting.