Saturday, May 05, 2007
What's the value of free speech?
This recent article, about a talk show host in Milwaukee, USA, publicly rejoicing at the death of his rival's mother made me think for a bit.
Let me say for the record that I abhor anything like this. You do not include innocent people in your quarrels. Perhaps I'm just naive and idealistic, but I really think that you should take your fights to whomever you're fighting with, not target people who have nothing to do with whatever it is you're arguing over.
The fact that he said this is in extremely bad taste. He does, however, have the right to say whatever he wants in a democracy, and I suppose the framers of the US constitution, while condemning what he did, would have supported his right to say it (a la Voltaire).
As for me, I suppose I would let the public deal with idiots like these. I'm sure that, right now, callers are calling in, condemning what he said and demanding that he be fired. I just feel bad for the other loved ones of this deceased woman, and how hurt they must feel that someone could so blatantly rejoice at the death of their loved one.
If there's anything to be learned from this, it's that America is not always going to be a place where you agree with what people say. It may even be a place, at times, where you feel hurt, insulted and marginalized because others have the right to say whatever the heck they want. Whether this kind of "free" and open society is good or not depends on your own perspective, I presume. As far as I'm concerned, it's up to America to handle its own idiots, and to prove to the world that it's push for personal freedom doesn't allow people to use the media as a pulpit for hate.
* * * * *
MILWAUKEE -- A former alderman and controversial radio talk show host said he's happy the mother of his radio rival is dead.
Michael McGee Sr. made the comments during his radio show on WNOV-AM Thursday morning. Charlie Sykes is a radio talk show host on WTMJ-AM. Sykes' mother, Katherine B. Sykes, died in a house fire Tuesday. The Ozaukee County Coroner said Thursday that Sykes died of smoke inhalation.
McGee's words quickly spread on the Internet as bloggers picked up the story. At least one radio host talked about it on his show Thursday afternoon.
McGee and Sykes have been publicly battling for years, but even in the world of talk radio, some are saying the comments made are extreme.
"Mother Sykes, she dead. To me it's the vengeance of God. I ain't got no tears. Matter of fact a woman that would have a fool like that deserve whatever is coming her. She raised a sure enough idiot," McGee said on his radio show. "My instincts say Charlie Sykes killed his momma, cuz she live out in this big palace in Mequon all isolated. He got tired of waiting for her money."
McGee's comments came about 15 minutes into his show. He went on for about five minutes and then moved on to a different topic, but later in the show a caller asked about it.
"Mike McGee Senior," the caller began, "You really don't mean that, about your enemies families members being dead -- killed."
"Man, you don't think I mean that, man, you out of your mind," McGee replied.
WISN 12 News tried to contact McGee, management from WNOV-AM, and Charlie Sykes' radio station, WTMJ-AM, for comment, but no one returned the station's calls or messages.
An employee at WNOV-AM said they've received a lot of phone calls about McGee's comments and that most listeners are not happy about what was said.
McGee was previously suspended by WNOV-AM in 2004 after using an expletive on the air.
http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/13254969/detail.html
Let me say for the record that I abhor anything like this. You do not include innocent people in your quarrels. Perhaps I'm just naive and idealistic, but I really think that you should take your fights to whomever you're fighting with, not target people who have nothing to do with whatever it is you're arguing over.
The fact that he said this is in extremely bad taste. He does, however, have the right to say whatever he wants in a democracy, and I suppose the framers of the US constitution, while condemning what he did, would have supported his right to say it (a la Voltaire).
As for me, I suppose I would let the public deal with idiots like these. I'm sure that, right now, callers are calling in, condemning what he said and demanding that he be fired. I just feel bad for the other loved ones of this deceased woman, and how hurt they must feel that someone could so blatantly rejoice at the death of their loved one.
If there's anything to be learned from this, it's that America is not always going to be a place where you agree with what people say. It may even be a place, at times, where you feel hurt, insulted and marginalized because others have the right to say whatever the heck they want. Whether this kind of "free" and open society is good or not depends on your own perspective, I presume. As far as I'm concerned, it's up to America to handle its own idiots, and to prove to the world that it's push for personal freedom doesn't allow people to use the media as a pulpit for hate.
* * * * *
MILWAUKEE -- A former alderman and controversial radio talk show host said he's happy the mother of his radio rival is dead.
Michael McGee Sr. made the comments during his radio show on WNOV-AM Thursday morning. Charlie Sykes is a radio talk show host on WTMJ-AM. Sykes' mother, Katherine B. Sykes, died in a house fire Tuesday. The Ozaukee County Coroner said Thursday that Sykes died of smoke inhalation.
McGee's words quickly spread on the Internet as bloggers picked up the story. At least one radio host talked about it on his show Thursday afternoon.
McGee and Sykes have been publicly battling for years, but even in the world of talk radio, some are saying the comments made are extreme.
"Mother Sykes, she dead. To me it's the vengeance of God. I ain't got no tears. Matter of fact a woman that would have a fool like that deserve whatever is coming her. She raised a sure enough idiot," McGee said on his radio show. "My instincts say Charlie Sykes killed his momma, cuz she live out in this big palace in Mequon all isolated. He got tired of waiting for her money."
McGee's comments came about 15 minutes into his show. He went on for about five minutes and then moved on to a different topic, but later in the show a caller asked about it.
"Mike McGee Senior," the caller began, "You really don't mean that, about your enemies families members being dead -- killed."
"Man, you don't think I mean that, man, you out of your mind," McGee replied.
WISN 12 News tried to contact McGee, management from WNOV-AM, and Charlie Sykes' radio station, WTMJ-AM, for comment, but no one returned the station's calls or messages.
An employee at WNOV-AM said they've received a lot of phone calls about McGee's comments and that most listeners are not happy about what was said.
McGee was previously suspended by WNOV-AM in 2004 after using an expletive on the air.
http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/13254969/detail.html
