2008 The Ugly American
posted by on November 5 at 12:17 PM
“This was spray-painted along a walkway at North Carolina State University in Raleigh called the Free Expression Tunnel,” writes Slog tipper Cassidy, “which is a space where students (or anyone else) are permitted to graffiti, chalk, paint, etc. When I walked by and took the picture this morning at about 10am, several university facilities officials were there, presumably discussing what they were going to do to cover it up. For us NC natives celebrating our new senator, governor and blue-state status, it was a reminder that we have a long, long way to go.”
Ugh, so scary. We really *do* have a long way to go.
No! We do NOT have a long way to go. NO NO NO NO.
When you throw a party that is everything a party could be: wonderful conversations, all the food you could hope for, fun, games, perfection ---- and some random asshole shows up, it doesn't set the party back to horrible. It just just makes it awkward for a second there.
I don't know how to say this, other than WE SHOULD NOT CREDIT AND FEAR THESE people. Scrawled hate does not set us back. Giving THAT much power to THAT little thing is so disingenuous to who we are and how far we've come.
=/
Could just be an artistic stab at the racists themselves. Like saying "it's out there" so here it is in your face.
And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is why President-elect Obama spoke behind bullet proof glass last night.
offer a reward for whomever turns in this looser and then provide that name to the secret service for threatening the President Elect's life
totally agree with not giving such toolery any more power or attention. but you better goddamn believe we have a long way to go.
Am I scoring this match correctly? Black man: President-Elect of the USA; white bigot: scrawling pathetic threats on a wall somewhere. Who do you think is winning? Who is somebody, and who is nobody?
I'd rather shoot a mormon.
If you set up a "free speech" tunnel, aren't you sort of asking for this? After all, an online discussion of free speech is going to VERY quickly break down into anarchy, as some try to have a discussion, some try to hook up, others complain about opponents of free speech, and some just spout profanity.
I don't think people like to admit that there are limits to free speech.
I'd rather shoot a load on a mormon
(or two, they travel in pairs)
“This was spray-painted along a walkway at North Carolina State University in Raleigh called the Free Expression Tunnel,”
...several university facilities officials were there, presumably discussing what they were going to do to cover it up.
So it's NOT a Free Expression Tunnel?
"So it's NOT a Free Expression Tunnel?"
Sure it is. The faculty is free to paint over it just like anyone else. Isn't saying 'we will not tolerate this' in itself expression?
@11: Depends. Does free expression protect death threats?
Who was being threatened? There's nothing specific.
You can't call it a "free expression tunnel" if you're censoring something, even if it is the rantings of a lunatic.
The merits of the "Free" Expression tunnel are debated every so often, yes. It's not the first time that hate speech has been seen on the walls, against any number of groups (most recently during Coming Out Week). But this is the first time such drastic action has been taken. When I walked back through the tunnel this evening, the entire thing had been painted over in white, not just the offensive portions. I had to take a picture of that, too...I've never seen the walls bare.
leave it there. let the people be exposed to it, then let the people decide what to do about it. anyone can buy a can of spray paint.
No doubt a pro-lifer.
That's what I was thinking, #16. Let the students decide what stays and goes on their own wall.
Too bad they weren't given the chance to step up and show what they're all about.