Quote from Tsing Tao:
Alright, I listened to it. Thank you for patiently awaiting a response (laf).
Bernie is absolutely right in everything he said. There IS a "strain" of bigotry in conservative America that is against gay people, and there is a strain against black people, or immigrants, etc. That is all true. And this group protesting JC Penny is complete and total stupidity, and I personally do not agree with them at all. Lastly, Bill's response to Bernie was asinine (and I normally agree with him) about how Ellen "flaunts" her homosexuality. So the fuck what, Bill? Ellen has a right to live her life however she sees fit, and if JC Penny's wants to be associated with her, that is their business decision. Any time a business associates themselves with ANY public figure, there is business risk that that figure might do or say something in their own private life that upsets a section of their customer demographic. They should make that decision on their own. I also laughed when Bernie said "I used to be a liberal, but moved to the right because the lefties were way to crazy for me" (not verbatim).
Good analysis, and I agree with what you say. And, I did laugh at his lefties comment.
Now for the flip side, because fair is fair. The group of idiot moms protesting JC Penny's has the right to protest them if they feel that something offends them. Stupid as it is, they can protest anything they want with any corporate entity and claim they will not shop there if that is the spokesperson they choose (they can shop wherever they wish). Said differently, they have the right to be bigots if they choose - and you and I can think it's ugly, but tough shit - that's their right to be close minded. Again, if JCP did their risk analysis correctly, they anticipated this and will hold firm.
Yeah, I think the free market should simply prevail here. Let Penney's either profit from, or risk losses from their choice of spokesperson.
I should also point out that there are bigots/racists on the left as well - african-americans who hate "whiteys", etc. You don't have to be white to be a racist. You just have to be white to be called a racist in this day and age. Both are wrong. And lets not forget instances like where Al Sharpton called for the firing of Imus because he said "nappy headed ho's". How stupid was that? Sure, it was a dumb comment, but if you don't like Imus, don't tune in! It's free speech. Where was the outrage when Al was calling for Imus to be fired?
And, yes, of course racism exists on the left as well, unfortunate that it exists at all IMO.
Mixed feelings on this part. I listen to Imus pretty much daily, and did think his comments, although stupid, was just part of the schtick, and I doubt Imus is some crazy racist. I am not a fan of censorship, and hope the free market, as mentioned above would take care of this type of thing, but the public airwaves, well, as I said, mixed feelings.
Lastly, I will end with the fact that the only thing I have a problem with is when liberals take alternative lifestyles and insist they should be taught to MY children in a public school atmosphere. I have no right to tell people how to live, and they have no right to teach my children things I do not want them to. But that makes me a bigot in the eyes of some. If so, then they can kiss my bigoted ass.
