GLADD is Really
Quacked-Up on This One.
What
people need to understand is tolerance means not only getting others to
tolerate your ideas, but getting yourself to tolerate the ideas of others as
well. There's no question in my mind that the leadership of GLADD has an
unwavering opinion they are right in their actions. Their own website says they
are "Fighting Media Defamation of LGBT People for Over 25 Years."
While I do not think that in itself is a bad cause, I personally find fault
with their tactics. It seems ironic that an organization so devoted to
expanding one type of freedom for a class of people is also so willing to take
away another type of freedom for another class of Americans.
GLADD
sees themselves as the loser in this incident. They failed to achieve their objective
of stopping the expression of a viewpoint they believe wrong. I see the
American people in general as the victors instead. At least in this one case,
the right to express an opinion has been protected. Ironically, this benefits GLADD
as well as all Americans. They are one
of the most controversial or cutting-edge organizations in our society today,
depending on your viewpoint. What would their position be in if someone considered
their speech too extreme and tried to
suppress it?
I wrote an entire page on my views about this, then I erased it and decided to save my breath. So what I will say is that hate, anger, and fear of any kind from anyone undermines the human race.I don't do it and don't condone it.
ReplyDeleteI hope, Susan, that nothing in my essay was taken as condoning certain hateful speeches or contained anything that offended you. We should treat all people with respect at all times. I can't look into the head of the speaker, but I'm a staunch First Amendment advocate. I believe the principle of freedom of speech outweighs the content of what is being said.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of several blogs I've read about the issue. After thinking about it for a day, rather than clog up your comments, you've inspired me to write one of my own. I've posted it here: http://ninetypercentsane.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between opinions one simply disagrees with and those that harm or degrade others. I believe Phil had--and should have--the right to express his views. I also believe it's right that there was a backlash against the views he chose to express.
ReplyDelete