" As ridiculous as his comments were, and as vile as most people would find them (hopefully), it is important that they were published. We have a bill of rights that gives him that right.

It is just unfortunate that hundreds of thousands of people have had to die in the last 140 years to protect that right and that is the best Pierce could come up with to celebrate freedom of speech.

It's that old saying "I disagree with what you say but I'll defend your right, to the death, to say it."

If anything, those words provide a perfect learning moment for the rest of us, both in the realization of how far we've come, but how far we still have to go with regards to race relations. "

" John McCain now says he doesnt want to talk about race. No, he just wants to juxtapose images of Sen. Obama and beautiful, young, blonde white girls in his ads, and have you think about that a lot. But he certainly doesnt want to talk about it. "

" The nation's falling into hell, and we're talking about Obama blackity-black-black-black-enough?-he's-black-don' t-say-black-psst-muslim. That's no accident. That's a plan to keep us distracted from the continuing destruction of our country, and from knowing who is responsible.
Heres a little hint: It aint Obama, gang.
--------------- "

" Would you like some cheese with that whine? "

" Well Prof.Addison I see you are for censoring the letters now. Maybe you should seek counciling. My be Dr.Kirk would see you and give you a refresher on Psyc.101.
It seems like a simply observation for normal people to see that men and women see things differently as do people of different cultures and back ground. Our culture seems to frown upon the eating of dogs and cats, people from other cultures don't. That is called facts.
Are you and Prof.Allison in collusion on this article ? "

" I do agree that the newspaper was correct in publishing the letter. Free speech means seeing all opinions, however vile. And if we don't see it, we can't spit on it, can we? "

" At about 11:15 this morning I was driving home from an interview and happened across a liberal talk show on the radio. One of the guests was talking about the subliminal message in the McCain attack ad: Obama with young, white, blond girls. I couldn't help but chuckle when I see TQ posting that wonderful insight at 11:25. It seems the resident intellectual is really just a parrot. "

" Explorer, excellent post! Notice how many comments were posted that disagreed with Pierce, too, which is encouraging. We accomplish nothing by ignoring racist views like his. Bring them out into the open and discuss them; perhaps then we move past such views. But censoring or silencing someone's views that we don't like is never the answer. "

" " At about 11:15 this morning I was driving home from an interview and happened across a liberal talk show on the radio. One of the guests was talking about the subliminal message in the McCain attack ad: Obama with young, white, blond girls. I couldn't help but chuckle when I see TQ posting that wonderful insight at 11:25. It seems the resident intellectual is really just a parrot. "
-------------
McCain's racist message is obvious, to anyone paying attention. "

" Soldier, I travel and hear all kinds of stuff being discussed on conservative talk radio that shows up on this site. Does that mean that all conservative ideas on here are also the work of parrots too? And as far as the comments about Obama being show with two young females blonds, well, that message is pretty obvious don't you think? That really takes no parroting. In fact the right wingers on the talk shows were busy making excuses for that one and were coming up with all sorts of justifications for that blatant and disgusting racist ad. "

" I have to agree that Jack's letter was disgusting, but for those who wish to censor it, who's the next person somone will want to censor.

Actually Jack has done us all a favor by writing his hate filled racist diatribe, in that it brings about good discussion. "

" "...it is important that they (Jack's words) were published. We have a bill of rights that gives him that right."

Not neccessarily.

The Bill of Rights does not allow the uninhibited freedom of expression. Let us review just a few of the examples that are not covered by the First Amendment.

Yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre is not protected by the First Amendment.

Child pornography is illegal.

Obscenity and nudity is disallowed on some television stations.

Slander is illegal.

Making public the formulae for Coke Zero will land you in prison.

Making verbal threats against the President of the United States is illegal.

Similarly, inciting the public to violence is prohibited.

As clearly demonstrated in these commonly known examples, the freedom of expression is not open-ended. There are limitations on what one can, and cannot, say in the public. The JG-TC, while privately owned, is a public media. That is the distinction between a newspaper and a newsletter.

Here is what the Supreme Court has stated this in the landmark case, Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 1942:

"There are certain well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech, the prevention and punishment of which have never been thought to raise any constitutional problem. These include the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or "fighting words" those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace. It has been well observed that such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality."

Let us look closer at the last part of that Court opinion. Jack's letter is not an exposition of fact and lacks any social value -- it is unbased opinion. There was no benefit to his letter and based on the nearly unanimous statements from the public which followed, the social interest in order and morality _potientially_ outweighed Jack's rubbish letter.

Hate speech is an even more applicable term when reviewing Jack's letter. Hate speech is a term for speech intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on, among many things, race.

Jack's letter clearly meant to degrade and incite preudicial action against African-Americans based on his comparison to African despots. Jack said, in much fewer words, "Don't vote for black people because they will be bad for the nation."

Was Jack's letter illegal? Probably not. There are no laws against hate speech in America. Could his letter be classified as hate speech? Probably, but it would depend on the reader. However, if something could be _potientially_ be identified as fight words or hate speech, it should have been immediately declined by the newspaper.

