Trauma – PTSD » Post Traumatic Disorder » HAWAII YEARBOOK SUED OVER SLUR

HAWAII YEARBOOK SUED OVER SLUR

Question:

Racism, being a philosophy/belief system can never be against the law. Discrimination can be, of course, but where’s the discrimination here? Where are the damages?

The damages are psychological…the comments printed were at best hurtful, and worst racist.   Perhaps you’ve forgotten what it was like to be in high school – should any kid be subjected to these comments, particulary in a school publication? What the hell is "sensitivity training?"  Can a phrase be more Orwellian if it tried?  It sounds like the "reeducation camps" Soviet political prisoners used to be sent to.

Oh, please.  "Sensitivity training" is just a PC word for what these parents SHOULD have done when their kids were little; ie, you don’t make fun of people for their color, or size, or handicaps.  Did you forget that lesson already? I think it’s pretty clear the caption was a parody, which is free speech.  I doubt anybody reading the yearbook believed that’s what they were singing.

There is a fine line, particularly in Hawaii, between parody and racism. Do you really think, given the history of black americans in this country, that jokes about eating pig’s feet and collard greens are funny? Even if the black children involved are hurt?  Is it still funny then? Do you also laugh at jokes about jews and nazis? I’d be the first to agree with you that PC in this country goes too far sometimes…but I do not find this incident funny at all. deb m/

Response:

There is a fine line, particularly in Hawaii, between parody and racism. Do you really think, given the history of black americans in this country, that jokes about eating pig’s feet and collard greens are funny?

While I think the  caption was tasteless … high school students often are not much more advanced then grade schoolers.  After all, they think Beavis and Butthead booger jokes are hilarious too.  As for pigs feet and collard greens being funny, yes they are.  Pigs feet are a primary ingredient in a number of eastern european dishes too, and collard greens are sort of a "southern" thing.  And yes, they ARE funny, even to the folks that love ‘em.  There is also a fine line between something REALLY being offensive and actively LOOKING to take offense. Should I refrain from serving chicken and watermelon at a backyard barbeque if some of the friends invited happen to be black? Even if the black children involved are hurt?  Is it still funny then?

Shall we go through a few year books and look for the "nerd" or "jock" slams while we’re at it?  They are there, and just as hurtful. A lawsuit only makes the hurt party look bad … when thegoal should be to make the people who put the caption there look and feel like idiots.  The lawsuit and the notority they are getting only rewards their behavior.

Response:

Racism, being a philosophy/belief system can never be against the law. Discrimination can be, of course, but where’s the discrimination here? Where are the damages? The damages are psychological…

In other words, their feelings were hurt. the comments printed were at best hurtful, and worst racist.   Perhaps you’ve forgotten what it was like to be in high school – should any kid be subjected to these comments, particulary in a school publication?

SHOULD any kid (or adult)?  No, of course not.  Does that make it illegal? What the hell is "sensitivity training?"  Can a phrase be more Orwellian if it tried?  It sounds like the "reeducation camps" Soviet political prisoners used to be sent to. Oh, please.  "Sensitivity training" is just a PC word for what these parents SHOULD have done when their kids were little; ie, you don’t make fun of people for their color, or size, or handicaps.  Did you forget that lesson already?

No, but apparently people have forgotten the OTHER half of that lesson, which is "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." In any case, my quarrel was not with the idea that people should be mindful of other people’s feelings, but with the concept of "sensitivity training." I think it’s pretty clear the caption was a parody, which is free speech.  I doubt anybody reading the yearbook believed that’s what they were singing. There is a fine line, particularly in Hawaii, between parody and racism. Do you really think, given the history of black americans in this country, that jokes about eating pig’s feet and collard greens are funny?

No. Even if the black children involved are hurt?  Is it still funny then? Do you also laugh at jokes about jews and nazis?

No. I’d be the first to agree with you that PC in this country goes too far sometimes…but I do not find this incident funny at all.

Neither do I.  Being unfunny is not a crime. — David M. Nieporent         Deserves it?  I daresay he does.  Many who live Hampshire/Plainsboro, NJ   you give it to them?  Then be not so quick to give

Response:

I don’t feel the families involved should receive a monetary settlement. I don’t think the yearbooks should be recalled.  I DO think the teacher and students involved should be reprimanded, and an apology to those families is in order.  Whether a lawsuit is the best way to achieve that end, I’m not sure.   deb m/ Hmmm, I see you’ve now made my point for me!

