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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. |
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Posted by: Anonymous
Do Americans not realalize what's going on if it was a racial slur one that's not right and there is no exquse for that I mean what did they ecspect when a black presedent is in there nothing was going to happen there's always going to be raicist in this world but what maters is how you handle it.But secend of all freedom of speech or not that was a threat and someone is going to make a threat to are leader then I think they should be behind bars.
Posted by: WITN Moderator Please check out the latest blog in the "Notes To The Newsroom" section to learn more about how the media addresses the president. Posted by: Zee Location: Williamston, NC Christine Kennedy is very disrespectful of the President of the United States of America. She is always calling him Obama. If she has a problem calling him Mr. Obama, she can say the President and that way she would not have to call him Mr. Obama or President Obama. Posted by: Coach M Location: RMT No William and Tim not "us white folks", "you white folks." And do you think that every white person would pass a drug test? Get real. And reason it like you want, Obama was raised as a black man. Tim, you mean to tell me that if you didn't know who Obama was and you saw him on the street, you would not think he was black...LOL Find another arguement already Posted by: Tom Location: Duplin County ok, so lets address the issues. First what was the messgae? Was it racist and who is the judge of the writing. Secondly, people enter college to expand their minds, not to close them. A check of the constitution shows that speech is not free when it causes ill will amongst others. It looks like the students used this cloak of a wall to express an ill will towards our president. I think writings that cause ill will or hatred amounst a group or nation of people should be discouraged, expelled removed , reprimand but defintly addressed and removed. The sensationalism of our free speech media has done all but seperate our nation over this issue. We are well aware that president Obama is an african america, we don't need to keep hearing it that just casues seperation, it is an outstanding accomplishment for a man no matter race creed or color to campaign for two years and win the election no matter what his race. We create our own indifferences by this very activity. Posted by: Tim Location: Vancebor Amen william, but us "white folks" are the racists...yeah right. What's sad about the vote thing being so obvious is that Obama ISN'T black. The majority of the vote was because he looked black! I will NOT say that McCain was a better choice. We were destined to be shafted this election no matter what. We get a Liar (Obama) and a plagiarist (Biden) or a War monger (McCain) and a bimbo (Palin). I just hope we can survive the next 4 years to get another shot at "real" change. Bush took the working stiffs money and gave it to the rich, Obama will take it and give it to the worthless. And yes I believe you should pass a drug test to receive your entitlement check (any type of entitlement, food stamps, welfare, AFDC) Social services in every county knows many of those people (not all) trade their awards for cash for drugs and alchohol. Just go to the piggly wiggly on a saturday night, you can trade 50.00 cash for 100.00 worth of food stamps (ebt card). Posted by: william weeks Location: Seven Springs. NC Are black students allowed to use this wall to express their feelings? As long as there are people like J. Jackson, Al Sharpton, Senator Wrangle, etc there will always be race hate, how else would thay make a living? The NAACP has out lived its usefullness, they are thing of the past. To the NAACP, when 95% of the black population votes for one man that tell me they voted for him because he was black....... Posted by: Wanda Location: kenansville "The devices of a man's heart speakth hate and evil." (The Holy Bible) NO one has a right to cowardly hide behind freedom of speech when one wants to hurt or belittle another. Now, to these cowards and any other coward...you should be expel and then criminally charged. To the officials, you all should be fired for this decision. What message have you all sent? Posted by: Coach M Location: Rocky Mount Vickie: 'judging' on character is fine if you do not want your children to hang out with kids you think are not living up to the standards that you hold your own children to. If you are doing the 'judging' based on color, then you are incorrect in your assumptions. You know what they say about 'assume' makes on out of you and me...LOL Posted by: Vickie Location: Conetoe If it were not for me "judging" people,I ams ure I would had let my children hang out with some mighty sketchy people!Enough Said.I don't regret judging as it helps me keep stay out of what could be a potentially unsafe situation.AND,if I happen to miss out on meeting that "golden" friend...well,you don't miss what you never had! Posted by: Tim Location: Vanceboro Myself too coach I view people based on their morals and actions and in doing so, I have many friends of all persuasions and am appreciative of that fact. I wish all people could view others for who they are not what they look like. Many will never know someone who could have been a wonderful friend simply by judging then initially on their "appearance". You have a good W/E as well. Posted by: Coach M Location: RMT Point taken and I agree that no group should act solely on the agenda for the advancement nor decline of any one race. Those that do this such as the KKK, NAACP or any other group are the one's that truely cause the problems between the races. Lucky for me that I live a life filled with a little of both so that I can see the difference. Have a great W/E Posted by: Tim Location: Vanceboro Agreed and you are correct about David Duke. And even though Dr. King did magnificent things, he too, had a dark side. The point I am trying to make is that no...."group" should have any agenda based solely on race. You are also correct about the violent acts that the KKK so wrongly perpetrated. You are also correct that the NAACP perpetrated no such acts "in their name". In the 60's and 70's that was what the Black Panthers did. They didn't commit the acts of violence "with" the NAACP rather it was for "the benefit of" the NAACP. The simple point I am trying to make is that blacks are quick to point out how racist whites are and in most cases the one doing the pointing is just as bad in reverse. My other point is that both groups are for the benefit of a single group of people against another group of people. Therefore, both should be abolished. However, the government support of the NAACP is for the collection of the minority votes so the NAACP is safe forever. Posted by: Coach M Location: RMT Good arguement but, the KKK compares to the NAACP in no way whatsoever. Show me the report in which a group of NAACP officials tied a white man to the back of a car and drug him to death. Raided a house, terrified the family and burned crosses on the lawn. All in the name of racial harmony? Anyway, David Duke ain't no MLK. Nice to trade opinions with ya just tha same. Posted by: Tim Location: Vanceboro I agree totally about all races and the clothes and foul language deal. I can say this; my children don't do it, at least not where I hear it or hear about it. KKK did not hate all races, just blacks and jews for the most part. Was this wrong? ABSOLUTELY! Is what MUCH of the NAACP does wrong? ABSOLUTELY! The two are of the same fiber. Granted the KKK exercised more of their agenda with violence. However, the NAACP uses violence, they don't claim it but much violence has been commited in name the benefit of the NAACP. Whether they claim it or not is irrellevant, it happens. And the NAACP has a tool the KKK didn't - the government! Anything on either groups agenda is racially motivated and should not be accepted BY ANYONE! 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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