Slur Story Will not Die

The Secrect Service is working on this now and the City Solicitor is now getting involved. Michael at Rantophilla disagrees with my view on this issue. I of course disagree. I believe a racial slur is only as big a deal as those who make it into one. I guess I apply the "sticks and stones" principle here, no matter the history. There are other racial, ethnic, and religious slurs that are as old or older than the "N-Word," but the media and politicos do not make a Federal Case out of anyone using those slurs.

Why Maggie?

Why did Maggie Downs "review" a book by a local conservative? Maggie's column had a few timid elements of commentary, but mostly was a news story on the book. Give this to Bronson. Peter would get a woody with this kind of book. His hang up must have been the fact that his book is competing with this guy's book. Let Maggie cover Michael Moore or Al Franken. It was painful to read this story. It was like Maggie's guilt in writing it came through on each sentence. Why couldn't she come out and let this guy have it? Show how any or all of his "truths" are either false, really opinion, or just bigotry hidden in a theocratic evangelism.

Race Politics and Race Based Media Coverage

It appears that Alicia Reece is charging head first into the issue of the alleged use of the "N-word" in a taped investigation interview from 1998. The Vice Mayor wants harsher punishments for using the "N-word" than was given. I have to ask what punishment should be given for political grandstanding? In any act of political grandstanding, especially about a race issue, lying is involved. How many lies, half-truths, misleading statements were made when the Vice Mayor announced the plan to fight "black on black" crime?

This story is a gold mine for the media. It is like sex or murder; the "N-word" sells. I am as much of a sucker for reporting on it than anyone. I might stick to politicians using it instead of a police sergeant using it over 5 years ago.

Bronson Boo Hoo!

Peter Bronson is lamenting the United Way's cut in funding to the Boy Scouts. He believes that it is because of the bigoted views adhered to by the Boy Scouts keeping homosexuals out of the organization. Peter does not, I assume, that the bigoted views of the Boy Scouts are bigoted. He thinks they are either valid or their own business. If he thinks being bigoted against homosexuals is the right thing for the Boy Scouts, then well, his opinions are moot. They are predicated on beliefs that are contrary to what the United Way stand for: helping everyone. How can they help everyone when they exclude groups that exclude people based on a trait that has no bearing on what they do. It is a simple idea in play here. Bigotry is not reward or supported by the Cincinnati United Way. Politics are such that they can't punish groups totally in this region, where anti-homosexual views are common. Combined with a bigger need in other areas the United Way cut out funding for the Boy Scouts. That is life. If Peter wants them to have more money, then I suggest he and the CCV start hold bake sales.

I have to ask Peter a question, how much do Christian charities support AiDs research or support for victims? I bet most conservative Christian groups do not give a penny to help fight AiDs. I am sure there are exceptions or specific groups that do help all people dying from disease, but I mean groups that the CCV and Bronson would trumpet.

To FCC Chairman Michael Powell

FUCK YOU! Bill me.

Saying a Racial Slur Gets the Media into Frenzy

Ok, so there is a videotape and according to some sources Cincinnati police Sgt. Jeff Butler said the word "nigger" while being investigated by CPD internal affairs. I really wonder what the story here is? This happened in 1998, over 5 years ago. Beyond being the typical if it involves race then we can exploit it attitude of the media, I don't see the impact of this man's words.

Now, by saying the "n-word" he broke no law. You can think him to be a racist or bigot or idiot, but he broke no law. Plenty of other groups of people are insulted every day in the media alone, not to mention in the break rooms across the country. Why does this matter? What matters is whether this guy broke any laws, which is why he was being investigated. This got a skeptical play by WLWT, but Kathy Wilson seems to either have better hearing or has a problem with book covers. Leslie Blade lets opinion flow into her news story, but reports generally most of same facts out.

If WLWT or CityBeat wants to put on airs about hate speech, they should review the tapes from 1230 AM the Buzz and the number of incidents of hate speech would make your mind boggle.

What I have a problem with overall is the underlying theme on this issue: guilt by association. "If one guys says a word, then see, they are all racists." If this person had actually attacked or mistreated anyone because of their race, then this would be support for the contention that this man was a racist. Just because others around him don't correct him for saying a "bad" word does not mean much. If a religious person says they will pray for me, I don't like it. Sometimes they go out of their way to ask me "have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior?" I don't say anything to say that offends me. I instead ignore them. If this police officer broke the law, then lock him up. If he said a racial slur, then call him an asshole and move on.

FOX Propaganda in Action

Chemical Weapons or Chemical Explosives? Somehow in an interview with Brit Hume, Fox News foreign affairs analyst Mansoor Ijaz "reported" that "chemical explosives" were smuggled into Northern Iraq from Iran. This little tidbit then gets extrapolated without any evidence:

Now, what alarmed me about this and the reason that I felt it was necessary to get this out as soon as possible, is because I have now heard three times in the last week, from separate sources that I have been talking to that something big is being planned for Baghdad. In which the idea that is being put forward is to kill as many as 3,000 to 5,000 people at one shot; something that would be similar to a World Trade Center (search) type of attack. In that part of the world, the only way you could get that done is if you launched a massive chemical or biological attack.

Now, someone this gets translated to the front page teaser as "Terror expert Mansoor Ijaz says chemical weapons came in from Iran." Ah, no he did not say that. Chemical explosives include things like, oh nitroglycerin or dynamite. I know FOX wants spins stuff for their boy Bush, but this is just ridiculous. Mansoor Ijaz is treated like a reporter but he is an open advocate for the War. I don't get how he could let this misconception go on when you read this from his FOX News bio:

Ijaz received his Bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in Physics from the University of Virginia and received his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Damn, that's a big ass barrel of monkeys.