I thought your point was that a law suit should not be pursued? I guess you think that law suits are only about money. Many law suits are settled with conditions that force the offending parties to make amends by attending special schooling, volunteering to  work in fields that will teach them what they didn’t do, and other means of restitution. Often without a law suit, NOTHING would be done. This is the purpose of the suit. And it is a valid purpose. Wouldn’t bother me a bit if the offending students had to pay for a reprint of the yearbook. They would certainly learn that one must pay for their digressions, then. —

Response:

No, but apparently people have forgotten the OTHER half of that lesson, which is "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."

But do you think that’s really true?  Call me an oversensitive marshmallow <G, but I would contend that names DO hurt. I’d be the first to agree with you that PC in this country goes too far sometimes…but I do not find this incident funny at all. Neither do I.  Being unfunny is not a crime.

But failing to do your job correctly does call for some sort of disciplinary action.  As I high school teacher myself, I know that if I am in charge of a publication, then while the students may write that publication, I have the final say on what is appropriate.  If I fail to do my job adequately, I can expect repercussions from the administration and/or parents in the school community.   I don’t feel the families involved should receive a monetary settlement. I don’t think the yearbooks should be recalled.  I DO think the teacher and students involved should be reprimanded, and an apology to those families is in order.  Whether a lawsuit is the best way to achieve that end, I’m not sure.   deb m/

Response:

Neither do I.  Being unfunny is not a crime. But failing to do your job correctly does call for some sort of disciplinary action.  As I high school teacher myself, I know that if I am in charge of a publication, then while the students may write that publication, I have the final say on what is appropriate.  If I fail to do my job adequately, I can expect repercussions from the administration and/or parents in the school community.   I don’t feel the families involved should receive a monetary settlement. I don’t think the yearbooks should be recalled.  I DO think the teacher and students involved should be reprimanded, and an apology to those families is in order.  Whether a lawsuit is the best way to achieve that end, I’m not sure.   deb m/

Hmmm, I see you’ve now made my point for me! SGO

Response:

Where are the damages? The damages are psychological… In other words, their feelings were hurt.

Taking this to the extreme, would you describe post traumatic stress   disorder as ‘hurt feelings’ too? Maren

Response:

***The term "ethnocultural discrimination/oppression" has been substiuted for the word racism as racism itself is a device of racism or ethnocultural discrimination and oppression*** Aloha kakou- The School’s Administration never looks a year book.  If the children in the picture were singing the song that appeared in the pictures caption, then is the yearbook promoting ethnocultural discrimination/oppression. It is simply reminding its readers of what the picture was about.  If the activity in the picture was somehow ethnocultural discriminatory/oppressive, at that moment it would have been appropriate for the children who felt discriminated/oppressed to inform their parents. It is obvious from the facts of this issue that the children at Kalaheo High did not feel discriminated against or oppressed by the performance. Instead of looking for ways to be victims and feel oppressed, lets look for ways to enjoy life as a united people.  Hawaii for years has been a "melting-pot", then some New Yorker tells us that is not politically correct so we no longer are a melting pot, but a geographic area of great ethnic and cultural diversity.  Bullshit, I went down to Cupie’s Drive-In and sat and people watched. People representing the "ethnic and cultural diversity" sat and ate together the same kind-meals.  Chopsteak, Yakotori Chicken, Miso Chicken, Fried Ahi, etc,.  I personally had the French Fries with Ketchup and Cupie’s Special Mustard, but still.  I looked at it as a bunch of Hawaiians (that is people who live in Hawaii) eating culturally modern-Hawaiian (that is the culture that arose from the many cultures of pre-melted Hawaii) foods. So, why don’t we just all hele to a bonfire out on the shores of the Wai’anae Moku of Oahu and talk story.  Live aloha. me ke aloha pumehana, lobby*

