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Essay on Hate Speech
| Date: |
06-24-02 7:47pm |
| Subject: |
Miscellaneous |
| Word Count: |
667 |
| Page Count: |
2.67 |
Hate Speech
Hate speech, particularly talk
radio show hosts continue to cross the line. They do so with
regularity, receive a slap on the wrist and then return making
excuses for their exploits, and damning the one or more of their
followers for acting out violence after hearing the radio host
comments. In fact, in an article in the New York Times on 1-1-95
Don Baker of KVOR radio in Colorado Springs, Colo. removed
himself from the air. Mr.Baker encouraged listeners to take guns
to Washington to protest a ban on assault weapons. Callers to his
show accused him of inspiring Francis M. Duran, a Colorado
Springs man, to fire shots at the White House. Mr. Baker removed
himself from his show in November, but before doing so referred
to Mr. Duran as “the jerk, the wacko, the creep.” Mr. Baker
returned to his show in December with the general manager of the
station stating that they were putting into effect a new policy
against promoting violence (22). Many of these talk show hosts
actually base their theme on Christianity. Christianity the last
time I checked is supposed to promote love, and acceptance that
all men and women are created equal, no matter their background,
by God. This is in total contrast to what these so-called
Christians are promoting. Free speech should be a corner stone of
our American society; a way we Americans can express our views,
feelings, and opinions in a rational manner open for debate and
discussion without invoking hate, violence, and racism.
It seems that many talk show host have a
hard time expressing a simple disagreement with the views of
another human being. The talk show host lack of being able to
express themselves seems to turn to hate. In the same New York
Times article as cited earlier gives us yet another example. Bob
Mohan a radio talk show host in Phoenix states that Jim Brady’,
former press secretary to Ronald Reagan, wife “ought to be put
down.” It goes on to explain that he makes these comments because
he does not like her complaining (22). Perhaps there are ways of
expressing hatred in a rational manner; such as expressed by Neil
Boortz, a conservative radio host in Atlanta, who litened to a
caller say that the government is now the enemy replies: “if you
want a revolution go to the ballot box” (News Week May 8, 1995
44,46). Both of these men are conservative talk show hosts, but
clearly contrasting ways of expressing their opinions.
Racism is yet
another extension of the hatred. Many of these talk show hosts
have a hard time coming to grips with their prejudices. Their
reaction is to lash out at any minorities that they do not like.
Rush Limbaugh a conservative talk show host makes fun of the way
black people talk (New York Times 1-1-95 22). In a May 8, 1995
article in News Week Bob Grant, New York talk show host, is
quoted in a disagreement with a caller over O.J. Simpson and the
Oklahoma bombings, “what I’d like to do with you is put you
against the wall with the rest of them, and mow you down with
them.” This is when the racism and hatred come together and may
be turned to violence if heard by the wrong ear. In fact,
according to the Rev. Francis X Mazur, catholic priest who is
interim of the Buffalo area Metropolitan Ministries: “The part
that scares everyone is the amount of hate prejudice and racism
that still exists in our public” (New York Times 22).
There are times
when these talk show hosts seem to be invoking the violence. A
blatant example of this is in the May 8, 1995 News Week article.
G. Gordon Liddy, who is the second most popular talk show host,
implies that listeners should murder the agents of the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, and firearms. There seems to be a fine line
between the person suggesting the violence and the person
carrying it out in these instances.
It is time to say enough is
enough and draw a clear line. If the line is crossed then those
radio talk show host must be silenced. Most of us can listen and
take it with a grain of salt, but there are those out there just
waiting for a push.
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