Contribute to a discussion about hate speech and the role of the FCC
Just wanted to generate a discussion about what, if any social responsibility the FCC requires of broadcasters.
Hate speech is a term of speech intended to degrade a person or group of people based on their race, gender, age, ethnicity,nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, language ability, ideology, social class, occupation, appearance, mental capacity or any other distinction that may be considered by some as a liability. The term covers written or oral communication and some forms of behavior in a public setting. (Wikipedia)
Here's a link to an article written by Joe Torres regarding an initiative by the FCC to investigate the relationship between hate speech and hate crimes
It's not my intention to create a diatribe that degenerates into left wing right wing attacks.
I encourage all to link to sources that can help shed some light on the subject. What role does the FCC have in all this?
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Two words: Remember Rwanda.
June 1, 2009 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The following was posted at huffpost. It contains some interesting statistics...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cristina-page/the-murder-of-dr-tiller-a_b_209562.html
June 1, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
that is a good article, thanks
June 1, 2009 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is an overview that might be helpful
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3776
June 1, 2009 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
thanks for the link bwakfat.
A bit of what Savage said:
"We need to get our troops out of Iraq and put them on the streets of America to protect us from the scourge of illegal immigrants who are running rampant across America, killing our police for sport, raping, murdering like a scythe across America.…The Statue of Liberty is crying, she’s been raped and disheveled—raped and disheveled by illegal aliens."
This is a really really really bad situation. Overall. Just bad.
Hate speech posing as free speech.
June 1, 2009 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
How in the hell did I miss this?
I was always a free speech nut. If cheney were in charge, his idea of hate speech and the idea of hate speech by whatever idiot he put in there, well....we could all be in one hell of a mess.
I went on and on a month ago about beck and how he said he would pay for the bullet that killed Michael Moore.
I dunno. I get lost here.
June 1, 2009 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2004/DA-04-2120A1.html
A very slim role apparently. They will fine a network for allowing a "dirty" word to slip by their filters - they will fine a network for showing too much "skin", accidentally or otherwise. Inciting murder through hate speech again and again? Not their problem.
June 1, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
We're in a dangerous spiral; an age of unraveling morality. It seems to me that our morality is coming apart faster than it was put together. War crimes at the highest level of government. Corruption in our institutions. Hate speech on the airwaves. Hate crimes in the streets. Kind of the perfect storm of Americans unplugged.
It's so much bigger than one pro-hate broadcaster.
June 1, 2009 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously,
Where are the forces of good relative to what is going on with our 'unraveling morality' as you put it?
Where are the lone rangers, the luke skywalkers, the jedi knights, the illuminating 'forces' that can move us forward from here?
http://epic.org/free_speech/default.html
Incitement ("clear and present danger"). The government can regulate speech that is intended and likely to incite "imminent lawless action," or where the speech presents a "clear and present danger" to the security of the nation. Brandenburg v. Ohio.
Relevant case law:
Schenck v. United States.
Upholding defendants' convictions under the Espionage Act for distribution of anti-war materials during World War I because even "the most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic."
When I consider how much real incitement is going on it seems as though the unraveling of our 'morality' has more to do with a 'lack of enforcement of our laws' or accountability than anything else...
June 2, 2009 1:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
* United States Code
o TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
+ PART I - CRIMES
# CHAPTER 71 - OBSCENITY
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 1464. Broadcasting obscene language
Whoever utters any obscene, indecent, or profane language by
means of radio communication shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_search.pl?title=18&sec=1464
Gary,
This is from 2004 and might apply. Is hate speech legally considered "indecent?"
And "Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances"
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/13/sections/section_248.html
June 2, 2009 2:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
In the Operation Rescue "Tiller the Killer" video, after the section "You may be the difference between life and death for a child" and before "They're killing babies here," the video displays a screen which reads:
"Together, we can put an end to George Tiller, Abortion and these horrific crimes." (at 5:31)
Not: "Together we can put a stop to George Tiller, ..."
but: "Together we can put an end to George Tiller."
The video is a fantastic bit of marketing, with gruesome images, inflammatory language, driving headbanger music and strobe light effects. I'd say that rises to incitement.
(video available on Youtube.com)
June 2, 2009 2:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.racialicious.com/2009/06/01/on-media-reform-and-hate-speech/
June 2, 2009 6:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here is a part of the problem: There is as much violence in the womb as there is hateful vitriol outside of it. Innocent blood cries out from dumpster.
Yes, tpmgary, we are in the path of a very imperfectstorm of immorality. And within the many gales of that terribly lawless maelstrom is a fierce convection of vigilante vengeance. But the laws that would purport to prevent their rhetoric are as futile as the bitterness of those self-appointed murderers.
Violence begets violence. Only perfect love can overwhelm this imperfect storm.
Carey Rowland, author of Glass half-Full
June 2, 2009 6:54 AM | Reply | Permalink