Free Speech Or Freedom To Hate? You Be The Judge

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Free Speech Or Freedom To Hate? You Be The Judge

Topic Author: Stephanie Shoop

Posted: Nov 12, 2008

Replies Posted: 17 comments

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Free Speech Or Freedom To Hate? You Be The Judge

According to the Associated Press, the North Carolina NAACP wants North Carolina State University to expel four students accused of painting a racist message about President-elect Obama on campus.

One of the messages used a racial slur and suggested shooting Obama.

Officials say the students won’t face charges because the message was written on a wall where free speech is encouraged.

Do you believe this is the correct decision?

As members of the media, we certainly defend freedom of speech and freedom of the press. America’s freedoms are critical to its greatness.

Do these remarks cross the line? We want to know what you believe. Should a call for a president-elect’s assassination be covered under that freedom? Should a racist remark be covered under that freedom? Should the location of those remarks be a decision-making factor? Should the students be expelled?

We’d like to get your feedback, and we hope you'll share your comments on this blog.

Posted by: Coach M Location: RMT
The KKK hate all races other than white. They are a hate group, PERIOD. The NAACP may be biased, but they do not result to violence to fit their objectives. Some people that commit violent acts and say that they are acting in behalf of the NAACP are far from the truth. I know of people from various races to be involved with the NAACP but can think of no minorities within the KKK. The bottom line is that not all people are racists. I coach in RMT city leagues. They do not allow the conduct you speak of. AND you mean to tell me that none of your friends dress improperly and/or use foul language? Please. I have seen just as much improper behavior from white teens as black teens and hispanic teens and so forth. The thing is that people that are racist only see the person that is the 'other' color that acts improperly. If you are not racist then you understand what I mean. If you do not, then you are racist. When someone does something that crosses you, do not make it about race.

Posted by: Tim Location: vanceboro
But coach, then, I do not agree with you. They are the same. Its an organization for the sole benefit of a single race based on race. Hello, is anyone listening. So does that mean everytime a "black boy" walks thru a "white" neighborhood" with the word..lets say for editors sake "massey ferguson" every other word out of their mouth and their butt cheeks hanging out they should be convicted and have to do community service in a "white" neighbor hood? That offends me, the foul language in the mall around my wife and children, the pants half down their butts and grabbin' at their privates all the time calling me a "redneck". If the roles were reversed, I'd be in handcuffs, if not shot or stabbed, and the NAACP would come to the rescue of the person who complained about me. Granted, if I acted like that in someones community, I would deserve it. So my question is why do I have to tolerate it. And why am I told I better fear the NAACP? Moderator:please allow answers-I can take it!

Posted by: Sue Location: Washington
Why is the University condoning this behavior???? It is sick minded students and this should be punished, by making these "boys" do community service in a black neighborhood !!!!

Posted by: Coach M TIM: Please, you did not agree with me. I said that the NAACP and the KKK are NOT the same thing. Please reread what I'v r written.

Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY
We are all free to hate. That is what freedom of speech is. A crime should not go unpunished, but a crime driven by hate should be irrelevant. What I mean by that is......any crime is still a crime regardless of the motive. If a crime has been committed, it should be prosecuted. The motive for the crime does not change the nature or punishment of the crime. I know there are laws on the books for making threatening remarks about a sitting President, however I do not know if they exist for an elected but not yet inaugurated President. I would assume they would be the same, however, it isn't safe to assume. As far as the students go...you can't encourage 'free speech' and then expel them because they wrote something you don't like...unless there have been established guidelines. I would have ruled out profanity and obscenity...but that is just me. I don't think you have to be obscene to get your point across. (Especially if you claim to be educated).

Posted by: Colin Location: USA
Good for these kids. They should be able to say whatever they want about whoever they want. That's what "Freedom of Speech" means.

Posted by: Tim Location: Vanceboro
I agree with Coach, the whole kit and kabootle is out of whack. It is also not just whites who are racists. There are just as many black racists as there are white. I see it every day. They gripe about the KKK and yet you have the NAACP the same thing in reverse. Don't let them fool you. IF you are not of African or Asian decent, they hate you too. Sound familiar. I didn't see NAACP admonishing Obama's pastor (thank god Obama did!)for his racial slurs. I didn't see NAACP come to the rescue of Reginald Denny when Football Williams busted his head with a brick on National TV. Their stance is "whitey got what he aks for" for 400 years of oppression. Well hear this, I haven't oppressed anyone and am quite franky, as a white male, the one now being oppressed. And for all you people who watched Roots and think the White man caught slaves with a net in the african junge, please, many of the FIRST slaves were so to their own peoples in their own land. A fact NAACP chooses to hide!

