Published on January 27, 2005 By indianblogger In Misc
Has american airwaves gone to the dogs? Seriously, what is happening over here? Just when I thought american popular media has hit its nadir, it manages to dig deeper and find another low. Following closely on the heels of a racial abuse towards an indian call-centre worker by a "very popular" RJ, Star and Bucwild, there comes an even worse example of racial abuse by some nobody called Ms. Jones.
http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/27tsunami1.htm

The RJ in question made fun of the tsunami tragedy in such a way that word callous sounds like a sugar-coating. To top that, she even used the words like b**ches to describe asians dying in the tragedy!! This is just inexcusable. Do these people have some sort of 'free speech license' which gives them every right to racially abuse and get some kind of sadistic pleasure from other people's misfortunes. America can certainly do without such people.

On a more general note, I believe that right to free-speech has been streched to its limit by some very questionable people and their very questionable ethics. The argument that "dont watch or dont buy if you dont like it" does not cut it any more. The kind of things which are being shown and said in american media on the name of entertainment has reached a point where it cannot be ignored any more by the right thinking people. I know people start quoting right of free-speech but doesn't every precious right contains some responsibility in exercising that right. Its unfortunate that people remember their rights but forget about responsibilities that come with it.

Comments
on Jan 27, 2005

As abhorant as it is, it is free speech.  Even Nazis have that right.  I dont believe in censoring it because then you start down a slippery slope that has no bottom until you get to thought control.

I will say that I am sorry for their behaviour, and hope you realize that they represent a very small minority of America.  A part that we must endure to ensure freedom for all.

Thank you for chiming in, and again, sorry for the evil of some of my fellow countrymen/women.

on Jan 28, 2005
I agree with both you and DrGuy.....anyone who would make use of any tragedy, especially one of such terribly epic proportions as the tsunamis, for comic purposes of any type and especially on a broadcast medium, is a sad excuse for a human being.

But, if you start telling them they can't say "this", it's not long before you're told you can't say "that", then "this and that", and so on. Finally you can't say anything without permission, and that is even more inexcusable and abhorrent, especially for Ameriicans.
We do, for right or wrong, love our right to free speech, and even the tactless jerks have that right.