Spewing racist hatred is not ‘free speech’
Two words pop into my mind when I read your question. They are respect and civility. There is a simple solution to the current wave of profanity-laden tirades occurring on airlines, in commercial stores and in a variety of government meetings all over this country at present. It is disgusting to witness and degrading to those at whom it is directed.
The term “free speech” does not give anyone the right to spew hatred, racism, sexism or any other degrading words directed at innocent people, government officials or business employees, just as the word “fire” is not an acceptable term to be used in a movie theater or other crowded public place. Profanity, racism and sexism are all derogatory and do not belong in public discourse, especially in settings where ordinary people are serving the public across the spectrum, from retail stores to government institutions.
In the case of the recent tirade directed at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, shown on major news channels, nothing is going to change until some kind of action occurs to stop it. The minute a member of the public digresses into a pit of vulgarity and possible violence, as in the case of the public speakers toward the Board of Supervisors, the gavel should be dropped and the offending person escorted quickly from the meeting and barred from ever returning! If they want to be respected, they will need to demand respect. Demanding respect simply means anytime anyone digresses from civil, polite discourse, immediate removal is necessary, much as an adult will send unruly children to their room until they can be civil and polite. In no time at all, the message will resound loud and clear! We will not tolerate this kind of behavior in public, on airplanes, in business establishments, or anywhere in public.
Because behavior by a few in this country has degenerated to the present level of discourse, it will require force. Many bars are known to have “bouncers” to eject those who became unruly. At this point, since respect has been allowed to sink to an alltime low, it will be necessary to have two to three “bouncers,” deputies, sheriff’s officers, whoever is appropriate to enforce this new level of demand for respect and civility. It will be difficult to regain control, but we owe our public servants whatever effort it requires to reestablish those two concepts, or our democracy as we know it will be lost forever.
Carol Dunbar, Allied Gardens