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Excerpts from Associated Press: "Honolulu Yearbook Sued Over Slur   "Honolulu, June 29, 1997 (AP) – A lawyers’ group has filed a federal civil rights complaint over a high school yearbook caption below a picture of black students, saying the caption’s language is mocking and racially offensive.   "The three students pictured in the Kalaheo High School yearbook photo were actually performing in a lip-sync competition, singing a love song.   "But the caption reads: “I like pigs feet! I like hog mollz! Where da collard greens? Who got do chintlinz?” . . ." [...] End of Excerpts Jai Maharaj http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti High School Year Book. Get a grip Hawaii.  Editors are all students.  Most likely intended as a pun. Lawsuit, come on!  Havn’t you better things to do? SGO         Well, in this particular case, I would have to side with         the lawsuit.  I think the caption was in extremely poor         taste and worthy of a slur suit.  The school administration         should have recognized the potential of this and taken         it out IMMEDIATELY!   I for one find the slur suit ridiculous, what if the singers were Chinese and the caption read (manapua, ginger beef, egg fuong) or the singers were Kanakaole and the caption read (luau, poi, lomilomi salmon) or the singers were Japanese and the caption read (sushi, rice, saimen). Come on people, the list could go on and on. (sweetbread, malsadas, bean soup). Does this mean we will no longer hear Frank Delima, Rip B., or any other local entertainer on the radio again? Did our island humor finally get taken to court by a mainlander? Gee Wheeze, kids are kids and island humor is island humor. I can’t see why one ethnic group continuously cries foul play.

        This is the most ridiculous diatribe of support toward         the racial slur that I’ve read thus far!  I don’t know Frank         or Rip, but I would assume they would be comedians,         eh?  Going to a comedy show of sorts implies that you         accept that form of comedy; however, we are not talking         about a comedy show…we are talking about a school         year book.  While it is expected that some photos contain         humorous captions, there IS a line that should not be crossed.         The students may have not received that level of education         YET (which says something about the school priorities), but         certainly the school administration should be mature enough         and of such character that such a comment should have been         taken out.         I certainly hope that YOU receive a worthwhile education before         it’s too late…..or else work in a career field where your exposure         to people is at a bare minimum.

Response:

The School’s Administration never looks a year book.  If the children in the picture were singing the song that appeared in the pictures caption, then is the yearbook promoting ethnocultural discrimination/oppression. It is simply reminding its readers of what the picture was about.  If the activity in the picture was somehow ethnocultural discriminatory/oppressive, at that moment it would have been appropriate for the children who felt discriminated/oppressed to inform their parents.

The problem is, the children in question were *NOT* singing the lyrics that were attributed to them. Instead of looking for ways to be victims and feel oppressed, lets look for ways to enjoy life as a united people.  

A wonderful idea, but printing things such as that in a high school yearbook is not a good start. Of course, that doesn’t mean that a lawsuit is necessarily the answer (to address another person’s well taken question).  I don’t know what other options were looked at. -Ben- — Ben M. Schorr Director of Information Services |                     | for general information only, and is not | | Damon Key Bocken    | intended to provide legal advice.  Do    | |  Leong Kupchak      | not rely upon it to apply to your own    | | A Law Corporation   | individual legal situation without       | |                     | consulting us or another lawyer.         | For more information visit our web site at http://www.hawaiilawyer.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Excerpts from Associated Press: "Honolulu Yearbook Sued Over Slur   "Honolulu, June 29, 1997 (AP) – A lawyers’ group has filed a federal civil rights complaint over a high school yearbook caption below a picture of black students, saying the caption’s language is mocking and racially offensive.   "The three students pictured in the Kalaheo High School yearbook photo were actually performing in a lip-sync competition, singing a love song.   "But the caption reads: “I like pigs feet! I like hog mollz! Where da collard greens? Who got do chintlinz?” . . ." [...] End of Excerpts Jai Maharaj http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti High School Year Book. Get a grip Hawaii.  Editors are all students.  Most likely intended as a pun. Lawsuit, come on!  Havn’t you better things to do? SGO         Well, in this particular case, I would have to side with         the lawsuit.  I think the caption was in extremely poor         taste and worthy of a slur suit.  The school administration         should have recognized the potential of this and taken         it out IMMEDIATELY!

   I for one find the slur suit ridiculous, what if the singers were Chinese and the caption read (manapua, ginger beef, egg fuong) or the singers were Kanakaole and the caption read (luau, poi, lomilomi salmon) or the singers were Japanese and the caption read (sushi, rice, saimen). Come on people, the list could go on and on. (sweetbread, malsadas, bean soup). Does this mean we will no longer hear Frank Delima, Rip B., or any other local entertainer on the radio again? Did our island humor finally get taken to court by a mainlander? Gee Wheeze, kids are kids and island humor is island humor. I can’t see why one ethnic group continuously cries foul play.

