Sanz' column missed the point

To the Daily:

So the headline on Brandon Sanz' column is "Even idiots have First Amendment rights" (2/1/00). Sure enough, right below it is a picture of the hammerhead. How ironic.

Sanz' column defending Rocker's "right" to be a racist, make slanderous comments about anyone he wishes and ultimately be an idiot is all wrong. He points to the classic whining response that sports figures are not accountable as role models, and if they are it's our own fault for respecting them so much.

Well my friend, you are wrong. Wrong, as usual, and on so many levels.

First of all, everyone is responsible for tolerance. Although we have the right to speak offensively, we still should not. If someone is a racist, age-ist, supremacist, or any other type of unwarranted hate monger, their words are viciously harmful at worst, and worthless at best. Yes, Congress shall pass no law restricting their right to speech, but we don't have to waste our time reading their poisonous words of hate they can only get away with saying because "they have free speech, man."

Second, I don't care what you think, celebrities such as baseball stars are held to higher moral standards than regular joes. How many times did you hear your elementary school principle throw out something over the PA like, "Now children, you are representing the school, so be on your best behavior...?" Even the University's student code attempts to justify itself with clauses reminding us that our actions reflect on the school itself. This goes infinitely so for national personalities such as World Series contenders. They simply cannot reflect such ignorance and hatred on the rest of the country this way and go unscolded.

Sanz, if you want a medal for being the only dumbass standing up for Rocker, that's fine. But if you truly believe that his comments have any place in our society, then you need to take a good long look at yourself and realize that you are contributing negatively to the world around you, just as our knife-tongued hero Rocker did before he apologized. Maybe it's time you do the same.

Jesse Miller

LSA first-year student

Column incorrectly interpreted issue

To the Daily:

Branden Sanz's column "Even idiots have First Amendment rights" (2/1/00) makes a simple and unfortunately common error. The First Amendment protects us from government censorship and interference of personal expression, it does not relieve us of personal responsibility for our expressions.

All the negative reactions have been from citizens exercising their freedom of speech to disagree with Rocker. We haven't seen a government official attempting to imprison, fine or censor Rocker, because his comments are protected by the First Amendment. What Rocker is learning is that everyone is responsible for what he or she says and the more people who can hear your comments the deeper your responsibility.

If you don't believe that you are responsible for your comments, next time you go to work say something similar to Rocker's comments to a coworker or your boss. I'll be willing to bet that your employer will be unamused.

In closing I saw an interview of Will Smith once, where he voiced the opinion that anyone in the public spotlight has the responsibility to attempt standard English and be a role model. I couldn't agree more with his sentiments.

Adam Muller

University alumnus

Underage drinkers are responsible for their actions

To the Daily:

In response to the Daily's article on Delta Sig "Delta Sig may face charges for party" (2/2/00) and the girls who got alcohol poisoning, why is the fraternity being blamed? The girls who drank were underage. They broke the law. Why not write a story on the stupidity of the two girls, one of whom is still in high school, who nearly drank themselves to death? Title the story "Two immature girls illegally drink, yet fraternity charged with wrongdoing," because that is what happened. No matter where the alcohol came from, or where it was consumed, the girls chose to drink it. Instead of portraying them as victims of the fraternity, why not hold the girls responsible for their own actions?

Michael Salmonowicz

LSA junior

Headline Headline Headline Headline

To the Daily: