By Michelle DeWitt
One of the top stories from this week has been the fallout from a recent Dr. Laura radio broadcast. No, people aren’t upset about how self-righteous and unnecessarily aggressive the show is. They are upset over her repeated use of the n-word to allegedly prove a point.
Following the incident, Dr. Laura went on Larry King to announce that she is ending her show and that she hopes to "regain my First Amendment rights." A comment, which in my opinion, is nothing short of fascinating.
Quick refresher for everyone, the First Amendment reads as follows:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Maybe Dr. Laura read a version that includes the clause: the right to broadcast racial slurs over radio waves and not lose any sponsors or have anyone get mad at you. Or maybe she’s just dumb. It could really go either way.
When the "founding fathers," with whom the conservative community is deeply infatuated these days, weren’t referring to radio programs like Dr. Laura’s when they wrote the Bill of Rights, they were referring to civilians living their lives in the 18th century.
What I don’t understand, is how this seemingly educated woman has come to the conclusion that her rights were violated. She wasn’t arrested, imprisoned or tarred-and-feathered. She was at risk of losing some of the millions of dollars she gets from advertisers and sponsors, and some listeners called her a racist, which by an incredible stroke of irony is their First Amendment right. The same right she was stripped of! What a world we live in.
Congress can’t pass a law forbidding Dr. Laura from using the n-word, just like they can’t pass a law forbidding people from calling her a racist. That is the First Amendment, Dr. Laura, so stop trying to make yourself out to be a victim because no one feels bad for you (at least I don’t).
