Friday, 23 July 2010

I can say no more... than this...

"Offensive Ideas" - Campaign for Free Expression PSA #1

Posted by Andy Holroyd at 02:26 [Stumble Upon]
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4 comments:

Walker said...

Powerfully put, when you look at these people in that way. Fear and ignorance, power and control....

Words can do both good and bad, and sometimes it's about intent and sometimes it is just the word and all the associations attached to the word over the years....

24 July 2010 at 15:17
Andy Holroyd said...

Hi Scooter

The associations which go with a word, I would guess, are generally a personal thing. I.e. learned from experience within the culture in which you live, despite or in addition to the literal meaning of that word.

If this is not so then why are so many young white men in my neighbourhood all calling each other 'nigga'? The changes in meaning over time of the word 'gay' are another example.

Language is plastic; it changes to fit and can be moulded. Herein are both the art of poetry and the possibility of being misunderstood.

No one should be pilloried for being misunderstood when the subject is truth and the heart is genuine. No one has the right to not be offended but equally, no one has the right to wilfully offend others by behaving like an arsehole. Freedom of speech is a serious business.

25 July 2010 at 12:15
Walker said...

Scooter! Cute.
Freedom of speech is serious, and yet such a touchy subject when you've got people who haven't let go of their associations with a word and who then attach meaning to other's use. I would imagine there are some very negative reactions to white youth using the word 'nigga'.
Yeah, gay is a great example. So is 'queer', which is now gaining acceptance among the LGBTQ community as an acceptable label.

As for Scooter, I think I will be getting a knee scooter next week. I'll have to take a picture of that! Should help with stability as well as my internal sense of stability... and mobility. Thankfully the main portion of my house is on one level... though laundry in basement!?

25 July 2010 at 14:24
Andy Holroyd said...

Walker, we must talk more about these ideas. Problem is I'm doing other stuff just now, and finding time and enthusiasm together is rare. We will pick up on these things again I promise.

I hope things are getting easier for you to scoot about. Just be careful at the top of staircases!

29 July 2010 at 21:22

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