On Injustice, Freedom of Speech, and Real Anger

Pretend for a moment I'm not a writer. It isn't hard to do.

I don't want anything in this post to come across as sour grapes (which I find a rather weak argument, anyway). I'm writing as a father and public school teacher.

[rant]

1. I'm disappointed Chelsea Handler is a cultural gatekeeper. If you hadn't heard, she now has a publishing imprint. Not just another book deal, but an imprint. I can't say it any better than the comment by PLG (at the bottom of the article). As a parent and teacher in this "culture," I'm saddened we've decided, as a society, the Chelsea Handlers of the world are fit to choose for the rest of us. Yes, she's funny. Sort of, in an awkward "I shouldn't be laughing at this" way. She's also vulgar and repugnant.

2. Does anybody realize how much press Philip Greaves received, for free, last week? Yes, it was negative. But don't fool yourself into thinking everyone disagreed with the sicko, though. This kind of publicity fuels the "world is against us" battle cry championed by these kind of folks, no matter how small and misguided their numbers are.

3. How about the teacher in Michigan who was suspended after ejecting a hate-spewing high school student from his classroom? Freedom of speech? Really?

Here are the lessons I've learned:

1. Sex sells. Rudeness sells. Drunken amorality sells. Making money does not mean what you do has lasting value.

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing." - Benjamin Franklin

I won't mention Handler again.

2. People, in general, flock to negative stories like flies to shit. Why can't we be more like bees and find the flowers?

3. Being hurtful is never okay. Freedom of speech is powerful, and like all power, requires responsibility.

I couldn't say it better myself:



[/rant]