Response:

Excerpts from Associated Press: "Honolulu Yearbook Sued Over Slur    "Honolulu, June 29, 1997 (AP) – A lawyers’ group has filed a federal civil rights complaint over a high school yearbook caption below a picture of black students, saying the caption’s language is mocking and racially offensive.    "The three students pictured in the Kalaheo High School yearbook photo were actually performing in a lip-sync competition, singing a love song.    "But the caption reads: “I like pigs feet! I like hog mollz! Where da collard greens? Who got do chintlinz?” . . ."  [...] End of Excerpts Jai Maharaj http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti

Response:

Excerpts from Associated Press: "Honolulu Yearbook Sued Over Slur   "Honolulu, June 29, 1997 (AP) – A lawyers’ group has filed a federal civil rights complaint over a high school yearbook caption below a picture of black students, saying the caption’s language is mocking and racially offensive.   "The three students pictured in the Kalaheo High School yearbook photo were actually performing in a lip-sync competition, singing a love song.   "But the caption reads: “I like pigs feet! I like hog mollz! Where da collard greens? Who got do chintlinz?” . . ." [...] End of Excerpts Jai Maharaj http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti

High School Year Book. Get a grip Hawaii.  Editors are all students.  Most likely intended as a pun. Lawsuit, come on!  Havn’t you better things to do? SGO

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Excerpts from Associated Press: "Honolulu Yearbook Sued Over Slur   "Honolulu, June 29, 1997 (AP) – A lawyers’ group has filed a federal civil rights complaint over a high school yearbook caption below a picture of black students, saying the caption’s language is mocking and racially offensive.   "The three students pictured in the Kalaheo High School yearbook photo were actually performing in a lip-sync competition, singing a love song.   "But the caption reads: “I like pigs feet! I like hog mollz! Where da collard greens? Who got do chintlinz?” . . ." [...] End of Excerpts Jai Maharaj http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti High School Year Book. Get a grip Hawaii.  Editors are all students.  Most likely intended as a pun. Lawsuit, come on!  Havn’t you better things to do? SGO

        Well, in this particular case, I would have to side with         the lawsuit.  I think the caption was in extremely poor         taste and worthy of a slur suit.  The school administration         should have recognized the potential of this and taken         it out IMMEDIATELY!

Response:

High School Year Book. Get a grip Hawaii.  Editors are all students.  Most likely intended as a pun. Lawsuit, come on!  Havn’t you better things to do?

Lemme guess, SGO…you’re a white, middle-class male. deb m/

Response:

  "But the caption reads: “I like pigs feet! I like hog mollz! Where da collard greens? Who got do chintlinz?” . . ." [...] End of Excerpts Jai Maharaj http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti High School Year Book. Get a grip Hawaii.  Editors are all students.  Most likely intended as a pun. Lawsuit, come on!  Havn’t you better things to do?

Do you think that racism is OK in the high school arena? That it should wait til one is an adult to deal with it? Your opinions have nominated you for kill-file status. You are not worth the effort of reading. SGO

Response:

       Well, in this particular case, I would have to side with        the lawsuit.  I think the caption was in extremely poor        taste and worthy of a slur suit.  The school administration        should have recognized the potential of this and taken        it out IMMEDIATELY! What exactly is the intended  byproduct of the lawsuit? What does it intend to accomplish?  Does poor taste deem it worthy of a law suit?

It’s beyond poor taste. Such racism is against the law. There’s nothing here that an old fashioned slap upside the head won’t correct!  

And are you going to provide the slaps. Plan on being indicted for as- sault. Granted, the caption may be offensive and improperly done. However, what’s wrong with getting an official apology and  requiring a bit of sensitivity training along with closer scrutiny of the editorial staff.  

These are usually sought in a law suit. Seems the logic is this:  Someone says something to piss you off, sue them!

Perhaps you could take a course in logic? BTW – What ever happend to free speech and press!

