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Columbus--The Man, The Myth...The Mercenary!
Oh come on, refried. "Huckleberry Finn?" Really? Whether it's banned in public schools or not (it shouldn't be), I don't see how it serves to further your point, for at least a couple of reasons. One, the book itself was written in a time when that language was considered the norm, about an even earlier time. It would be bizarre if a piece of literature from that period said anything else. Two, I'd like to see a little more development of your point that "...it is proof positive that freedom of speech, regardless of language, can set us all free. Twain's Huck Finn was willing to go to hell for it..." ??? Huck wasn't willing to go to hell for freedom of speech. Huck was willing to go to hell for doing what he was right -- saving his friend. I'm sure you're familiar with the quote by E.M. Forster: “If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I would have the courage to betray my country.” It's this sort of quandary with which young Huck is faced. Freedom of speech had nothing to do with it. Three, we're not talking about classic literature. We were talking about hate speech and racial slurs in modern live media. Not the same thing. Not the same effects. (Nice writing though, as always.) ;)— October 14, 2009 10:15 p.m.
Columbus--The Man, The Myth...The Mercenary!
Re #61: No he doesn't, Pete. You just agree with him because you like to use racial slurs and a lot of obnoxious language. Along with Spliff Adams and some other dude I can't think of right now, you've probably abused the First Amendment more than anybody else on this site. What was the percentage of your posts that got removed when you first came here a couple months ago, before you toned down your language? Two thirds?— October 14, 2009 9:53 p.m.
Columbus--The Man, The Myth...The Mercenary!
"I mean, you can try to outlaw racist speech, but that sure isn't going to stop racism." Now that's a very specific issue in linguistic philosophy, and perhaps you, Daniels or someone else can point to some of the more well-known elucidations of it. I've long since forgotten. It's a chicken/egg question, much like the one often applied to art and media. Does language reflect society, or does society reflect language? It's an either/or question, asked in typical Western dualistic style. It's both, I'd say. I'm not a big fan of violence on TV or in film, because it's fairly obvious to me that such exposures build up a psychological callus that enables violence to escalate. I don't feel much different about violent, hateful language. The more the attitude is expressed and disseminated via the airwaves, the more folks get the idea that the attitude is okay, and the more it increases. Reeeeeally uncomplicated stuff. Monkey see, monkey do. As for humanity maturing with time, the difference is that other cultures have matured in times that were less technologically advanced. Lucky us. America's still in its 200-year-old gurgling, silly infancy in a time when we're able to kill each other quickly and easily with the newfangled weapon of choice from our own personal arsenal, thanks to the 2nd Amendment. (Never mind the rest of the world and the global contest for the biggest nuclear stick.)— October 14, 2009 9:36 p.m.
Columbus--The Man, The Myth...The Mercenary!
Well, a.) This ain't about drugs. I'd come closer to wanting to decriminalize all of those. Not sure why anybody needs heroin, but whatever. b.) Redefining free speech certainly WILL eliminate racist comments in the MEDIA if the FCC slaps media outlets with big ole fines and threatens their licenses. Radio's censored already. I'd rather hear Carlin's 7 Dirty Words... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhYhRqQDE1A ...than a lot of racist crap. Also, verbal assault is a criminal act, and you can be charged for it. http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Ver… Now, it has to accompany an apparent ability to carry out the threat, but it doesn't take much. Wasn't is Sartre who talked about being "radically free, and radically responsible?" The first half doesn't work without the last half, and "responsible" doesn't exactly describe the behavior of a lot of so-called adults in America.— October 14, 2009 8:42 p.m.
Rush Hour Spectacle
Don't bet on it. :)— October 14, 2009 8:12 p.m.
The Best A Man Can Get
Re #6: Fish, that's priceless. Everybody be sure to click the link at the bottom of the page to go to the guy's site and read the comments. Great stuff. XD— October 14, 2009 7:59 p.m.
Columbus--The Man, The Myth...The Mercenary!
Re #49: Aw, come on, gringo. NO politician cares about their constituency. Ever? It's not exactly the royal road to riches. Most of them make more money as lawyers/in private industry than they ever do being politicians. Even becoming President, for example, normally entails a massive paycut for whomever takes the job. As for freedom of speech, it's too often abused by racists and hatemongers. Nobody needs to hear that, and they don't need to say it. It serves no constructive purpose whatsoever, and in fact is destructive to "domestic tranquility" and suchlike. That's why things like "inciting a riot" are illegal. http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/102/2101 As far as I'm concerned, they could expand this law to specifically include things like racial slurs and hate speech (carefully defining terms, of course). If individuals don't have the common sense, manners, decency and intelligence to censor themselves, someone else needs to do it for them. And I don't want to hear any "slippery slope" arguments, either. As long as any proposed censorship is clearly spelled out, defined and limited, nobody's going to go sliding down any slopes. So, let's not confuse the issue of government censorship against individual patriots appropriately critiquing the government (a legit concern) with a-holes who like to use the "N" word or get as close as they can to it, just to stir the s*** for ratings. Big difference.— October 14, 2009 7:45 p.m.
Too Sweet For a Price
Bravo! Sadly, Pike, your lead CL posting has already been "deleted by its author." Never fear, however, the "Victor Book of the Opera" is available on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Victor-Book-Opera-Henry-Sim…— October 14, 2009 7:30 p.m.
David Ross fights for downtown bathrooms to serve homeless
Thanks for this story, Deegan. To recap the most horrifying parts, for those too lazy to read the whole thing: --------------------------------------------------- "Five days later, Waste Reduction showed up with garbage trucks on 16th in front of God’s Extended Hand. Several homeless people tell me they were already inside participating in a required prayer service before eating, having left their belongings across the street. They came out to see their sleeping bags, shopping carts, and other items being thrown into the trucks and crushed. Those who witnessed it say a police car led Waste Reduction’s truck and another trailed it. “They waited until those poor people went in to pray,” says Ross. “The City forces were lying in wait.... “One woman lost $4000 dentures she was still paying on. Gone in all those people’s belongings were items of sentimental value. A mentally ill woman came to me and asked if she could get pictures of her father and mother back. And worst of all, she and many others had their medications thrown out. Lots of these people don’t operate on all cylinders even while taking their meds. They won’t be able to get new prescriptions anytime soon either. And the City,” asks Ross, “wants to improve the homeless situation by throwing their meds away?" ---------------------------------------------------- America's Finest City? Really? What's so "fine" about it? How is it you measure that, and justify this at the same time? And to Bookwarren, who pecked: "It degrades our city to have visitors see all the homeless on the streets panhandling." What degrades San Diego is activities such as those described by Deegan above. Heartless, callous, selfish, and shameful. If the city of San Diego could legally get away with perpetrating outright genocide against these folks, surely San Diego would do it. The great irony is that San Diego isn't even one of those California cities of "heathen liberals." It's a red city that votes Republican. One might also guess that it considers itself a "Christian" city. Nice going, Christians. "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." -- Mohandas Ghandi— October 14, 2009 7:23 p.m.
Monkey Babies, Grocery Express Lane, The Clap
"Dominant members of the troop of the noisemaker’s mother will actually hit, chase, bite, or throw stones at her until she gets the baby to shut up. A nice fantasy for people who travel by plane or eat out in restaurants a lot, I’d guess." Or shop anywhere, anytime. Or go out in public at all. I thought you were going to say they'd just kill the ki...er...baby monkey. Cool that they take it out on the parent, where the blame belongs. Those monkeys are onto something.— October 14, 2009 6:35 p.m.