I’m really upset about some recent events that cross the boundaries of ‘open public discourse’. In fact, I’m not just ‘upset’ (the polite kind of statement my parents and grandparents taught me to say), I’m APPALLED and PISSED OFF – maybe even SPITTIN’ MAD – that some folks don’t know the difference between communicating freely and inciting people to violence.
HOLLERIN
The trigger for my outrage: The
OBAMA ASSASSINATION POLL on Facebook!!! Come on, REALLY??? I could not believe this when I first heard it. Well, of course, I could
believe it, but I didn’t want to think anyone could be that (insert any number of adjectives here….) stupid, asinine, hateful, disrespectful, loony, DANGEROUS…OK, I’ll pause there.
Yes, I know we uphold free speech – and I’m a staunch defender of that right. However, there are human factors known as ‘judgment’ and ‘decency’ that should work as filters in our brains; that should give us pause before expressing ourselves. Yeah, maybe I’m expecting a lot, because I haven’t seen or heard much restraint being used in any form of communication medium these days. It’s not really ‘shock and awe’, it’s more like ‘shock and awwwww…oh no, you DIDN’T say that!’ Cringe.
Yesterday morning on CNN live, RNC Chairman Michael Steele was trying to claim that anger against Obama is not necessarily so serious, nor racist. He was responding to questions from anchor John Roberts who asked, “Why so much anger directed at the president?”, particularly referencing the horrible Facebook poll, “Should Obama be killed?”. Steele defensively denied that there WAS any more anger against this President than any other. Roberts quoted from Secret Service statistics: Threats against this president are 400% higher than those against Bush. So. Did Steele try to engage in a serious dialogue? No, he instead went on the offense, claiming that ‘The Media’ “leaps on race as the issue, connecting dots that may not exist.” Pah-leeze.
Perhaps the media does sometimes hype what is sensational or controversial. But we have too many examples of REAL racist comments, posters, and pundits statements to pretend this is not still a major issue in our society. Hate speech should be denounced. Rudeness should not be excused.
Joe Wilson-s should be chastised. That goes for Bloggers,
Twitter posts (um, yeah, Tweets), and Facebook polls – just as much as it does for broadcast media.
Al Gore describes this kind of mindless response better than I, “Back in Tennessee there’s an old saying: When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler.” And that sums it up.
Next time you hear someone “Hollering” or stirring up mob mentality, please tell them politely to “Shut up!”
– Donna
Communications | Donna Lehman 30/09/2009 
