Posted on 05/07/2009 3:45:10 AM PDT by MartinaMisc
Is hate speech merely in the ear of the listener?
In a bizarre editorial, the Boston Phoenix has called on Boston talk-radio station WTKK-FM (96.9) to consider ending its nearly ten-year association with afternoon radio host Jay Severin, who was recently suspended for hyperbolic comments about Mexicos role in the spread of swine flu. While Severins rhetoric did go over the edge, the Phoenix may be going too far.
Severin was being more than an advocate for his anti-immigrant point of view, more than provocative, more than even incendiary, the editorial states. In our opinion, he was being hateful, trying to deny the basic humanity of Mexicans so as to render them unworthy of being afforded rights.
While Severins description of Mexicos problems was, shall we say, intense, he was not attempting to deny the basic humanity of Mexicans so as to render them unworthy of being afforded rights. Over the years, Severin has been clear in his belief that those who (as he would put it) break into the country have no rightsnot because they are Mexicans, but because they have arrived in the country illegally. (Note that the Phoenix characterizes Severins views as anti-immigrant, when his views are actually anti-illegal-immigrant.)
(Excerpt) Read more at massachusetts.newsplatoon.com ...
Of course that standard never applies to the left.
Like all good civil libertarians, we support the right of neo-Nazis or any other haters for that matter to demonstrate, or publish, or communicate in any form they might choose. But just as we would defend WTKK's right to have a neo-Nazi or a racist as a guest on one of its talk shows, so, too, would we question the wisdom of giving someone of such questionable sentiments a permanent soapbox as a talk-show host.
They are willing to support free speech for neo-Nazis but not Severin?
How screwed up are they?
Who died and made the Boston Phoenix the arbiter of free speech?
The Rhode Island prostitution industry?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.