For one thing, the students in the photo were not singing what they  were captioned to be singing. Lies are not free speech. —

Response:

There is a fine line, particularly in Hawaii, between parody and racism. Do you really think, given the history of black americans in this country, that jokes about eating pig’s feet and collard greens are funny? Even if the black children involved are hurt?  Is it still funny then? Do you also laugh at jokes about jews and nazis? I’d be the first to agree with you that PC in this country goes too far sometimes…but I do not find this incident funny at all. deb m/

I’m with you, Deb.  While I’m one of the first to decry the excesses of the "political correctness" movement in this country, I found this particular incident to be extremely offensive and exceedingly bad judgement on the part of those who published it. -Ben- — Ben M. Schorr Director of Information Services |                     | for general information only, and is not | | Damon Key Bocken    | intended to provide legal advice.  Do    | |  Leong Kupchak      | not rely upon it to apply to your own    | | A Law Corporation   | individual legal situation without       | |                     | consulting us or another lawyer.         | For more information visit our web site at http://www.hawaiilawyer.com

Response:

BTW – What ever happend to free speech and press!

I’ve never seen that provision applied effectively to school newspapers. I think there is supposed to be editorial review by school staff. That makes them marginally responsible for what is published by the students. As far as I know, there is no freedom of the press for school newspapers. MD Sweeney Research Scientist Applied Geology and Geochemistry

Response:

I think it’s pretty clear the caption was a parody, which is free speech.  I doubt anybody reading the yearbook believed that’s what they were singing. — David M. Nieporent    

You’ve pretty much summed it up for me! SGO

Response:

   Well, in this particular case, I would have to side with    the lawsuit.  I think the caption was in extremely poor    taste and worthy of a slur suit.  The school administration    should have recognized the potential of this and taken    it out IMMEDIATELY! What exactly is the intended  byproduct of the lawsuit? What does it intend to accomplish?  Does poor taste deem it worthy of a law suit? It’s beyond poor taste. Such racism is against the law.

Which law would that be?  Please cite it for me. Racism, being a philosophy/belief system can never be against the law. Discrimination can be, of course, but where’s the discrimination here? Where are the damages? There’s nothing here that an old fashioned slap upside the head won’t correct!   And are you going to provide the slaps. Plan on being indicted for assault.

I think their parents should be the ones providing the slaps. Granted, the caption may be offensive and improperly done. However, what’s wrong with getting an official apology and  requiring a bit of sensitivity training along with closer scrutiny of the editorial staff.   These are usually sought in a law suit.

What the hell is "sensitivity training?"  Can a phrase be more Orwellian if it tried?  It sounds like the "reeducation camps" Soviet political prisoners used to be sent to. Seems the logic is this:  Someone says something to piss you off, sue them! Perhaps you could take a course in logic? BTW – What ever happend to free speech and press! For one thing, the students in the photo were not singing what they  were captioned to be singing. Lies are not free speech.

I think it’s pretty clear the caption was a parody, which is free speech.  I doubt anybody reading the yearbook believed that’s what they were singing. — David M. Nieporent         Deserves it?  I daresay he does.  Many who live Hampshire/Plainsboro, NJ   you give it to them?  Then be not so quick to give

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –        Well, you are right in that a slap up aside the        head SHOULD be enough to do the trick, but        unfortunately, some folks are immune to feeling        the pain in that…..Money seems to hurt more        and teach them more of a lesson…..gotta go        with what gets the message across.        THAT can be part of the deal if it is found to        be effective, but ya gotta get the message across        in a strong way so that it DOESN’T happen again.        I know how you feel, and it’s sad that society has        become that, but ya gotta go with what will get        the message across.        Nothing wrong with free speech and press,        but those black students were PAYING for        that yearbook just as much as the group who        decided to make the slur.  Why should someone        be subjected to a "defective" product?  Those        girls in that photo most likely had no idea that        such a caption would appear beneath their        photo…why wasn’t such a caption done up for        the haoles…the Hawaiians…the Koreans…the        Japanese…et cetera?  They didn’t have a        chance to contest it or stop it before it was too        late. My bottom line: Awareness, sensitivity training for those involved, and apology will go a lot farther.  Suing and punishing will indeed make an impression, however, it won’t change the feelings of a racist.  Education can!

