Date: Sat Jan 4, 2003 11:11 pm
Subject: RE: [QueerAtlanta] The Scalawag Award and other Personal Attacks
As a recipient of informative e-mails through the QueerAtlanta forum for a while, I have never felt compelled to chime in with my "two cents." But, for what it's worth, and given the tenor of the contrary e-mail forum that seems to have recently sprouted on the net, I feel most compelled to speak my peace. As an aside, I've never met Tom Dempsey or Donna Narducci, but I've read and heard enough about each of them to make my very personal assessment of them individually.
So, here's my two cents (or less for those of you who disagree) .....
The First Amendment gives everyone the right to levy thought provoking criticism against the ideas, ideals, or actions of those with opposing viewpoints. Libel and Slander, the printing or oral telling of untruthful statements, are certainly not protected under the First Amendment. Nor is what the Supreme Court categorizes as hate speech, which expands or contracts from time to time. Also, different rules apply to criticism of those who seek and obtain elected positions or who have otherwise obtained celebrity status -- courts have recognized that placing one's self in a "celebrity" position is voluntary and requires a thicker skin.
While not defending any statements Tom Dempsey made, or opinions he advanced, in the past, which others in positions of responsibility in our community's organizations construe as personal attacks, the new "contrary" e-mail forum levying personal attacks against Tom Dempsey and threatening future attacks does nothing to advance free speech or create any level of open forum discussion. Indeed, open discourse only rises to its best level when it presents the factual sides of opposing positions. To engage in personal attacks, by either side, only distracts from the message ... to the point that the message itself becomes lost. To that end, there appears to be nothing stated by the "speaker" in the new forum that could be remotely construed as open discussion of issues aimed at advancing LGTB causes -- the statements solely attempt to disparage Tom Dempsey, discredit him, or retaliate directly against him in a highly personal manner.
Finally, it is totally irrelevant whether the current statements levied against Tom Dempsey are true or not. First, the facts surrounding the inflammatory accusations are between Tom and GLAAD and appear to have long ago been resolved. But most importantly, the statements themselves, even if true, bear absolutely no relevance to those issues, today in 2003, that are proper and relevant for discussion in our forum on LGTB issues. For the most part, the tenor of Tom's postings have presented facts about organizations in our community. While it is true that Tom has also proposed opposing viewpoints, some very personal to him, they are just that -- his views -- which merely serve as constructive criticism to challenge our leaders to be better or do the "right" thing. The various organizations in our community and those persons leading them, dubiously at times, cannot glide through unchallenged -- they should be, have been, will be -- no, must be -- challenged to do the best for our community as a whole. Most certainly, they must be held accountable. All voices, even those in opposition, must be heard, so that the majority or popular positions aren't just railroaded along as if they are the opinions of the entire, highly diverse, LGTB community.
I leave with my own challenge. Let's keep this discussion group and others like it as forums of open discourse, in which everyone can expresses their opinions in keeping with Constitutionally protected free speech values, but cognizant of free speech limitations. But most of all, let's strive to be better persons to keep our discussion free of personal attacks. We certainly would not accept spurious, merely inflammatory accusations from those in the controlling political sector, mainstream media, or outside the LGTB world. Why should we stoop to such a level ourselves, which appears to only perpetuate infighting. And, most of all, why should we cloud the ultimate message we must convey for advancing change towards equal rights for all.
Sincerely,
Jerry Albanese
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home