This is common knowledge to any first-year journalism major. I will not defend Jack's so-called right to write garbage in a public forum. If he wants to write racist speech, let him run a website or print a newsletter. "

" I think that if you see that advertisement and immediately think that a black man being seen with two white girls is racism, you are the one with the problem. I will go on record as saying that it was a stupid ad, but it wasn't racist. As far as the parroting; sure, if you ever see me quoting some conservative talk show host or guest nearly verbatim, call me out on it. The fact that this ad began running a few days ago and TQ didn't have this epiphany until ten minutes after it was discussed on liberal talk radio is too much, though. I often wondered how it is that he always has dates, names, and programs for all of his little citations, but it has become obvious that he just sits around with a notepad listening to two radios and about four televisions waiting for his next piece of recycled ammunition. You may not consider me to be on par with you intellectually, but at least I am true to my own thoughts and opinions, not just a living, breathing tape recorder. My dad always says, "If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bull[poop]." I guess you are trying for number 2 (no pun intended...well, maybe it was intended a little bit). "

" My dad always says, "If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bull[poop]."

Good to see that you took your dad's advice, my friend. LOL! "

" Locke, your pontificating stupidity knows no boundaries.

Locke wrote- There was no benefit to his letter and based on the nearly unanimous statements from the public which followed, the social interest in order and morality _potentially_ outweighed Jack's rubbish letter.

What? The entire summation of your ridiculous argument is based upon YOUR interpretation of the handful of respondents IN HERE?

And from this insane standard you have concocted the moral and social barometer against which, all other forums and audiences can be measured and deemed that which constitutes:

A) a crowded movie theatre.

B) yelling fire.


The entire purpose of the First Amendment is to protect our right to express those views which are determined to be offensive.

Based on your standards: Gay marriage is morally offensive to the majority of Americans, yet that will not stop Liberals like you from shoving it down the collective throats of the American public, will it?

Based on your standards: The majority of Americans have no problem with government surveillance of terrorist activities, yet that wont stop Liberals like you from bawling incessantly about the supposed erosion of our individual rights and freedoms because Al Qaedas phone calls are being monitored.

So based on your double-standards, Locke, the moral slippery-slope of gay marriage is good, and the unimaginable security risk of letting terrorist cells communicate and plan very real attacks on this country is perfectly acceptable.

But on the other hand, if something could be potentially identified as fight words or hate speech in a public forum (for that matter even a comedian on a national broadcast) then the Liberal Brown shirts should have the right to kick in the doors and haul the sorry free speaking citizen off to the local courts.

And of course you want the arbiters of this ridiculous standard to be the very journalists that the First Amendment helps to protect.

You know Locke, Ive never seen anyone speak with such authoritative confidence and yet such convoluted logic on every subject from economics to journalism to constitutional law.

The time has come for you to lay down your pretence of expert interpretation and get back to your busy career of teaching those 3rd graders the finer points of arithmetic.

You need to give your bloviating ego a much needed rest and let the more sensible heads do the thinking around here. "

" Once again, you are being deliberately naive, Soldier. Try checking things out before you make your sweeping pro-Republican, see-no-evil judgments.
McCain's commercial is racist in the same way that the 2006 Republican National Committee ads that were used to defeat another handsome black Democrat, Harold Ford, in Tennessee were racist - and effective. You remember those? They ended with a pretty blonde woman at a so-called Playboy party saying seductively, "Harold, Call me." Suggestive ads with young, pretty, blonde white women and black male politicians exploit the nastiest fears and "Mandingo" jealousies of racist white males.
The modern Republican Party was built on racism, Soldier, on taking the racist Southern Democrats away from the Democratic Party by exploiting their resentment of Democratic civil rights initiatives to provide justice for minorities.
One of Ronald Reagan's first major campaign stops in 1980 was in Philadelphia, Miss., famous as the place where three civil rights workers -- Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and James Chaney -- were murdered in 1964. Reagan told the audience there, ''I believe in states' rights.'' The message was clear.
The Republican Party has come full circle from the days of Abraham Lincoln, Soldier. But let's not kill this mockingbird. "

" Oh, the inspiring words of the Republicans: Recently, Michael Reagan called for murder on the air; Rush Limbaugh expressed hoped for riots at the Democratic National Convention and lied about about a nonexistent tape of Michelle Obama sneering at Whitey and Fox News' Liz Trotta laughed with delight at her own suggestion that Sen. Obama be assassinated.
Those must be the expressions of all that pride and honor you Values Republicans are always gasbagging on and on about, right? "

" Just a Soldier wrote on Aug 1, 2008 8:46 PM:

" I think that if you see that advertisement and immediately think that a black man being seen with two white girls is racism, you are the one with the problem.

The point of the ad was a subtle message, Soldier. And as a matter of fact most racist acts are done subtlety these days. Very few people come right out with racial bigotry like our friend Jack Pierce. I suspect a lot of people might miss it, but a lot won't. It's not necessary to say things that you want to convey, when a picture or two will often suffice.

I'm sure that you aren't a bigot, Soldier, so perhaps the message didn't register with you, but unfortunately there are a lot of bigots out there, who will get it, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Another way of saying this is that this ad was red meat for the racial bigots of this country. Unfortunately there are a lot of them out there.

