But some people think there should be execptions to the rule. They think the government should protect their feelings from getting hurt! Hell No!
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Earlier this month, a rodeo clown was wearing a Barack Obama mask!
AP Photo/Jameson Hsieh
The rodeo clown
People have been wearing masks of presidents for years!
Most of us have seen clips of bank robbers wearing masks of Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.
In heavy metal band Ministry's video "NWO", there was a guy with George Bush Sr's mask. Not only that, the same guy was dancing in a sexual manner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI2nfB0TDGc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI2nfB0TDGc
But somehow, some people think Obama should be immune from the same type of mockery that other presidents have received.
The Missouri chapter of the NAACP appealed for the U.S. Department of Justice and the Secret Service to launch an investigation and open a federal case against the rodeo clown who donned a mask of President Obama’s face and mocked with the crowd: Do you want to see a bull run down Mr. Obama?
Notice what I wrote in red: someone wants a FEDERAL investigation over a rodeo clown!
I think the federal government has more important things to worry about!
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I know some people have mentioned that the rodeo crowd reminded them of mistrel shows that were once popular, where actors painted their face black, and act in skits that were degrading to those of African ancestry!
I understand such concerns about inappropriate racist humor!
But federal investigations are not the answer!
The answer is to use your words (and other forms of expression) against those minstrel shows!
The answer is using blogs, podcasts, skits, plays, songs, comics, documentaries, flyers, brochures and other forms of expression against those you oppose!
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It also remind me of whenever some comic artist, film-maker, comedian, etc make inflammatory "entertainment" mocking Islam. There are demands for the government of wherever that artist/director/etc came from to "do something about it".
Just one example, back in 2005, a Danish newspaper published a bunch of comics making fun of the Islamic faith.
Of course, Muslims have every right to be offended by such inflammatory artwork.
However, government officials from 11 Muslim-majority countries (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, Morocco, and Palestine) demanded the Danish government to censor those comics.
From the letter
We deplore these statements and publications and urge Your Excellency’s government to take all those responsible to task under law of the land in the interest of inter-faith harmony, better integration and Denmark's overall relations with the Muslim world.—Letter from 11 ambassadors
Look at the words written in red: Those govenment ambassadors think the Danish government should protect their feelings from being hurt!
That was the same reaction when an American film-maker made a film mocking Mohammed.
Look, the US is mostly Christian, yet we didn't arrest the guy who put a cross in a jar of urine or the guy who made an image of the Virgin Mary with elephant dung. Nor did we arrest Marrolyn Manson or Bill Maher who made insults against Christianity. And they shouldn't be arrested!
The atheists aren't protected from getting their feelings hurt either. Remember that Jerry Falwell blamed atheists (as well as feminists and gays) for making America vulnerable to the 9/11 attacks. He didn't get arrested or investigated either! And he shouldn't!
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Here, we dont' believe in using the government to protect our feelings!
We answer back with words, art, blogs, flyers, songs, whatevers!
In this internet age, anyone can get their own blog to respond against anyone who hurts their feelings! (and you don't even need your own computer, you can use the computers at the public library FOR FREE!)
Or do what the rappers do, make songs to answer back your critics!
So yeah, don't be a censor, use your Freedom of Expression!
