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William Hyde adds his two cents. Heidi e-mails Luke:

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...the solution to that problem is not to try to censor any expression of racism, but rather to more vigorously uphold the rights ordained in our constitution… by combating real instances of discrimination -in employment, wages, housing, education, etc- and ensuring an equal opportunity for each to rise according to their own merits and the strength of their character.






Sorry Heidi, I ain't buying what you're selling. iMus made his career on racist jokes and was a national public figure that revelled in his ability to mock minorities. His status 'normalizes' racism as a 'vaild philosophy' (it's not a philosophy, just narcissism) and makes it easier for 'normal' people to refuse to hire blacks or rent apartments to East Indians.

Secondly, there are laws on the books in most western countries that protect people from discrimination in cases of "employment, wages, housing, education, etc" (although they are selectively enforced). As we discussed elsewhere, the iMus situation is not criminal, it is not constitutional it is the marketplace at work. The networks hired iMus (ostensibly) because his outrageous behaviour draws a crowd, which drives ratings which attracts sponsors. Individuals can't do much about it, but by pooling resources, the marketplace can create a liability for the sponsors/networks (bad PR, boycotts, shame) that levels the playing field. Ultimately the networks (and their sponsors that pay them) get to make a judgment call based on their own criteria balancing whether the profits the man generates outweigh the headaches.

Finally, The so-called scourge of political correctness is just a bogeyman to allow people who know they're wrong misdirect attention from the fact that they've said something indefensible. Rush Limbaugh can whine about "PC" because it gives him cover, as well as an opening to make further racist comments.


Edited by soopergrizz (04/14/07 11:20 AM)
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