Posted by
Paul Worlton on Sunday, April 15, 2007 10:21:59 AM
I'm getting weary of the Imus controversy as I'm sure many others are, but I'd like to cap it off by making something clear about free speech. Some people have said, "Free speech isn't free." In the context in which these people mean it, that is true. There are certain things no American can say without legal consequences. But the Imus case isn't one where free speech was curtailed by law. Imus has every right to continue to refer to people as "nappy-headed ho's" every day of his life without the law stepping in to stop it.
However, free speech does not come without civil, occupational, or procedural consequences. So if you say “nappy-headed ho” on the public airwaves, Uncle Sam might give you a pass, but the black community might not. You might also find yourself fired and facing civil litigation. Why? Because those you speak about also have their right to free speech. People have a right not to be slandered or libeled (not all people, nor in every case, but generally).
So my final thought on this is that in spite of my feelings on the fairness of the results, and in spite of my feelings on the hypocrisy of certain black “leaders,” I am still proud of the fact that in America people are able to say rude, crude, and hurtful things without being dragged off to prison or worse. We do live in a land of freedom – but certain freedoms do not come without consequences.