by Ray Scott

Created on: May 17, 2008

Freedom of speech! What are they thinking, these people are in an industry that is always pushing the envelope of what they can say, how much and how graphic they can display scenes of sex and violence. To then turn around and fire someone for stating a personal opinion seems to me to be not only a stupid, but also a dangerous move. Personally I'm proud to live in a country that embraces an ideal like freedom of speech, but I see that right slipping away from all of us.

Should someone have the right to stand up and say something derogatory or even hurtful about a person or a group of people? Yes of course any one should have that right, as long we have that freedom then we have a chance to state a different point of view even if it is in my opinion a stupid one. After all censorship of the individual will always be followed by censorship of the press.

Once you look at what Mr. Washington said in comparison to what our political candidates say about each other and you would in all honesty then have to say if it was right to fire him then all of the candidates by the same guide line are unfit for office and all of the incumbents must be recalled. Perhaps that sounds far fetched and maybe childish and silly but if you read history at all it has happened all too often.

The gay community or any other group of people need not fear an honest disagreement of beliefs or values, but we all should fear a smiling face that is forced to smile. What's said out in the open can be debated, common ground found, but when beliefs have to be hidden then all should fear!

After all Mr. Washington was the one hurt by his own statements, he was the one fired, the only thing really bad that he did was to allow the Nazi's in our society to force him to apologize and then seek treatment as if having a personal opinion that was politically incorrect was a defect. If Mr. Washington had said he was gay and a Muslim and made the same comments against straight people and Christians do you think he would have faced the same repercussions. I think not he would have been hailed as a hero, a saint, an example for all.

I am forced to wonder, should I fear, are the thought police even now in some obscure government office reading this and deciding if I need reeducation to the right way of thinking, or maybe they are checking all who may have read this as people of interest, to keep an eye on in the future.

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