The thing is, though, that as Americans we must be willing to defend the right of others to say and believe what they wish, even when they are spewing that which is most disagreeable.
It is possible to disavow an idea while still defending the right of (a jackass) to say it.
You are going to become a real favorite around here. Keep posting. It won't be long before you ask for your nick to be changed.
It is possible to disavow an idea while still defending the right of (a jackass) to say it."
I would agree that Free Speech must be protected by the law of the land. However, I expect society at-large to operate on a reward-shun schema. Instead of the racist Rev. Jeremiah Wright having a wealthy church with members as socially prominent as Oprah Winfrey, he should have long ago been shunned to the point of finding social acceptance among none but a handful of like minded sociopaths hiding out in some remote wilderness compound.
Some would frame the racist Rev. Jeremiah Wright's dogma as patriotic dissent. Perhaps, his dogma would be socially protected and sanctified if his rhetoric did not color every reference to human beings with racial bigotry. I am not speaking of patriotic dissent here. I would posit that patriotic dissent is alive and well in every political party. There are lines in the sand, however, that encourage us to be socially responsible.
Racism is one of those lines drawn in the sand.