On Obama's Nobel Peace Prize and censorship
Read Street was a lively place for commenters last week, in the wake of President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. And "lively" is an understatement. The comments were unusually vitriolic and polarized for this blog. They put me in the unusual role of censor, so I thought I should explain my thinking on the topic.
Comments must be approved by me or Nancy before they're posted on Read Street, and I'm usually pretty light-handed, killing only those that are obscene or slanderous. And the bounds of fair comment are broad when a political figure is the target. So I posted many harsh comments, even though there was obvious irony in those that said Obama's Nobel was premature, while skewering him for a host of political sins that he could not possibly have had time to commit in less than a year in office.
I admit to censoring one comment though. It was from a Holocaust denier. That, to me, was in its own way, obscene and slanderous to the memory of all who died, and all who remember them today.
Comments
It must be hard to figure out which comments to post in the spirit of freedom of speech and encouraging discussion and which to censor for crossing the line. I admit I'm scared to even look at the comments on that post!
But VERY GOOD CALL on censoring the Holocaust denier. There's no need to even go down that road.
Posted by: Heather J. | October 12, 2009 11:25 AM
Have the American people lost all sense of pride? Did George W dumb down a nation to his level which is now unable take pride in the Nobel Committee's decision to award its President the Peace Prize? Setting goals, showing Initiative,making the effort, used to be the hallmark of an American. Success and achievement was the reward, not necessarily the criterion. Obama never promised miracles before his election,just an undertaking to do his best to clear up the mess he inherited.
Posted by: Shaun Plunket | October 12, 2009 12:27 PM
Not sure Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize after bombing The Moon! More funny details @ http://www.thelintscreen.com
Posted by: Guzelvis | October 12, 2009 3:29 PM
I wish I was there...
Posted by: chris brown | October 12, 2009 4:21 PM
While handing out Obama materials in Baltimore County on election day, I discovered what it's like to be hated by strangers. One retired military man complained bitterly that Obama would talk to our enemies. He would, and that's why he's getting the big prize. We make peace with our enemies. We already have peace with out friends. The man said that Obama would take us to the sixth level of hell. Had my brain been quicker, I would have shot back, "Do you really think he'll improve things that much?" He has.
Patrick K. Lackey
Posted by: Patrick K. Lackey | October 13, 2009 12:51 PM
During the campaign last year a friend and her husband were knocking on doors for Obama. At one house a woman could not bring herself to even look at them, but she said "He's a Muslim, he wasn't born in this country, he won't wear an American flag pin ..." etc., etc. Bet she doesn't listen to NPR.
Posted by: Dahlink | October 13, 2009 3:31 PM
most of black people surrender salute to Mr. Obama keep it up and pls hold on with great faith in our Almughty..ask His assistance and surely hewill direct u and crown ur efforts with success
Posted by: maria67 | October 15, 2009 1:08 PM
A mistake people make, especially high school principals set on censoring high school papers, is that there are always two sides to a story. Many times, opinion does not enter into a story. When it does, great. But when it comes to the well documented, the other side doesn't exist. We do not need to give equal time or respect to foolish notions, merely because they exist. The world is a globe, it is not flat; people have gone to the Moon and returned; Nazis killed Jews and (with several other groups) by the millions.
Oh, and Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. That's a fact too. And *I* for one think it's a great thing.
Posted by: FarmerTom | October 26, 2009 11:22 AM