Jacob1983

This question has been coming up a lot lately. Glen Beck talked about it on his show recently. We have celebrities saying stupid offensive things but being treated as if they are criminals. Mel Gibson, Michael Richards, and Isaiah Washington have all had their celebrity oops with saying offensive things in the past year. I think that name calling is bad and people shouldn't do it. However, I don't believe that people especially celebrities should be forced to go under psychological treatment to deal with their so called problems.
I believe that America is way too sensitive and tries to be politically correct way too hard. I was made fun of all the time in high school and somewhat phyiscally abused too but I didn't make a big deal about it. I didn't make a big deal about it because I knew that the people who were calling me names and picking on me were just being stupid. I also had the mindset of that I will probably be better off than them in 10 years because of karma.
Calling someone a name does not always mean that you have psychological problems. It probably just means that you're a jerk or a butthole.

The ACLU and NAACP have definately been a factor in making America too sensitive and politically correct in my opinon. I have always felt that the ACLU plays favorites when it comes to certain groups. They always seem to have the backs of atheists, gays and lebsians, and minorities. However, you don't see them sticking up for Christians and Catholics.

People just need to lighten up. Being called a name isn't the end of the world. People also need to stop crucifying celebrities who make careless stupid mistakes with their words.
It's just sad that we live in such a double standard society. I have a perfect example for that.
Rosie O'Donnell does not get any flack or criticism for making fun of the way Chinese people talk and also saying that Christianity is as radical as Islam. Isaiah Washington gets pretty much thrown under the bus for calling a co-worker a bad name in the heat of a fight and out of anger. Those two incidents don't add up to me.

migamoo

Starting from the beginning of your argument, I must say that a celebrity who says anything offensive to a fellow person, especially maliciously, loses the right of forgiveness from the general public. Celebrities in a way give up their private lives when they choose or fall into their career, it comes with the territory. Yes, name calling is immature, but people need to take responsibility for what comes out of their mouths. If that means seeking counseling to get to that point, i.e. Isaiah Washington, than so be it. I don't think anyone forced him to do it anyway.

As for the ACLU and NAACP, they were created to help spread equality to those who might not have it. While I sometimes disagree with things the ACLU does, I do think they are doing what they think is best. Saying that they always have the backs of certain groups is wrong in my opinion. The groups you mentioned though are those that are persecuted or lacking equality the most in this country.

Going back to the original question, is America too sensitive and PC? I don't think so. Americans know what they feel is moral and/or right to them and if something or someone goes against that, they speak up.

ceilirose

The angst and anguish coming from those who decry "political correctness" in our society is just a sham. Basically those who think it's ok to call people names want cover and an out so they don't have to take responsibility for their words. Let's face it - it's all about calling people names and trying to get away with it.

Jacob1983

I never once said that name calling was okay. I said that name calling does not mean you're mentally ill. It usually just means you're a jerk or you're acting like a jerk.
The whole incident with Isaiah Washington and TR Knight is a joke in my opinion. It comes off more as a publicity stunt. As far as I know, Washington does not have any history against gay people and he was in a fist fight with Patrick Dempsey at the time that the bad word was said. Washington was wrong for saying it but I wouldn't call him a homophobe. I honestly don't believe that Washington is afraid of gay people especially not TR Knight.
TR is a liar in my opinion and he should have come clean about his homosexuality. He works in an industry that is very accepting of gays. It's not like we was going to be fired for being gay.

Name calling is not a crime. It is a wrong thing to do but it's not like you're going to be charged with a felony and serve time for it. I wish people would realize that.

I have no respect for the ACLU mainly because they support very offensive groups such as NAMBLA.

Why is that celebrities can't be forgiven but regular people can? I don't get it.
Celebrities are not perfect people.

migamoo

T.R. Knight doesn't have to tell people about his sexuality if he doesn't want to. It was a major step coming out publicly after the whole incident. How did he lie about it? Because he wasn't forthcoming to the public in the first place? It's not the public's right to know everything about a celebrity if that celebrity doesn't want to disclose it.

I didn't say they cannot be forgiven. But in my mind, if they do or say something offensive, especially publicly, they forfeit the right for the public to automatically forgive them. I did not say that celebrities are perfect, but they need to be careful about what they do because they are in spotlight.

lizzie2000

I definately agree that celebrities should be forgiven, well most should for what they say but also they are in public and the limelight and it is one thing for a person to say something, maybe racially in their own home or to a friend or something (not that i support that) but it is different for a person, any person to say it on tv, national tv where many people are watching, there is a line that has to be drawn there.
It also isnt the first time that some celebrities have made off color reports, Mel Gibson has been known for his remarks in the past and Washington had also made a previous statement on the set so this was the second time he said something that was anti-gay. If it was the first time, although it isnt right, it would be a little bit different

rose parade

You're implying that he hid it because he thought that the community wouldn't accept him? He never lied. Somebody called him a deragotory name so he comfirmed to the general public that he was gay. he never said he was straight. He never once lied. I have absolutely NO idea why you're trying to paint TR as the bad guy in this when he's done absolutely nothing wrong. And NO not telling the media that he was gay is NOT wrong. It's nobodies buisness.

lizzie2000

I dont get why anyone would put the blame in the Grey's situation on TR. First of all whether or not or when he decides to announce he is gay is his decision. Just because he doesnt announce it right away and decides to wait a little while doesnt make him a liar. There are millions of people in the world who are confused about their sexuality and those who know their sexuality that dont want to broadcast it to the world. why does this make him a liar? If that is true than there are millions of other liars out there!