        And I agree with this paragraph.  When I back the lawsuit,         I’m not saying that it will get rid of the racism by THOSE         who PUT the caption in there…..Yes, education will hopefully         do THAT…..BUT, we need to have a FILTER, and the         school administration did not do their job in acting as         that FILTER.  We have two groups here who were at fault.         The first group (probably students) acted in bad judgement         (intentional or not) and need to be educated.  The second         group (administration) needs to oversee what is going on in         their school and nip it before it gets out of hand!  I know what         I am about to say may seem derogatory toward ONE group         (and I sincerely don’t mean for it to be that way), but if the         school would place LESS emphasis on ONE particular area         of their "culture" studies and concentrate on VARIOUS cultures,         maybe people would be more understanding.  We need to get         THAT portion of a child’s mind straight before worrying about         whether they can hula and/or play the ukulele.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    Well, you are right in that a slap up aside the    head SHOULD be enough to do the trick, but    unfortunately, some folks are immune to feeling    the pain in that…..Money seems to hurt more    and teach them more of a lesson…..gotta go    with what gets the message across.    THAT can be part of the deal if it is found to    be effective, but ya gotta get the message across    in a strong way so that it DOESN’T happen again.    I know how you feel, and it’s sad that society has    become that, but ya gotta go with what will get    the message across.    Nothing wrong with free speech and press,    but those black students were PAYING for    that yearbook just as much as the group who    decided to make the slur.  Why should someone    be subjected to a "defective" product?  Those    girls in that photo most likely had no idea that    such a caption would appear beneath their    photo…why wasn’t such a caption done up for    the haoles…the Hawaiians…the Koreans…the    Japanese…et cetera?  They didn’t have a    chance to contest it or stop it before it was too    late.

Everything you say is true.  Your post was well thought out. Miss Lomilomi – your brains are fried.  I’m a middle class minority and not white.  I just don’t dwell over the insensitivity and ignorance of people like those who were responsible for that caption. I take it for what it was intended to be – some fodder by some misguided student editors and nothing more.  My skin’s a bit thick and it doesn’t bother me.   Went through it, been there while I was growing up as the "minority." So I know what I speak of. I know what’s it’s like to be  made fun of, picked on, and hated because of the color of my skin.  Still, I’d rather see racism out in the open where I can identify and deal with it, rather than it being hidden, not knowing when and where it’s going to strike me. Gino, my message to you was sent by email because my response involves a personal attack on you.  Likewise, you at least had the presence of character to email your personal attack on me.  I like that! My bottom line: Awareness, sensitivity training for those involved, and apology will go a lot farther.  Suing and punishing will indeed make an impression, however, it won’t change the feelings of a racist.  Education can! SGO

Response:

   Well, in this particular case, I would have to side with    the lawsuit.  I think the caption was in extremely poor    taste and worthy of a slur suit.  The school administration    should have recognized the potential of this and taken    it out IMMEDIATELY!

What exactly is the intended  byproduct of the lawsuit? What does it intend to accomplish?  Does poor taste deem it worthy of a law suit? There’s nothing here that an old fashioned slap upside the head won’t correct!  Granted, the caption may be offensive and improperly done. However, what’s wrong with getting an official apology and  requiring a bit of sensitivity training along with closer scrutiny of the editorial staff.   Seems the logic is this:  Someone says something to piss you off, sue them! BTW – What ever happend to free speech and press! SGO

Response:

       Well, in this particular case, I would have to side with        the lawsuit.  I think the caption was in extremely poor        taste and worthy of a slur suit.  The school administration        should have recognized the potential of this and taken        it out IMMEDIATELY! What exactly is the intended  byproduct of the lawsuit? What does it intend to accomplish?  Does poor taste deem it worthy of a law suit?

        Well, you are right in that a slap up aside the         head SHOULD be enough to do the trick, but         unfortunately, some folks are immune to feeling         the pain in that…..Money seems to hurt more         and teach them more of a lesson…..gotta go         with what gets the message across. There’s nothing here that an old fashioned slap upside the head won’t correct!  Granted, the caption may be offensive and improperly done. However, what’s wrong with getting an official apology and  requiring a bit of sensitivity training along with closer scrutiny of the editorial staff.  

        THAT can be part of the deal if it is found to         be effective, but ya gotta get the message across         in a strong way so that it DOESN’T happen again. Seems the logic is this:  Someone says something to piss you off, sue them!

        I know how you feel, and it’s sad that society has         become that, but ya gotta go with what will get         the message across. BTW – What ever happend to free speech and press!

        Nothing wrong with free speech and press,         but those black students were PAYING for         that yearbook just as much as the group who         decided to make the slur.  Why should someone         be subjected to a "defective" product?  Those         girls in that photo most likely had no idea that         such a caption would appear beneath their         photo…why wasn’t such a caption done up for         the haoles…the Hawaiians…the Koreans…the         Japanese…et cetera?  They didn’t have a         chance to contest it or stop it before it was too         late. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -SGO

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