Drawing the Lines on Free Speech?
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Should MTV have provided the very public platform of its Video Music Awards show for Eminem's form of ignorance?
I don't like it, but ...
Does Eminem's appearance constitute an endorsement by MTV of all that he says and believes?
I don't think so. He was a nominated artist, and entitled to appear. Perhaps not in the biggest spotlight, but it would have been wrong to forbid him entrance or performance.
There were people who were aghast that Larry Flynt was allowed to attend the Oscars, let alone that a movie about his fights against censorship was nominated for an Academy Award.
You may not like pornography, but stop a moment and realize that a claim of "pornographic in nature" has been used to keep non-sexual information about gays and lesbians out of the hands of people who need it. And sexual materials have been held to a much harsher standard than Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler.
Last, but not least, in the real world of credibility Eminem is a voice of screaming ignorance with a very limited audience. It is the Wildmons and Schlessingers whose words can do the real damage.
In Pride,
Deborah
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