Freedom of speech...

[Anonymous]

is NOT the right to make tons of money saying whatever you want without criticism. Dr. Laura says she's leaving her show in order to reclaim her freedom of speech. No one is taking her freedom of speech away. She can say whatever she damn pleases. But she has no right to expect that people won't criticize her for it. What about my friggin' freedom of speech to respond to her?

Furthermore I'm tired of people acting as if they have a right to be paid lots of money to say what they want to say. Freedom of speech means you can stand on a street corner and say what you want to say without fear of arrest. It doesn't mean that you have a right to an enormous salary, too.

[Anonymous]

In an indirect way, when your message is heard by millions who can then vote with their dollars, your freedom of speech is somewhat limited by your celebrity. That is, say something unpopular, lose your audience, lose your job, lose your way to make a living in the future. That will make you very careful of what you say in public. Of course, you can always shoot your mouth off but there will be repercussions.

[Anonymous]

What she was reacting to was tons of people calling national sponsors of her radio show to complain about her use of the n- word repeatedly; and then at least 2 of those sponsors pulling the plug on ads on her show. She knew more would follow.

That's not censorship of First Amendment rights, sweetie (and I'm talking to YOU Mama Grizzly Sarah Palin! -- are you SURE you want to come to Schelsinger's defense on this one??)

That's business, pure and sumple, and boycotts are the American Way.

[Anonymous]

uh -- business, pure and SIMPLE.

[Anonymous]

I kind of like "pure and sumple." We should make up a definition for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In an indirect way, when your message is heard by millions who can then vote with their dollars, your freedom of speech is somewhat limited by your celebrity. That is, say something unpopular, lose your audience, lose your job, lose your way to make a living in the future. That will make you very careful of what you say in public. Of course, you can always shoot your mouth off but there will be repercussions.

But that's true for everyone. If I walked down the hallway of my office right this minute and shouted epithets of any kind aimed at any demographic group, I'd get in a lot of trouble. I would be reprimanded, possibly fired. My co-workers would be upset and some of them would let me know about it and they might complain to management about it. I am not owed freedom from criticism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kind of like "pure and sumple." We should make up a definition for it.

Sum = bottom line. Pure and sumple means it just depends on the bottom line.

[Anonymous]

Central to our notion of freedom of speech is the creation of a "Marketplace of Ideas". This means that ideas can be freely exchanged and debated, and that ideas with merit rise to the top, gain support and general acceptance.

In this sense, it is very reasonable for the marketplace to close on Dr. Laura. What she says makes it hard for her to find financial sponsorship. In effect, a group of people is deciding not to fund her to say what she thinks. This is a very reasonable action within the marketplace ideas. It would be entirely different if she were not allowed to speak at all. But she isn't entitled to have access to 10 million radio listeners, any more than you or I are.

I think within the marketplace of ideas, it is important that unpopular opinions have an opportunity to be heard. But she has ample room to provide her point of view, just not on the budget of fortune 100 companies. But in the marketplace of ideas, some ideas will succeed and others will fail. In this sense, hers failed. But I bet she will find a lucrative outlet for her thinking again, just with a smaller and more loyal audience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketplace_of_ideas

[Anonymous]

She will make millions making speeches to Tea Partiers.

[Anonymous]

Maybe she should do Klan rallies - that is, if she can find Klavens with working dads and SAHM's. Can't have those double income racists.

I bet their sheets are the whitest of all.

[Anonymous]

PP, I think she is Jewish. If that's true, she will not be welcome in klandom.

[Anonymous]

Well we know the gays won't take her. And I'm going out on a hunch and saying the Muslims aren't big fans.

Who is her demographic? Dwight Schrute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I think she is Jewish. If that's true, she will not be welcome in klandom.

Maybe that explains it. Perhaps she figures that as long as you don't call someone a shvartzer you're on safe ground.

[Anonymous]

20:22 I don't think I have heard that word before. If I have, I don't recall the meaning. Sorry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:22 I don't think I have heard that word before. If I have, I don't recall the meaning. Sorry

It's the yiddish word for a black person. That's its literal meaning, but it has negative connotations since it dates from a time when society did not hold black people in high regard. The shvartzer was the woman who came in to clean your house, or the boy you feared your little princess might (God forbid) think about dating.

Forgive me if any of the above sounds insensitive. I am trying to re-create a society that was before my time, and I may not be doing a very good job of it. Plus, I am overlooking the fact that many of the most dedicated fighters for civil rights came out of that milieu.