Posted by: COACH M Location: Rocky Mount
If the remarks written directly stated that they were going to shoot him in the head, then they should face charges for comunicating a threat. If they simply said things that they felt then they should not be punished. I totally agree that these shouldn't have been painted but it is a "free speech" wall. I also do not agree that a child learns to be a racist at home. I was raised in a home where it was clear how my father felt but I am not a racist. I'm sure not everyone that has killed someone were raised to be killers. Society has a big role, like it or not, in influencing the thoungts of young and old alike. I was in the Army with a white man that marched with MLK but his son was very racist. And lastly, the NAACP is NOT the same as the KKK. You have got to be kidding me. The KKK supports Neo-Nazzis, a group, by the way that isn't pro white but pro Aryan. Hey KKK, that means that if you aren't born a blue-eyed, blonde pure breed German, they hate you too.

Posted by: shirley Location: Penna
A child isn't born a racist- they learn about it at home--how sad!!!

Posted by: Wanda Location: Plymouth
I think this act was free sppech and freedom to hate. Unfortunately hatred based on a color of a person's, unfair treatment based on the color of a person's skin is alive and well. Persons who have not been on the receiving end of this hate have no idea what this expeience is like and are often in denial of the hurt/harm that it can cause.

Posted by: Teresa Location: Farmville, N.C.
I believe they should be expelled. We have no time for nonsense. You can say everything you feel? No, I don't think so. Hello world! Accountability is a word. When I fought for the Freedom of speech in the military, it did not mean curse people out, degrade them,totally disrespect thenm. When our fore-fathers wrote it, I am sure they did not mean for people to be THIS liberal. These people that wrote this were ignorant, no doubt but they also had common sense to do it. Now with those pea brains that they use they must now suffer the consequences. They evidently don't need college. They need to be reformed. Racism is real whether Obama is president or not. I'm sure one black man in office will not change the hearts of some people. Only God can show people themselves. By the way, He(God) created us all equal. Read your Bible. Not just black and white but hispanics, asians, gay and straight, everyone. God will judge in the end. And racism will have no place in Heaven. Thank God.

Posted by: Latisia Location: North Carolina
If the wall is for the students to express themselves, there is no crime and there should be no punishment. People need to get over this racist crap...I work, you work, we all work...as it should be. If the school wants to change it's policy over the purpose of the tunnel, then maybe that's what should be debated. Remember the childhood ryhme "Sticks & stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" The NAACP didn't make a peep when Eve Carson was murdered...I would say that was pretty racist and someone was hurt. Oh...but that's right...Eve was a "cracker" so that made it alright.

Posted by: Carnie Free speech is what it is, whether you agree with it or not. Organizations such as the ACLU and NAACP seem to advocate free speech only when it matches their agenda. Since a black man has achieved the highest position in America, the NAACP should no longer be in business. Sorry Jessie and the Rainbow Coalition, you may have to find a real job like the rest of us. In reference to Lohan, I think that I have seen the word "Colored" some where else... National Association of Colored People."

Posted by: Allie Location: Here and there
I think the NAACP is stupid. They are always crying about racism! No, the students should NOT be expelled from school. FREE SPEECH!

Posted by: John Location: New Bern
If they stated shooting him in the head then this is threat against the president elect. They should face some action. If it was just racial slurs then leave it alone.

Posted by: Annie Location: Greenville
This was a free speech zone which is what these students exercised. Get over it.

Posted by: Lillie Location: Lucama
I think everyone is as tired of the NAACP as they are the KKK. If everyone respected each other, we would not need either group. I think the people at the university are capable of making their decision without the Reverand Barbee's five cent.

Posted by: Sam Location: Greenville
The students who did this while stupid should not be expelled from school. I would surmise that they have been scared to the point they will think long and hard before doing something like this again. THE people of the NAACP should move forward with issues that are important and not beat this dead horse. GET OVER YOURSElVES. Your organization is not that important anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!