You are obviously an intelligent person, Soldier so if you think about it, I'm sure you will see my point. I'm not suggesting you have to agree with me, but at least concede that I, and others, have a valid point on this issue.

And by the way, I'm sure the Obama folks will come up with there own brand of underhanded messages. Both sides play this game. Presidential politics is a rough and often times dirty game, and unfortunately the American public get the short end of the stick from both parties.

Congratulations for having your post picked for publication in the paper, it was a good comment, but I think it would have been more accurate if you would have acknowledged that both sides are guilty when it come to admitting it when their side screws up, at least on this site. LOL! "

" McCains campaign is as tired as he is. Well, McCain will just have to run a few more commercials featuring Obama and nubile young white women, this time maybe some blonde strippers who are licking licorice whips. And then his Republican supporters can express their patented, well-practiced spluttering outrage and say, "How DARE you accuse McCain of racism! How very DARE YOU!!" LOL. "

" Obama: Okay, yes, I was talking about race

http://tinyurl.com/58fsp9

ABCNEWS- Obama Concedes Racial Dimension to 'Dollar Bill' Comments; Says McCain Campaign Not Racist, But Cynical "

" Rasmussen confirms Gallup: Obamas lead down to a single point

http://tinyurl.com/2u693r "

" Rasmussen Poll: Number of Democrats falls below 40% for first time in two years

http://tinyurl.com/2d34ul

Partisan Trends
Number of Democrats in US Declines in July "

" 1 cav sure spends plenty of time picking down all these editorials like no one has the right to state fact or opinion. I can imagine why someone like yourself might vote for McCain being as how he hates public opinion as well. "

" Brazile: Of course Obama injects race into the campaign

http://tinyurl.com/6ce3my

Donna Brazile admitted the obvious on ABCs This Week earlier today, but she tries to pin the blame on John McCain anyway. After George Will points out three different times in the last six weeks that Obama has brought up the race issue, two in which he accused McCain and the Republicans of using it, Brazile allowed that Obama had done so but only to make everyone feel more "comfortable about it". "

" Hmm!
So my statement that men and women see things differently is RACIST, to some on here?
Looks like we have another blogger on here from the Psyc.dept...Prof. Locke by chance ? "

" I'll not be in denial and say race has nothing to do with the outcome of this election, but I will say that, in my opinion, the 'bimbo' ad is not even racial, let alone racist. Who are the two most overhyped, overexposed undeserving celebrities you know? Paris and Brit-Brit have to be in the top five. To me, the ad was saying Obama is all puff and looks and no substance. A fawning audience who has no idea what they're fawning over. I didn't think about the race angle until the talking heads brought it up. Got any better ditzes for that commercial who aren't white? I can't think of any. "

" Don't hate me because I am smarter than you. "

" Don't hate me because I am smarter than you." Don't worry. That ain't gonna happen. "

" Looks like Just a Soldier on Aug. 1 at 8:46 p.m. outed those of you who continually accuse some of us of doing nothing but parroting Republican talking points and/or Rush Limbaugh. Interpreting that ad as racist is just a real stretch of the imagination but some I guess have a big imagination. The person who has most interjected race into this political campaign is Obama himself and he does it at every turn making sure that none of us forget he is black. As I stated before, I don't care if he's purple and pink I am not voting for him because of his socialist policies and ideas. I'm not thrilled about McCain but his policies and ideas come closer to what I believe for the most part. And isn't that how we all SHOULD choose our candidate? "

" Fox News and the Wall Street Journal are now exploring the idea that Obama may be "too fit to be president." Yes, it's an incredibly stupid idea pitched at morons and designed to keep people from discussing the monstrous mess in which this Republican president is leaving the nation. But at least it's a step up from McCain's coded racist attacks. "

" Now the line of symbolic attack is Obama as the
anti-Christ. A number of progressive religious figures are angry over the McCain campaign's recent ad "The One," which they believe paints Barack Obama as a kind of anti-Christ, specifically to conservative evangelicals:
On Beliefnet.com, Mara Vanderslice, founder and director of the pro-Obama religious group Matthew 25 Network, writes:
I found this McCain campaign ad "The One" to be one of the most offensive ads we have seen in American politics to date.
At best, this ad implies that those who plan to support Senator Obama are looking for a new savior or a replacement Messiah. But many are reading it even more darkly as an attempt to portray Obama as an anti-Christ figure.
A vote for Senator Obama is a vote for the man we think will make the best President, not for a new Messiah. "

" I took a 20th Century Lit class in college, and as anyone who has studied poetry will tell you, everything is open for interpretation. When discussing this fact, the professor pointed to this poem:

THIS IS JUST TO SAY, by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

The professor explained that a number of scholarly people found all kinds of subtle meanings for this poem. They said it was about taking someone's virginity before marriage, and reading the poem with that in mind I can see the connection. Watching the Paris/Britney ad with the racist interpretation in mind, I can see that too. However, as William Carlos Williams later pointed out, the poem was just about eating plums; nothing more. I think this ad is being treated to the same amount of overthinking and sometimes we just have to understand that it is just about eating plums. "