The measure of freedom of speech

In the ratings-driven world of American talk radio, immoderation often catapults you ahead of competitors. It’s justified as freedom of speech, a much-loved human right among social conservative show hosts because it allows them to utter the drivel they rely on to brainwash millions and cash in. However, even free speech has its bounds. Black people, for example, can use the epithet “nigger” between themselves, while white people can’t use it to refer to them unless they want to be perceived as racist. Conventional wisdom, only Laura Schlessinger (pictured below) doesn’t share it.

Compared to ranters Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, who like her, command the largest audiences, Schlessinger is restrained. The two excel at sowing conspiracy theories and degraded rhetoric about the Obama administration and liberals, whereas she’s a radio agony aunt. But what an agony aunt! She’s conservative, opinionated, shrill, and at times rude. She picks fights with callers when they disagree with her. Still, they admire her smartness and wit, and seek her out knowing she’s not a sensitive personality.

On August 8, a black woman married to a white man called in to express frustration at the racist comments made by her husband’s family and friends. Schlessinger said people are sometimes hypersensitive, and asked for two examples of a racist comment. One of the words being thrown around was the “N” word, said the caller. However, Schlessinger dismissed the word nigger saying black comics use it all the time, and wondered why she, a white person, can’t. She used the word 11 times in the exchange, and for no apparent reason other than the fact that she could. She also brought up one of her issues with black Americans that they voted for Obama simply because he is black. Her final nugget of advice was; “You know what? If you’re that hypersensitive about colour and don’t have a sense of humour, don’t marry out of your race.”

Ah! Hypersensitive? About a word that white people spat in the faces of black people to remind them of their supposed inferiority, and their lack of dignity imposed by the hellish conditions their laws backed up? Why would someone want to use such a word unless they were racist themselves?
Black comics use it, but they are black, and are following a tradition started by their segregated ancestors who turned it about, but only amongst themselves. That, anyway, doesn’t make it any less offensive. Scores of black people are against it regardless of the colour of the person using it, Oprah for example. Schlessinger wants to step on the sensitivities of such people. One wonders if it’s the best word to use to refer to a black person, if there are no better words, words that are polite, accurate. Like black people, for example.

Schlessinger apologised on her show the very next day, and several days later promised not to renew the contract of the show when it expires in December. Her reasons, as told to Larry King; “I want to be able to say what’s on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry…” She also told him that she had already considered leaving radio, and that episode only came as a catalyst.Whatever, as long as she keeps her bigoted beliefs to herself. And however much she rants, she’ll never use the “N” word freely. There’s a limit to freedom of speech as used by right-wingers after all.