Do You get Offended?

Do you want to go through life never being offended? Do you always want sweet and kindness directed your way? Do you never want to hear anything that might offend your ears or your sensibility? Then people like the Rev Al Sharpton are for you. Right now, he is pressing the FCC to deny Rush Limbaugh a renewal on his EIB Radio Network license. Apparently, Sharpton has his knickers in a knot over something Limbaugh said a while back about then-candidate Obama, using the term the “Magic Negro” in a parody. Negro is an old, out of date term of address for Black people that had not been used since the early 60’s. Generally, it was uttered by people that didn’t want to use the “n-word” but also didn’t want to use the proper term of black or African American. The word was used extensively throughout the south and was considered a proper form of address, at least by people who might be thought of as racist. Fortunately, society has moved beyond using that word, going with Black or African American. Personally, I’d like to see both terms left behind and just stick with Americans. I am proud of my Irish heritage, but don’t use the term “Irish American”. I’m just plain old American.

I will be the first to admit that I have not heard Limbaugh utter the words “Magic Negro” in any form other than from the mainstream media’s playback. But to foist this on Limbaugh as proof of his racist thought is just drive-by journalism. The whole “magic negro” thing was at the beginning of Limbaugh’s rhetoric against Obama and the policies he would implement if elected. Not long after that, Limbaugh also happened to mention (OK, mentioned more than once) that he hoped Obama would fail. He meant Obama’s policies, of course, which was not widely reported. During this period Limbaugh would play a song parody titled “Barack, The Magic Negro” and the leftist press went absolutely bonkers, trying to use it as a way to marginalize Limbaugh’s input to the debate, calling Limbaugh all kinds of names, including racist. The one thing that the caterwauling press neglected to mention was Limbaugh was reading from a story written by LA Times reporter David Ehrenstein and also referring to a song written by Paul Shanklin, someone somebody. In fact, the title of the story was Obama, The Magic Negro. Sharpton is using this as a hammer to try and get Limbaugh off the air because Sharpton was offended. Never mind that one of his water-carrying leftist reporters was the one to use the term first.

Do you really expect to go through life without ever being offended? There are commercials that air on radio and TV advertising jells, creams, and pills that can improve sexual performance. I am not personally offended by these commercials but I do know people that are offended.  Should they file a grievance with the FCC against the radio or network TV station that airs the commercials? Should the FCC even take this seriously? Two things are certain: If Sharpton gets his way, this will open the doors for all kinds grievance-mongers out there. Heck, I might even file a complaint against Keith Obermann since his face offends me (I know, he is on cable and the FCC doesn’t “do” cable). Secondly, I certainly don’t recall it being written anywhere in the constitution that you are guaranteed to make it through life not being offended. In fact, there is this little thing in the constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and the press that trumps you personal desire to not be offended.  It’s called the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no laws…” With a free press and free speech, the chances of you being offended at some point in your life are astronomically high.

There are things I agree that should never be said aloud if society is to remain viable and whole. The “n-word” immediately comes to mind (NOT Negro, the other n-word). While I personally find the word beneath contempt, I do not want Congress to pass any laws or the FCC to regulate its usage. Heck, if the word was banned, Chris Rock would lose half of his material. If a law or regulation banning the n-word were to be enacted (and I think most would agree this word ranks pretty high on the offensive list), what would be the next step? What words or phrases would be banned? If I were on the radio and said I don’t like Obama Care, and certainly someone would find that offensive, could I get kicked off the air? Who would decide? During the Obama Care debate, there were calls for certain radio stations and personalities to be removed from the airwaves just because they didn’t agree with Princess Nancy and Emperor Obama.

If Limbaugh was truly racist, does anyone in their right mind really think he could have survived on air as long as he has? I’d think he be driven off the air due to low ratings because most people are good people and they wouldn’t listen to him. Does anyone remember David Dukes, the former Klansman who ran for a Congressional seat in Louisiana several years ago? The guy was a confirm racist and even in the deep south, in a semi-rural district, he couldn’t muster enough votes to get elected dog-catcher. Someone who spews racial indignities is going to be cut from the herd very quickly and likely not welcomed back.