"In the U.S., taking offense is a national pastime, spectator sport, and obsession. But the playing field is tilted."
Upon reading of the Paula Deen racism scandal the journalist took it upon himself to look for more more background and facts.
"But in story after story I could find no reference to when the offending word was actually spoken, just that it had come out in the lawsuit deposition.One of the basic questions a reporter is supposed to answer is when something happened. It began to seem the “when” was being left out of the stories perhaps because the impact would be diminished if it was revealed that it took place many years ago. Readers or viewers might also ask themselves if they’d want their lives judged or wrecked on the basis of something they’d said decades in the past."
And the allegations for the still unheard trial, if it proceeds, were made over a year ago.
"A famous quotation attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire is, “I disapprove of what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.
The modern-day American equivalent in many quarters is “I disapprove of what you say and therefore it is my mission to destroy you personally, professionally, or both, because you cannot be allowed to say or think such things.”
It's frequently suggested that what our country needs is constructive dialogue on race, politics and social issues between people of opposing views. But we really can’t do that. Someone would be offended.
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