Back in the late sixties after leaving the military,  I was paired with an
individual of a different race.  He was a man that I immediately liked and
respected.  I put my foot in my mouth one day and tried to apologize.  He
immediately stopped me and said "If someone takes offense without
understanding intent, then they are the one with a problem".  I believe
that if you look for something to be offended by, you will find it.
 
My $.02 worth.
 
Frank Humphrey
[log in to unmask]
 
 
----------
> From: Aaron Morris <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Offensive (or not) postings (was bee fables)
> Date: Thursday, August 28, 1997 9:32 AM
>
> >
> > It would not be the first time that I have been accused of not
> > having a sense of humor, but this note offends the individual reader,
> > as well as the BEE-L which maintains a very high level of
> > respectability.
> > Surely there is some form of editing which takes place?
> > The List Server???  What do others think?
> >
> Actually, no - there is no editing/reviewing/censoring that takes place
> on this list.  It's an open forum free for all.  Don't get me wrong, I'm
> sorry you were offended, truely I am.  However there are others who got
> a chuckle out of the post and I suspect there are even a few who passed
> the post on at the water cooler or in the coffee shop.  It may be the
> case that those who chuckled out number those who were offended or vice
> versa.  It simply is not fair to deny one group or another the right to
> read (or not) something deemed inappropriate by the opposing camp.  My
> objection to the content of the post is that it came under the guise of
> a fable, not as an off color joke.  I expected a fable, what I read was
> a joke that obviously was offensive to some.
>
> I doubt you saw the Drew Carey show last night, but the main character
> was being sued for having posted an offensive (to some) cartoon on a
> company memo.  In his closing statement to the court he rambled on about
> fear of offending this group or that group and how in this day and age
> no one will can anything for fear of being held accountable to others'
> morales.  Drew's final colsing statement: "C'mon America, lighten up!".
>
> Again, I'm sorry you were offended.  A hundred times, I'm sorry.  But
> I'm thankful I live in a society where I can review everything and
> decide for myself.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
> Aaron Morris