If you believe in freedom of speech

I doubt I have any readers here that aren't related to me or former roommates...but if you aren't a member of my family or someone who has seen me in my underpants, welcome!

I don't want to get into a political debate here. I don't really give a shit what political party you are or aren't and why you hate or love about the current government. But I need to discuss something that is very near and dear to my heart right now.

Freedom of Speech.

I'm sure every single reader here heard what happened to Don Imus. Imus (who had a fucking comedy show!) was fired for calling the Rutger's Female Basketball Team "Nappy Headed Hos". Was it funny? Not really. Racist? Yes. Imus is an old out of touch fool. Did he deserve to be fired for it. NO.

JV and Elvis (a radio duo heard on Free FM in NYC) were "suspended indefinitely " from the station for making a prank phone call to a Chinese restaurant. Again, not really funny, and kinda racist, but did not deserve the firing they received.

On May 9th, the Opie and Anthony show heard on XM SATELLITE RADIO broadcast comments made by a homeless man that included the rape of Condoleeza Rice. XM is an uncensored pay service, and the Opie and Anthony show is broadcast with warnings that it is an EXTREME LANGUAGE channel and the radio display notes that the channel is "XL". This morning Opie and Anthony apologized for the comments made. As of right now they have not been fired from Free FM or XM, but that could change at any moment.

In all three cases I do not support the statements made by these shows. They are crude, tasteless comments. BUT... this is a freedom of speech issue, and as an American I support freedom of speech. If special interest groups continue to dictate what can be played on radio, they will eventually come after other talk shows like Hannity or Rush, Or Colmes or whatever local talk show you like. Then they'll start going after music. We've already seen this with the fallout from Imus' firing, as Rev. Sharpton made comments that Rap & Hip Hop should be monitored and held to some kind of standards. Then it'll be TV, and if the fallout from the Opie and Anthony debacle is any indication, not even HBO would be safe. Then it's the Internet and maybe YOUR blog or favorite site.

I know it may seem that I'm being alarmist here, but if you believe in free speech I urge you to join:

People Against Censorship

And if you can make it, please come to the rally tomorrow in Union Square NYC tomorrow at Noon.

DEMONSTRATION TO FIGHT CENSORSHIP, THIS SATURDAY IN NYC

Please Join us this Saturday, 12 NOON in UNION SQUARE, NYC This Saturday May 12, 2007 we will be demonstrating against censorship, against special interest groups who attempt to censor, and to support free speech on commercial radio, Imus, and JV & Elvis. 12 NOON IN UNION SQUARE 14th and Broadway Please bring signs if you can. THIS DEMONSTRATION IS VITALLY IMPORTANT! PLEASE TAKE TWO HOURS OUT OF YOUR LIFE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN.