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Freedom or Hatred?


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A controversy at the University of Southern California arose when the school’s newspaper, The Daily Trojan, ran anti-gay letters to the editor in response to a questionable anti-gay editorial. The letters have been labeled as “hate speech” by LGBT students at USC. The original feature article that spurred the letters concerned a grad student who participated in the Mr. Gay International competition. This pod follows this student, Lance Patak, as he organizes a protest calling for an apology from the newspaper, as well as a Daily Trojan writer who claims the paper has a responsibility to represent the full spectrum of student opinion.
badgerdaveo

10 responses // Freedom or Hatred?

  • This one's a toughie. While it's clear that hate speech is awful and should never happen in our day and age, I support freedom of speech. I mean it's one of our human rights. But...at the expense of others? How should this situation have been handled?
    Fhay_A
  • Why is it that no one is allowed to voice opposition to the gay community, and when it is voiced it's called hate.

    Hate is a definitive word paralleling with violence, giving an opinion is just being honest about the way you feel. I disagree with people all of the time but I don't hate them at all.
    shadowtrekker
  • What a great pod. Excellent characters. It's a shame that the editors of the papers wouldn't comment on this story - seems very cowardly.
    heather_hunter
  • I have not read the actual article, but from the clip I saw on current I don't think that what he said was hate speech - I feel like Christians (or anyone) can not oppose ANYTHING these days because if you are not open to EVERYTHING you are being closed-minded. I am against homosexuality but I would never disrespect or hate somewhat for it. I am entitled to think that a lifestyle is or is not acceptable to my beliefs.

    I also think that people tend to parallel being homosexual with race or gender. I feel they are very different because anyone can tell your race or gender just by looking at you. Your sexual identity - whether you are hetero- or homosexual is up to you whether or not your share with the rest of the world.
    Mokah25
  • Doesn't the Bible also say something along the lines of all sin being the same in the eyes of God? So if they are going to quote the Bible, use the whole thing, not just pieces that support your views. So the Christians say that homosexuality is detestable, but in the eyes of God, their own sins are just as detestable. This is why I can't stand organize religion.
    assassiNATE
    1 response to this
  • Why do Christians believe homosexuality is wrong? Because the Bible says so? The Bible has some really good, positive messages but it also says that it is okay to keep slaves, beat children who get out of line and stone women who are not virgins when they get married. Is this a credible source to base an opinion on? How does anyone have the time to hate or even oppose people for loving each other? Aren't there enough bad people out there to focus the anger on? Who are these people that actually want to spend their time getting an amendment put in the Constitution prohibiting people from making a commitment of love for the rest of there lives? Get a life...and let other people live theirs.
    gforce1979
  • Agreed. It a shame that some people put so much energy into hating others who are different. If they just refocused that energy to something positive, this country would be a lot better.
    assassiNATE
    1 response to this
  • Everytime I see/read something in this vein, I become incensed. Freedom of Speech is so basic a right in this country and I have a real problem with gays, blacks, jews, women, men, cops, christians, muslims, boy scouts - WHATEVER - claiming that the definition of Free Speech is that it must be "nice", "pleasing to all" and "PC" - especially to them. The publishing of diverse opinions does not automattically spell "hate".

    I got a kick out of the kid who said that the LA TImes would never have printed these opinions out of context. Boy, is he right!!! I say that is why it is so crucial to have college newspapers and other independant publications that are beholding to no one - certainly not advertisers - and are not afraid to tred on the controversial, unpopular, divisive and most importantly thought provoking opinions, musings and news....

    Grow up boys and girls...This is freedom at it's best and while you disagree, you should be celebrating and protecting it not whining that it is mean, unfair or unjust. Let's be grateful for our diversity and certainly grateful that we can express it.
    lucylc

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