What does Freedom of Speech mean to you?
September 1, 2009 by Mike Monty
Filed under Editorial
Freedom of Speech, Racism, Political Correctness.
Three very touchy subjects to most people, but really a fine line in the entertainment world.
This week L.A. Gay activists finally managed to get AEG and Live Nation to pull the plug on the Buju Banton concerts. Now for those of you living under a rock, the whole Buju Banton uproar began with Gay Rights activists started protesting the lyrical content of his songs, some of which called for violence against Gays. In particular go look up the lyrics for “Boom Bye Bye”. Now while Buju Banton is not the only Jamaican Dancehall performer, or let’s just say performer in general, to have such lyrics ( and will not be the last), it certainly at times does seem that he’s the poster boy for gay bashing lyrics.
Now as anyone, who has been listening or following the Dancehall music world, would know, Buju has changed his lyrical style and is now more into the Rastafarian/Spiritual or “Conscious” (as they call it) type of music. So why then are the Gay activists still trying to block him? Are the organizations for Violence against women going to call for the cancellation of Chris Brown concerts? Or why did people not totally boycott Amy Whinehouse?
Please, do not for one second think that I condone violence against Gays or anyone as a matter of fact, but I do think that that people take stances that they support when it suits them.
For example, why is it acceptable for a black comic to make jokes about a white person in the audience, yet it’s extremely racist if a white person singles out a black audience member?
Why is it that a fuss is made about scenes with Ken Jeong’s character in both “The Hangover” and “The Goods”, Yet the depiction of blacks in some Asian cartoons/Anime(look at Dragonball z) with big lips other stereotypical features does not make the same group complaining bat an eye?
So after drifting let’s get back on track. What does freedom of speech mean to you? Why is it that we say it’s freedom of speech to protest against something that someone says (point in case Buju), yet Buju should not have the right to also have Freedom of speech to his “opinion” of the gay lifestyle.
Again, I am in no way condoning his lyrics, nor am i saying the scene from “The Goods” should not be protested, but it does at time seem hypocritical that Freedom of Speech is ok when it supports your views but not others. I think that before you start protesting, that you look back at yourself and see what you yourself condone. Maybe you should also start marching and protesting against more than just your personal interest.
Now let me stop writing before i start on Al Sharpton!
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Buju does have freedom of speech.
So do the people who protested to AEG.
So does AEG.
Why are placing Buju’s right to speak above the speech rights of GLAAD or AEG?