Do you think there should be free speech limitations on racial slurs?
Examples: N*gger and cracker. (Remember, these are JUST examples.)
Do you think there should be no ban, only a partial ban (meaning that only 'the offended' should be permitted to speak racial slurs), or a total ban?
This may sound like a silly question, but apparently there are people who believe that some should be permitted to speak such words and others should be prohibited from speaking them.
I've yet to express my opinion, so don't shoot me. LOL
I'm just asking for YOUR opinions. Thanks. ☺
Answers:
Some people confuse freedom of speech with saying whatever they want to say and no one else can say anything back. When this Don Imus thing came up, I heard so many people say that his freedom of speech was compromised. His freedom of speech never was. He could say whatever he wanted and he did. The thing is people assume because one person has freedom of speech that nobody else does. People can say whatever they want including using those words. They will not go to jail for it, but they have to know that other people have the same right that they have. They still can be sued for defamation of character. Yet, that still does not compromise their freedom of speech, because another person went after you in a civil proceeding. They have that right.
People should say what they want to say, but they have got to realize that the rights that they used to say that particular thing, others are afforded that right also.
So no, I do not think there should be any limitations on it.
I don't believe there should be ANY ban on our right to free speech. It's part of our constitution, and part of what makes the US, well, the US! However, I DO believe that we all need to take a crash course in morals and values. We all need to learn how to respect one another and respect our differences. Racial slurs are made by ignorant people, who so desperately need to learn about what really matters in life. Taking away our rights (even if it's only certain 'words') will eventually turn into something REALLY ugly.
I don't believe there should be any actual limitations on these words. there should be education as to the harm these words cause. Many of these words are being popularized in today's pop culture and it is shameful. Children do not understand how powerful words can be.
No because I believe in free speech completely. You have to take the good w/ the bad!
You used a pejorative term 'slurs' describing racial comments.
All 'slurs' are bad, and need to be controlled, whether about race, religion, politics, or 'endowment'!
Any 'slur' is unspeakable by definition!
The real question is what CAN reasonable people say about races without being labelled racists. Don't ask...don't tell.
Maybe someday we'll be allowed to say 'black girls usually have rounder rear ends'.
Now this innocent remark can be misconstrued!
How long will we have to wait for a bit of free speech in this very touchy area?
No ban.
I'm rather fond of the first amendment.
There may be consequences when someone uses speech that someone else finds offensive or hateful, and the speaker will have to deal with those consequences. But the simple act of speaking a specific word, without regard to context or situation or participants, is not and should never become illegal.
