Yes, Phil on Duck Dynasty has said some things I disagree with. Yes, Justine Sacco was even more egregious. There have probably been a great number of horrible things of been said in the world, and on a daily basis. But there is a lack of individual accountability. Too many people read the opinions and stupid thoughts of other people they don't know and then take it personally, as if Phil and Justine were talking directly to them.
When Don Imus called a female basketball team "nappy headed hoes", the response was correct. When footage of Michael Richards screaming "Nigger" at an audience member at a comedy club, the response was correct. We looked at these people, acknowledged their bigotry, and moved the fuck on. Imus' had significant reprecussions for his insulting behavior. Richard's disappeared for the longest time. But these two were speaking specifically about certain, tangible people, and it would make sense that those individuals, the actual targets of the comments, took offense.
But when Phil defends his belief that homosexuality is sinful, it's an insult against everyone. When Justine says, "Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just Kidding. I'm white!", every one lost their minds. I laughed in both circumstances. Phil didn't hurt anyone. Justine landed in South Africa without a clue about the shit storm she unleashed, and, to be honest, her comment is so horrible you have to laugh at it. She's an idiot.
We, as individuals, need to treat people who say really stupid things in a better manner. Shouting them down and shutting them out accomplishes nothing. Realizing that you don't have to pay attention to someone is a liberating experience. It's also a choice. If you choose to read someone's stupidity in a personal manner, that's on you and that is fine. But let's get back to calling the village idiot a fucking idiot and got on with our lives.
Stop choosing to be offended. And just because I ran across this quote, I had to share it:
Nobody has the right to not be offended. That right doesn't exist in any declaration I have ever read.
If you are offended it is your problem, and frankly lots of things offend lots of people.
I can walk into a bookshop and point out a number of books that I find very unattractive in what they say. But it doesn't occur to me to burn the bookshop down. If you don't like a book, read another book. If you start reading a book and you decide you don't like it, nobody is telling you to finish it.
To read a 600-page novel and then say that it has deeply offended you: well, you have done a lot of work to be offended.
- Sir Salman Rushdie
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