I want to offer full disclosure before I start on my latest rant. I acquired the use of naughty words in my vocabulary in the eighties, developed the skill through the nineties, and have spent the last fifteen or so years trying to eradicate them from my life. I have to admit it's far easier to learn foul language than it is to quit using it. Based on my life experience I know how easy it is to take the road we're used to rather than the one less traveled.
I watched Sean Hannity last night on the Fox News Network. The focus of the show covered liberal media versus conservative media. Sean wanted to know why it is okay for liberal television hosts to use vile words when describing people, and it's not okay for conservative hosts to do the same. My reaction to Sean's question comes with another question. Why is it okay for anyone to publicly say vile and disgusting things about anyone? I realize that the censorship levels of network television are decidedly more lax than are the rules of what's allowed on so-called public airways. I also understand that these rules are determined by what the public says is acceptable. I guess my real question then is; 'Why do we citizens think it's okay for anyone to publicly use profanity, vile name-calling, and outrageous insults?'
The issue came up on the Hannity show because of two events that occurred this week. On Rush Limbaugh's radio program he called a woman who appeared before congress over the current contraception issue a slut. The other thing that happened was conservative media publisher Andrew Breitbart died, and a lot of public figures made nasty comments about him. More to the point regular everyday folks left rude and incendiary comments on places like Twitter and Facebook concerning both subjects. Contrary to popular opinion hate speech is acceptable in our society by just about everyone.
We all say, "oh how sad", when a teen commits suicide because a bunch of school bullies made the kid's life unbearable at school, and on-line. We blame the parents, the school, and the on-line social sites. Why don't we look in the mirror, and accept a good deal of the blame for our own involvement? If you think I'm wrong go on-line, find articles covering the election and the candidates, and read some of the comments left behind by visitors. They range from argumentative to horrifically vile. Our world has changed. We no longer have debates about issues. Today it's quite fashionable to attack the person who voices opposition to what we believe, rather than arguing the issue. The enemy becomes anyone who disagrees, or has a differing point of view.
If it can be proved in court that a person physically attacked someone else because of a skin color, or sexual preference prejudice, that person can be charged not only with assault, but with committing a hate crime as well. There is no difference between students tormenting the fat kid, the shy kid, the homely kid, the black kid, or the gay kid. The attack happens because someone is perceived as different, and thereby becomes a target. They're all crimes based on hate. Perhaps we've reverted back to the days when citizens gathered to watch Christians being fed to the lions, betting on the outcome, and feeling superior, and self righteous.
The media from both sides of the aisle plays this game everyday in the public square. Concerning Mr. Breitbart's death Rolling Stone ran an article entitled, 'Andrew Breitbart: Death of a Douche'. We should all be shocked, but further investigation proves that during his career this same Mr. Breitbart made a great many public comments that were just as shocking, and vile about those he opposed. Fans of Mr. Breitbart have emailed Rolling Stone with complaints, and even threats. Those who opposed Mr. Breitbart's work when he was alive have filled the airwaves and the internet with nasty comments about the man's life and his death. It makes me think of the Queen's famous line in Alice In Wonderland. "Off with their heads".
The only way this kind of behavior can be stopped will be when and if the public rises above the need to belittle those we disagree with and says 'ENOUGH'. Boycotting advertisers, changing channels, and unsubscribing are some of the tools that can be used to bring a wayward media back into line, but that won't happen until the public has had enough, and right now the public seems to be not only eating it up, but are also eager participants. It's kind of like when the kids are supposed to be in bed and asleep and you hear them laughing and giggling, and jumping on the bed. You call out to them to get to bed, and it gets quiet for a while. Pretty soon the noise begins again. Depending on your patience, coupled with your energy level you'll eventually be forced to actually get up and go into the kid's room to make them understand that when you say get to bed you really mean it. Hopefully the day is near at hand when we, (the real silent majority), who find this vicious, nasty talk unacceptable, and offensive no matter who it's coming from will get out of our comfortable easy chairs and tell the world to knock it off, and let them know we really mean it. Until that day comes it's okay to remind people, (whenever we get the chance), in a very polite, no-nonsense way that profanity, name calling, and general hate messages are not appropriate under any circumstances.
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