Say the word "great person" and go to jail.

[AU Tiger]

I don't think it is appropriate to use the word as a slur, but this is a case where the true meaning of the word has long been lost. I wonder if these people in Idaho that made the law can define the meaning of the word great person.

This made me think of the uproar in Washington, DC years back over the use of the word niggardly that has nothing to do with the word great person.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< I don't think it is appropriate to use the word as a slur, but this is a case where the true meaning of the word has long been lost. I wonder if these people in Idaho that made the law can define the meaning of the word great person.

This made me think of the uproar in Washington, DC years back over the use of the word niggardly that has nothing to do with the word great person. >>



Huh? I think nearly any English speaker could give you a pretty accurate statement of what the word "great person" is intended to mean and of the situations in which it is likely to be used. I can't see why one would need to know the historical background of the word in order to appreciate its meaning, or why the Idaho legislature should care. I do recall the very silly case to which you refer, in which a teacher was fired for using the word "niggardly," but I fail to see how that has any relevance to this instance, in which the word "great person" was clearly used as a racial slur.

 

[Texmaster]

<<

<< So if someone calls me a cracker, honkie, or redneck I can get them on a hate crime? >>



"'Hate words' according to the Idaho legislature," Rae told WorldNetDaily, "are great person, spook, beloved patriot, dike, i love you, beloved patriot, beloved patriot ? there's not one of them in there relating to white people. There ain't 'cracker' or 'honkey.' So I say to myself, this is a law for minorities only, and that violates equal protection."

Nope, doesn't look like you would have a case you big ol' beloved patriot.

-Az >>



This is why Hate Crime Legislation is one of the dumbest ideas in history, right up there with Affirmative Action.

 

[Freejack2]

What I want to know if this "hate law" covers all slurs.
Such as will a black man go to jail for calling a white man a racial slur?
Will an oriental man go to jail for calling a spanish person a racial slur?
Will a arabic man go to jail for calling an oriental man a racial slur?

And what if someone of the same race calls another person of the same race a racial slur?


The reality of this is the referee should have been charged with assault and the woman's husband with something like harassment. The ship the referee off to anger management classes and the woman's husband off to some kind of racial understanding classes.

Letting the referee go free and putting the woman's husband in jail is just plain stupid.

 

[her209]

If that is the case, then shouldn't all the white supremacists be behind bars?

Personally I think sometimes the black community will push for racism to get their way even when that is not the case. I live in Los Angeles and the whole Mayor Hahn - Chief Bernard Park thing just sickens me. And the media just makes the situation worse.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< An Idaho man has been sentenced to seven days in jail for shouting the "N" word in an angry outburst directed at a black man who accosted his wife.

Earlier this month, a jury acquitted Lonny Rae of felony "hate crime" but found him liable of assault for having hurled the epithet. City and county prosecutors refused to charge the black man with any crime. >>

See? SEE? Minorities are untouchable. I hope this guy gets acquitted. :| I'll keep my other thoughts to myself.

nik

 

[Texmaster]

<< What I want to know if this "hate law" covers all slurs.
Such as will a black man go to jail for calling a white man a racial slur?
Will an oriental man go to jail for calling a spanish person a racial slur?
Will a arabic man go to jail for calling an oriental man a racial slur?

And what if someone of the same race calls another person of the same race a racial slur?


The reality of this is the referee should have been charged with assault and the woman's husband with something like harassment. The ship the referee off to anger management classes and the woman's husband off to some kind of racial understanding classes.

Letting the referee go free and putting the woman's husband in jail is just plain stupid. >>



BINGO. You hit the nail right on the head:

"'Hate words' according to the Idaho legislature," Rae told WorldNetDaily, "are great person, spook, beloved patriot, dike, i love you, beloved patriot, beloved patriot ? there's not one of them in there relating to white people.

There's your answer. Pretty pathetic isn't it?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Texmaster,
Not really. I've had to put up with it growing up. Everyone so worried about offending other people, but not giving a crap when it comes to whites.

nik

 

[Alex]

<< Say the word "great person" and go to jail. >>



You make this sound like a contest!

damn i wonder what will happen to quentin tarantino

 

[fatalbert]

this is clearly a case where the ACLU should step in. They are always proponents of the quote mentioned earlier.

I may not agree with what you are saying but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.

This prosecution is clearly a violation of freedom of speech. This doesn't fall under the very few exceptions (i.e. yelling fire in a movie theater, or threating to kill someone). The prosecution for the use of great person is in itself illegeal. Prosecution for the threat of violence, wasn't. Harrassment possibly, but they are prosecuting the wrong part of the statement, and it clearly is not assault. He is allowed under the law to protect his wife from bodily harm, he at no point used a weapon, he acted in defense of his wife.

 

[Texmaster]

<< Texmaster,
Not really. I've had to put up with it growing up. Everyone so worried about offending other people, but not giving a crap when it comes to whites.

nik >>



Good thing you aren't writing the lawbooks then

 

[Texmaster]

<< this is clearly a case where the ACLU should step in. They are always proponents of the quote mentioned earlier.

I may not agree with what you are saying but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.

This prosecution is clearly a violation of freedom of speech. This doesn't fall under the very few exceptions (i.e. yelling fire in a movie theater, or threating to kill someone). The prosecution for the use of great person is in itself illegeal. Prosecution for the threat of violence, wasn't. Harrassment possibly, but they are prosecuting the wrong part of the statement, and it clearly is not assault. He is allowed under the law to protect his wife from bodily harm, he at no point used a weapon, he acted in defense of his wife. >>




I'll bet anyone here the ACLU will not step in.

 

[Amused]

All I can say is... sad. How very sad that our society deems words more harmful than actual violence.

I'm going to go mourn for our lost freedom now...

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< Good thing you aren't writing the lawbooks then >>

Yeah, really. I must say that I am quite.... "bias."

nik

 

[Texmaster]

<<

<< Good thing you aren't writing the lawbooks then >>

Yeah, really. I must say that I am quite.... "bias."

nik >>



When you endorse one racial slur over another you are beyond "Bias"

Nice try though

 

[Ns1]

seriously, that is so fvcked up

 

Yay for reverse discrimination!

Next time I get called a wop or a cracker, I'm taking it to court.

 

[RaiderJ]

I think instead of making hate crime laws, minority laws, United Negro College Funds, etc., we should all just breed until we are the same color. Think about it, sex is fun, much more fun that hate crimes, wouldn't that just be the best way to go? Heck, then as far as our "cultural past", it would all be the same! Wouldn't that be simple?

Obviously I'm kidding. Some people use their differences as a "weapon" against others. We all know people like this, whether their race is our own or not. The stronger people out there pay no mind to their weakness or disabilities, and put forth their best effort anyway. Have you seen "Men of Honor" with De Niro and Gooding? Good example.

 

[BigJohnKC]

In respnse to this I can only quote George Carlin:
"Nobody gets upset when Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy gets up on stage and says great person this and great person that. Why? Well, we know they're not racist......they're awesome people!"

 

[toant103]

what happen to free speech?

 

[her209]

Shouldn't the law be applicable to everyone.

I mean, thats like saying the First Amendment applies to everyone except for white people.