hey all - gigglechick here... below is an email i got from Wackbag (their spelling errors, not mine, but it's not about that.)...
not for nothing - let me preface this by saying i am not what one would call an "Imus Fan" nor do i think what was said was all that great... BUT... it's effing freedom of speech people (in fact, besides wackbag's Rally - which you should go to - check out April Winchell's write-up on this whole shitstorm [freedom of speech. i can say shit.]
---- AND YES --- i know that it wasn't the government that canned imus...
In any event...
***URGENT*** Rally to support Imus for NYC area people
Tomorrow Morning (Friday 4/12/07) 6:30 AM outside the Today Show - Meet tomorrow at Rockefellar Center under the big statue by the ice skating rink.
Show up if you can... this is urgent!!! Be there!!!
Whatchoosayin'?? (7 yapped)
Yeah. What (s)he said. Almost verbatim, even! YOU know which post I'm talkin' about...
Posted by gb | April 17, 2007 11:42 PM
:-P
Posted by Rob Usdin | April 15, 2007 5:59 PM
Rick O:
You are mistaken in your use of Freedom of Speech. The First Amendment was established so that citizens could not suffer repercussions from specking out against our government. As I said in my previous response - Freedom of Speech is not guaranteed - it is a right and a privelege.
Let me ask you this - if we have the freedom to say anything at all we want - why do we have laws against libel and slander? Why do we have laws against child pornography? I mean - whatever someone publishes and sells should be protected free speech right?
Do some reading up on what the first amendment really means. CBS can do whatever they want to Imus - and they are not infringing upon his freedom of speech.
--*Rob
[note from GC: okay *Rob... since you don't consider the cbs/nbc/imus debacle a "freedom of speech" or "first amendment" issue, i guess you won't mind if i tell you to hit the high road and not post on my site. Don't let the door hit you on the arse, Nappy Headed Rob]
Posted by Rob Usdin | April 14, 2007 8:54 PM
Yes I have been wondering why Imus' opinions are any less valid than anyone else's but that does not mean I agree with them. I do believe that if you are in a room with 2 other people and you express an opinion ... that you have the right to do so and should not be publicly crucified for it. The fact that it was said on the air-waves does not change the fact that it was intended for an audience that until that moment were ok with his views. The owners of the stations were ok with the revenue that was generated by his show right up until all of a sudden ... they were not.
Funny how having Freedom of speech is not guaranteed to everyone in America.
Posted by Rick O | April 13, 2007 6:02 PM
I hate when issues like this are brought up as free speech issues.
We have freedom of speech in this country, but that does not mean we do not have freedom from consequences.
While the airwaves are for public use -they are licensed to private companies - and those companies decides what is best for their company to put on the air in the interest of $$$. This situation is all about $$$ and nothing more - CBS wishes to protect its stake in its advertising revenue - and if Imus puts its profits at risk then they have the right to get rid of him - those are the consequences of his right to freedom of speech.
Freedom of speech means that yes - you can say what you want - but the consequences of what you say are yours to bear. If you yell "fire" in a crowded theater (which you can do because we have freedom of speech), the consequences of that are yours to bear. Maybe the theater owner throws you out for disrupting the show. If people believe you and there is a stampede to the door and someone is trampled and hurt or killed - you can be held responsible.
So I am really sickened when people talk about this in a "Freedom of Speech" context - that is not the way this should be presented.
--*Rob
[note from GC: glad to hear you're sickened. i think jason whitlock has put it best by calling sharpton and jesse jackson "domestic terrorists"]
Posted by Rob Usdin | April 13, 2007 10:04 AM
Our first amendment right of free speech, doesn't mean we can go around saying whatever we want. It was to allow us to disagree with our government in public without reprecussion.
Posted by Barb | April 13, 2007 7:14 AM
Thanks for the heads up on this article. This PC crap is getting out of hand. IMO we are becoming a nation of the biggest cry babies because we let every little comment hurt our "widdle feewings".
Posted by Wander | April 12, 2007 8:44 PM