Listening to talk radio this morning, I heard something new. The host was up in arms about some piece of artwork that’s on display at Jordan’s furniture in Seekonk. (registration req’d)
But the odd thing was that I heard him complaining repeatedly about “SWAT stickers.” Yes, I wasn’t sure what I was hearing, but he repeated himself a number of times. At least 6 time. “He’s using SWAT stickers.” “He’s got SWAT stickers all over the place.”
Every time I heard it, it was plain as day. Sure, the context indicated he was saying something else, but the pronunciation was unmistakable. “SWAT stickers.”
That was a new one for me.
On the subject of the story, I have only one thing to say. He was outraged that people allowed this art to exist, encouraged the student to create, and that it won some award. He seemed to consider the idea that someone might be offended by the message on par with the rights of the person expressing the message.
You know, when are people going to get it through their heads that they don’t have a right not to be offended? How can we discuss and even argue against an idea if it is not possible to express that idea? Aside from issues of individual freedom, we as a society benefit when someone floats an idea that is worthy of challenging.
If the idea isn’t out there, it can’t be shot down. So, yes, I would allow an extremely liberal interpretation of free speech when it comes to art. Get those ideas out there. Instead of wasting our time lamenting why this student was allowed to express his thoughts, this fellow (if he has a valid criticism of the idea) should be concentrating on bolstering his rebuttal.
Posted by James at February 11, 2005 2:12 PMYou should have called in and asked him if he'd like his binky and then a nap.
Posted by: Patti M. at February 11, 2005 2:51 PMI assume he meant "swastikas"
Some high school kid won an art contest sponsored by Jordan's and the ProJo and a bunch of other places. The art compares Bush to Hitler. It's the latest right-wing frothfest cause-du-jour.
Posted by: David Grenier at February 11, 2005 3:11 PMRight. BTW - congrats on your marketability of "2" as well.
I have never heard anyone pronounce it "SWAT stickers" before. That's a whole lotta messed up.
Posted by: James at February 11, 2005 3:16 PMBefore reading the comments I was gonna ask if the radio guy was trying to say swasticas. So maybe this guy is pro bush? The radio guy can't pronounce swastica and bush can't pronounce nuclear. :P
Another radio story. the week leading up to the patriots game with the colts WEEI interviewed the GM of the Colts. The guy kept pronouncing Patriots buy really enunciating the "ots" as if it were pronounced "aught" (as in slot). It was wierd...
SWAT - Seekonk Wants Artistic Tolerance?
Sounds like a good bumper sticker idea to me.
Posted by: Mike at February 11, 2005 3:35 PM