Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!peregrine!elroy!ames!killer!csccat!loci!clb
From: clb@loci.UUCP (Charles Brunow)
Newsgroups: news.misc
Subject: Re: RACIST JOKES
Summary: right to bash
Message-ID: <179@loci.UUCP>
Date: 20 Nov 88 00:02:43 GMT
References: <8030@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <1058@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu> <1223@fig.bbn.com>
Organization: Loci Products, 75083
Lines: 39

In article <1223@fig.bbn.com>, rsalz@bbn.com (Rich Salz) writes:
> 
> From: nmg@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu (Nancy M Gould)
> >If enough people from ANY ETHNIC GROUP feel offended, the jokes
> >should not be posted.
> And if the person doesn't stop, then the majority should force them?
> Sorry, you're wrong.  Read the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
> Usenet is a world-wide (dis)organization, so it doesn't apply to
> everyone, but I expect that the vast majority of Usenet readers
> agree with its basic intent:
>
>	 [ text of the First Amendment ]
> 

	This is an example of "loop-hole opportunism", a point of view
	that says "if it's legal it must be ethical".  The intent of the
	Bill of Rights is to provide protection, not to be used as an
	instrument of abuse of others.  It is bad enough that people
	think they have an unalienable right to bash others, but it
	is revolting that they would interpret the Constitution to 
	rationalize their behavior.

	Now, before you launch into calling me a bunch of names, you
	should know that I believe in the Constitution and the other
	American State papers upon which our rights are derived, that
	I am willing to fight and die for them, and that I am a member
	of the ACLU.  But I think you must take the entire package
	rather than picking and choosing;  the Constitution leaves
	the job of interpreting rights to the courts, not to individuals.

	If you are going to insult Jews or anyone else then 'fess up
	to the truth: you're inconsiderate, or you're malicious or
	you're ignorant of the harm that it does ... but leave the
	Bill of Rights out of it.

-- 
			CLBrunow - KA5SOF
	clb@loci.uucp, loci@csccat.uucp, loci@killer.dallas.tx.us
	  Loci Products, POB 833846-131, Richardson, Texas 75083