Umm, You gotta consider this little item – First Amendment

This is just one of those stories that is so stupid one normally would just pass it by.  I just can’t help myself, I guess….. 

It’s nice to be nice, no doubt about it.  And when it comes to language, I always try for the "high" road"; it is a better indication of talent and thoughtfulness to not use "crude" language.  And as this story discusses, someone else wants everyone to leave a bit of the gutter behind.

I just don’t think that he understands his implications….and this story brings out a couple things that the PC police wouldn’t like…or me….

Texas Mayor Singles Out N-Word for Ban

Mayor Ken Corley of Brazoria, Texas, has proposed a city ordinance that would make using the word in an offensive fashion a crime equal to disturbing the peace and punishable by a fine of up to $500… [snip]… "I would like to, if possible, ban all racial slurs," Corley told FOXNews.com. "We chose this word because it’s the most controversial issue throughout the United States today."

Ah yes, a governmental effort to regulate the words we use, the utterances that we use to communicate ideas, facts, and emotions….and is already covered by a law….a real basic law.  The Constitution. 

Gripe Number 1: Hate to say it but here is yet one more example of the public school system not doing its job right.  How could any elected official be so ignorant as to just toss that to the wind?

Corley said the city would like to go after the use of other racial slurs, "but we want to take this one step at a time, depending on public opinion."

Gripe Number 2:  At this point in the story, he’s already been warned of it not being realistic.  Yet, he plows steadfastly towards the cliff. 

The 62-year-old mayor, who is a self-described "middle-class white boy," got the idea for the ordinance after watching Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton discuss banning the N-word on TV after "Seinfeld" comedian Michael Richards used it in an act last November.

"The word is not used or abused in the streets of our town; it’s more, amongst the black community, as a term of endearment, OK?" Corley said. "But it is a national issue, and I would like the city of Brazoria to take a leadership role throughout the nation in banning the use of this word."

Gripe #3.  Clueless…simply clueless.

Gripe #4. He’s actually right on one point – can one consider this whole area as racist, since it seems that one group of people are allowed to use it with impunity, but another is not?  A double-standard?

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not in favor of crude language at all (and yes, some of my friends do moderate their language in my presence – for which I am honored that they think that much of me).  But double standards like these drive me nuts….

Corley polled his constituents and found "overwhelming support" for the ordinance. Brazoria, with a population of around 2,800, is an industrial city nestled about 50 miles south of Houston near the Gulf of Mexico coast. About 10 percent of the population is black.

Grip#5 – C’mon!, Other than those with a nose for the First Amendment, please tell me – who would be in FAVOR of speech composed of four letter words?

Under the proposed Brazoria ordinance, users of the N-word would be fined only if a complaint were filed against them, thus protecting those who think they are using the word as a term of endearment.

Gripe #6 – Ah yes, let’s raise consciousness about the topic, this horrible word.  Let’s get into all the media outlets…..let’s……have no teeth in the ordinance!  See above….somehow, there’s this little birdy telling me that there is just NO way that this white guy would be granted absolution if that word passed by my lips, no matter how nice my demeanor.  This is a crock! (yes, 5 letters there, not 4). 

[snip]

"It’s really important for people to realize that the history of the word goes so far back that recent developments in the past 20 years [of] casual use," Asim said. "There is no god higher than history and I don’t think recent developments are strong enough to overcome the centuries of hatred that are attached to the word."

Gripe #7 – lower case "g"?  Perhaps in this case…but more and more, I keep seeing the word "God" put in lower case even when the application is obviously in a religious context.  Looking to go just a wee bit more secular in the news rooms, eh?

[snip]

Corley said that while he has "some concerns" about the law’s legal standing, the city attorney is confident it will pass muster.

Great…the blind leading the clueless…….sheesh….hey!  Limitation on free speech has been codified into law before…..thanks Senators McCain and Feingold!  Maybe this guy does have a shot!