Lexis

Well as a group in the modern United States, I would imagine Christians (including Catholics) are less oppressed than minority groups like gays and athiests etc.

Furthermore, the ACLU does not support NAMBLA - a fact I pointed out to you before. From what I understand, they find the organisation abhorrant but defend the group's right to free speech - which is not a crime.

Ms Carolyn

The ACLU plays only one favorite -- the Constitution of the United States. They have come to the defense of groups that I myself actively support, and groups I would wake up feeling happier and more secure if they had ceased to exist overnight. The ACLU is a champion of the Bill of Rights.

Yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU. My question to every other American is, "Why aren't you?"

JohannafromIHJ

For one, Isiah targeted ONE person, specifically outing him and calling him a name in the workplace. I am glad the fans of the show reacted as they did. I'd be a hell of a lot more worried if people just shrugged and said "Oh well, no harm in calling someone f*ggot/n*gger/k*ke or whatever". Rosie made a bad joke where she spoke fake-chinese. A further difference between the two is while the Isiah business has been handled fairly calmly, every nobody on the internet seems to think it's perfectly all right to call Rosie a wh*re and worse.

And for the record, Christianity is as radical as Islam -- meanwhile, most Christians and Muslim are not radicals.

You're joking, right? Since when is his sexuality anyone's business? Do you announce your own sexual orientation to everyone you meet?

The industry may be -- I assume this is why Isiah knew that TR is gay. But the general public is not. Look at thge kerfluffle caused by Thomas Dekker's people when they found out Thomas' character was supposed to be gay?

Actually, it is. Harassment, dude.

Ms Carolyn

If this were even remotely true, why is it that we never heard anything about Rock Hudson being gay until he was literally dying of AIDS?

The truth is that while the majority of individuals within the entertainment industry do tend to more liberal, the studios have always shied away from anything that might prove controversial and lose viewers. It's a healthy sign that people are in fact becoming more tolerant that an actor or musician can be openly gay and still keep their jobs. However, it's interesting to note that actors in the U.S. generally don't come out until their careers are secure -- in other words, they don't feel safe doing so until they are popular enough and have enough celebrity to weather any possible "bump" in their "quote" numbers.

Nonetheless, it wasn't all that long ago when some major advertisers pulled their sponsorship from Ellen when the decision was made to let Ellen DeGeneres' character come out of the closet.

I am old enough to remember a time when NO public figure would have dreamed of being "out". The fact that now there are many such figures tells me that yes, people CAN be taught tolerance, and it gives me hope that 100 years from now no one will be having conversations like this, because the shift will be complete and gays will be treated pretty much like everybody else -- as individuals, with the same rights as all individuals.

Lexis

I watched Knight's appearance on Ellen and I think he articulated in well. When she came out, there was still so much emphasis placed on the importance of someone being gay. I do think its changing and I think it will continue to change.

I mean, who would of thought that the UK would allow gay people to be in civil partnerships - all the legal implications of a civil wedding for straight people. Its really wonderful - when John Barrowman (big musical theatre star, also in Torchwood and Doctor Who) had his ceremony with his partner, all the press reacted positively.

We're not as stuffy as we used to be. Although that said, right now there's a thing about Catholic adoption agencies being forced to recruit gay couples for adoptions coming up in legislation. Its a whole drama but I don't most people really cae.

Jacob1983

I believe that if you're gay, you should be honest about it. If you're straight, you should also be honest about it. Lying about your sexual orientation is not a respectable thing to do.
TR Knight should have been a man and just come clean with his own sexual orientation. Are you honestly going to tell me that he would have been fired for being gay?
TR Knight is a celebrity so his life will be under a microscope. If he doesn't want us to know about his life, then he shouldn't have become famous.

The ACLU supporting NAMBLA's right to freedom of speech is still pretty much supporting them.

It doesn't matter if Christians haven't been oppressed as much as gays and minorities. They shouldn't be cheated or discriminated against by the ACLU.

My little sisters call me names all the time. Does that mean they should be sent to jail?

sunnykerr

I think even celebrities are entitled to their privacy. Being gay has absolutely nothing to do with being an actor. Being one member of one of the largest casts on television is hardly the same as headlining movie after movie, or even one's own TV show. Knight was no more required to announce that he is gay than any of us is required to announce our astrological sign, our marital status, our political views or religious beliefs when applying for a job.

Yeah, attention comes with the territory when you're on one of the most popular American shows. But his intimacy is no one's business. Nor should he feel require to let the whole world in on his own private thoughts and feelings just because he's suddenly more famous.

As for the ACLU cheating or discriminating against anyone, let alone Christians... I would very much like to see any kind of evidence of that. Any evidence will do.