Kathy Griffin Proves America Does Not Understand Freedom of Speech!

in #news7 years ago

kathy-griffin.jpg

Kathy Griffin is a vile woman. A D-list celebrity at best, her entire, sorry career will be defined by her heinous photo shoot, in which she held the effigy of President Trump's bloodied, severed head -- no doubt a salute to the atrocities committed by radical Islamic terrorists.

The entire political spectrum roundly condemned Griffin, as they should. She may have the right to post such despicable photographs, but the American public have equal right (and I would argue, obligation) to chastise and rebuke such behavior.

Indeed, as @shayne reported, over 70% of TMZ viewers -- who are mostly degenerate internet trolls, let's be real! -- thought that Griffin crossed the line.

But here's a question: where is the line?

The Mysterious Line

Most people agree that Griffin's "work" was beyond bad taste. This was formulated by a societal, collective line. She breached it, and therefore, she has been adjudicated as a vile woman, as I stated at the top.

But to judge Griffin means that a quantifiable metric of moral behavior exists. Furthermore, that metric is scalar, not variable. Otherwise, different people would have different lines, and we would not be able to achieve consensus of Griffin's degenerate personality.

Indeed, the fact that we are able to witness majority consensus on Griffin's immorality implies that most people inherently understand the difference between good and evil.

A great example is racism in America. Most Yahoo trolls will defend a white person wearing blackface because they spuriously claim that "black paint" cannot be racist, and therefore, liberals need to stop being perpetually offended snowflakes.

blackface.jpg

On paper, that line of reasoning makes sense. Certainly, the wearing of blackface is not quantified as a racist act under our laws because it's a slippery slope (ie. our Navy Seals would then technically be racists).

But quantifiable or not, those that perpetuate blackface or other acts of racial mockery know deep down that they are being racists. They know the psychological wounds that the mockery of someone's racial features can engender, and that's why racists do what they do.

Calling the offended "snowflakes" doesn't take away from the fact that the line exists -- otherwise, why go through the charade of deflecting racism charges with more insults?

We Don't Understand Freedom of Speech

This all brings us to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is not merely the right to say what you want -- it encompasses the responsibility for your words and actions.

So many people misunderstand this point, it's frankly disturbing. Perhaps, even more disturbing than the Griffin photo.

Just like the law of gravity, we know where the moral line is. If we choose to cross it, we must take responsibility for crossing it. This is akin to a mountain climber that "climbs free." If he or she misses the next grab, the consequences are potentially fatal. But that is a choice we make when we flirt dangerously with gravity.

Griffin now understands this point. But the hypocrisy is that only one woman is being punished. If there was any justice at all, every goddamn Yahoo troll would be publicly exposed and be made to hold an account for their vicious words.

What Griffin did was absolutely wrong. But so is taunting a young girl who was scalped due to a horrific accident at a carnival ride. Or mocking a woman's physical appearance because of a rare genetic condition.

This is NOT freedom of speech. This is an abhorrent attempt to psychologically assault the dignity and character of an innocent human being.

It's fine to not be part of the problem. But don't let ANYONE justify their repugnant words or actions as freedom of speech. It's not.

In fact, it may even be a crime.

Sort:  

Awful, awful woman.
Good post, have a follow.

Agreed, totally disgusting, and should be prosecuted as a crime, given her own admission that she did this to inflict psychological harm on the Trump family.

And thank you! :)

Anyone that goes on stage seeking attention for holding any presidents decapitated head is asking for trouble. Some think this is a Rep vs. Dem issue which it is not. Did she think this is ISIS held territory? America has lost the path of Freedom long ago. Sooo long a go. Freedom to say anything or have any gun is American freedom. There is a true freedom too many have no idea about.

Based on your comment, I don't think you read my article in its entirety; just reacting to Griffin's disgusting photo. There's a lot of rich layers I bring up -- much more useful, in my opinion, than the low-hanging fruit of Griffin-bashing.

If you did read my article in its entirety, then I would argue that what Griffin did is NOT freedom of speech. In her comments pre-controversy, she admitted that was going after Trump and his youngest son, Barron. That's a psychological assault, and I do hope that Griffin is held to account for that.

Totally awful person and disgraceful act by Griffin. She and all those who are supporting ought to be ashamed of themselves. These snowflakes should be "given" a "safe space" so that they don't pollute the rest of the civilization.

As I understand it, freedom of speech is the right of the people not to be reprimanded by the Government for what they say. If you do or say something stupid or morally reprehensible, as Kathy did here, and you get dropped by advertisers, sponsors, and gigs, that's not an infringement of your freedom of speech: it's other non-government entities expressing their freedom of association by discontinuing any relations or contracts with you.

Just to clarify, is the basis of your argument that I believe Kathy Griffin's freedom of speech was infringed? If so, I'd like to state that I don't believe her actions to be freedom of speech at all given the facts of the matter. Prior to the photo, she declared that every Trump family member, including Barron, was free game. She deliberately sought to cause psychological injury to someone, and that's where freedom of speech protections end.

The U.S. Constitution provides exceptions to freedom of speech, which at the time they were written are quite narrowly defined. Given the mass proliferation of the internet, these exceptions are likely to be crystallized to reflect modern mores. One of those exceptions is, and will likely be, the incitement of violence and the willful intent to cause harm.

The Supreme Court case Beauharnais v. Illinois (1952) upheld a "group libel" law protecting racial and religious groups against hate or contempt, unless the speech was for "good motives" or "justifiable ends." These types of exceptions exist now, but will likely be expanded in the future...that could possibly put an end to actions like what Griffin did.

She blamed Trump for being "censored", which I don't believe she was, and even then it wouldn't be Trump's fault.

I'm not really sure if I follow since I didn't craft my article based on who she blames for her own stupidity...

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