Expert: Michael Troy - 4/7/2004

Question
My mom saw this article about a commentator of one of Las Vegas's radio stations. He was insulting Filipinos. He said think they are Asians but they're nothing compared to Japan and China. He was saying that Filipinos do nothing but spread dirt  in this country, US. He was saying discrimination sentenced; triggering Filipinos. It's beyond freedom of speech!I was offended greatly. My family too! This is unfair. What should I do?

Answer
Hi Jake,

Sorry to hear about your experience, but that is exactly the sort of thing that the First Amendment is meant to protect.  Free speech prevents the government from suppressing any political points of view.  It protects American Nazis who march through Jewish neighborhoods, it protects KKK members who want to speak out against black people, etc.

Why is such speech protected?  No matter how bad the speech is, if the government is able to start creating exceptions, it will soon block the free exchange of ideas that is vital to any democracy.  Even racists have a point of view and should not be censored.

That said, there is still plenty you can do.   You can write to the radio station and demand that the commentator be fired.  You can Begin a boycott of the radio station.  You can contact advertisers of the station and let them know you will boycott their products if they advertise to keep this guy on the air.  The First Amendment works both ways.  This guy has a right to express his views and you have a right to make clear that his views disastrous for this country and just plain wrong.

Of course, public broadcasts are subject to a little more scrutiny than regular speech.  If this guy was using language that was deemed to be obscene, profane, or indecent, he could be fined or the station could lose its license.  You could consider filing a complaint.  Check out this page from the Federal Communications Commission for more info:

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/broadcast/opi.html

- Mike