Gary--
There's no easy answer; that's why I've stayed out opf this discussion
until now.
As a start for discussion:
1. _Any_ simple statement of opinion is protected speech.
2. Any statement advocating action that will cause immediate or certain
harm to a particular group of people is not protected ('racist').
Clearly, there are statements that are ambiguous; that would be classified
differently by different individuals based on their assessment of the
outcomes of making the statements. This discussion is a good illustration.
My personal preference is to assume that a statement is protected speech
_unless_ it can be convincingly demonstrated to directly cause harm.
At 3:06 PM -0400 6/23/99, Gary Klatsky wrote:
>Paul
>
>How do you distinguish between a statement that is offensive to a particular
>ethnic or religious group and one that is racist or anti-Semitic?
>
>As I said in my reply to Stephen, it is our responsibility to point out when
>people are being offensive in a public forum. Yes they have the right to
>say what they want but it does not mean we have to accept it. If enough
>pressure is placed on the offensive person, maybe they will think before
>they make those comments.
>
>Gary
>
>
>
>Gary J. Klatsky
>Department of Psychology [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Oswego State University (SUNY) http://www.oswego.edu/~klatsky
>Oswego, NY 13126 Voice: (315) 341 3474
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On
>Behalf Of Paul Brandon
>Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 1:31 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: Michael Sylvester, an appreciation (sort-of)
>
>Stephen--
>
>I agree with your points.
>I've stayed out of this discussion because I would not be comfortable on
>either side.
>As you say, much of what Michael S says is offensive, but this does not by
>itself make it antisemitic.
>
>As a Jew, his statements bother me, and I'm glad that Linda W has answered
>them.
>
>As a civil libertarian (card carrying member of the ACLU, etc) I feel that
>he has the right to make them.
>
>Ultimately, defending the general right to make offensive (to some)
>statements protects the rights of all of us. Thius, I feel, is the bottom
>line.
>.mankato.msus.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
* PAUL K. BRANDON [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* Psychology Department 507-389-6217 *
* "The University formerly known as Mankato State" *
* http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
