Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!auvm!IBM1!EJ00 From: EJ00%LEHIGH.BITNET@IBM1.CC.LEHIGH.EDU (Eric C. Johnson) Newsgroups: bit.listserv.gaynet Subject: andy rooney Message-ID: <9002112054.AA19212@ATHENA.MIT.EDU> Date: 11 Feb 90 20:55:59 GMT Sender: Gaynet Distribution List Reply-To: gaynet@ATHENA.MIT.EDU Lines: 15 Approved: NETNEWS@AUVM Gateway X-To: gaynet@ATHENA.MIT.EDU my 2 cents: i don't agree with what andy rooney said (or what a large number of people say), but i don't believe he should be fired over it. why? because it's dangerous to link employability with the uttering of politically correct statements. 20 years ago, mr. rooney would have come under fire (and possibly been fired) for uttering PRO-gay statements. it's a sad commentary on the civil rights movement that today people are being axed for professing their views on controversial topics. would the people on gaynet like to to be refused employment for the views they express on gaynet? i think not. so why censor mr. rooney? civil rights movements have always preferred punitive measures (i.e., barring others from expressing their views) rather than proactive measures (i.e., encouraging minorities to express the positives of being a member of that particular minority. reprimanding rooney is an unwarranted punitive measure. eric johnson.