Political correctness may cost officer his badge: what happened to free speech?
Mayor Thomas M. Menino is representative of the true cancer that is afflicting America today – acting out of political correctness and exploiting an unfortunate situation in his political self-interest to pander to a constituency in the media. Perhaps mirroring President Obama?
The charge: “An officer in the Boston Police Department was suspended yesterday for allegedly writing a racially charged e-mail about Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. to colleagues at the National Guard.”
Menino’s comment: “Mayor Thomas M. Menino compared the officer to a cancer and said he is "gone, g-o-n-e'' from the force.”
I am not saying that the officer should not receive counseling and a few days suspension without pay – mostly for stupidity – but the loss of his livelihood should not be impaired because he made a comment. Especially if official police channels were used to transmit the message. Should the officer have used his own computer, own e-mail account and sent the message to a single intended recipient, that is a far different matter.
According to the Boston Globe
“Officer suspended for Gates slur in e-mail”
“An officer in the Boston Police Department was suspended yesterday for allegedly writing a racially charged e-mail about Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. to colleagues at the National Guard, a law enforcement official said. Mayor Thomas M. Menino compared the officer to a cancer and said he is "gone, g-o-n-e'' from the force.”
“The law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Officer Justin Barrett referred to the black scholar as a ‘ jungle monkey’ in the letter, written in reaction to media coverage of Gates's arrest July 16.”
“Barrett, a 36-year-old who has been on the job for two years, was stripped of his gun and badge yesterday and faces a termination hearing in the next week, said police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll. He has no previous disciplinary record, she said.”
"Yesterday afternoon, Commissioner Davis was made aware that Officer Barrett was the author of correspondence which included racially charged language," she said. ‘At that time, Commissioner Davis immediately stripped Officer Barrett of his gun and badge, and at this time we will be moving forward with the hearing process.’"
Shades of Obama …
“Menino, speaking to the Globe before an evening event in the South End, said he hadn't seen the e-mail Menino said while the officer is not officially terminated, he might as well be "He's gone, g-o-n-e. I don't care, it's like cancer, you don't keep those cancers around."
Surrendering your freedoms, one comment at a time …
When any government, politician or organization can demonize their opponents through the use of “political correctness,” we have lost our right to free speech. But when that government, politician or organization takes adverse action against that opponent, then we have lost a substantial amount of our liberty.
Where is the ACLU ?
The American Civil Liberties Union should be all over this issue. The right of an individual citizen to comment on the events of the day, in whatever language, be it hurtful to some, is still protected speech.
In the final analysis, free speech is about upholding the right of any citizen to say just about anything they want, no matter how hurtful, inconsiderate, ignorant or injurious – providing they do not transcend the bounds of public safety; falsely crying fire in a crowded theatre or urging others to take illegal actions. For those that have been injured, their are slander and defamation suits. For those who have been otherwise injured and can prove damages, there are civil suits.
As my mother taught me: “sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Thank haven she is not around to see what political correctness has wrought or how the politicians are playing the race card to advance their own personal and political agenda – and if you are a Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton or Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; make a career out of taking offense at the slightest hint of racial bias. The inescapable truth about human nature is that we gravitate toward our own kind; a long-standing tribal instinct that can be seen in much of our wondrous world. There will always be those who act stupidly with regard to other people – unfortunately, it seems to be politicians like Barack Obama and Mayor Thomas M. Menino who are seeking to profit from an unfortunate situation. Perhaps Merino should invite the officer over for a beer – as if that will solve the world’s problems.
-- steve
_______________________________________________
OneCitizenSpeaking: Saying out loud what you may be thinking …
Reference Links …
Officer suspended for Gates slur in e-mail - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe
“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw
“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”
“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell “Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar “Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS