Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Monday, May 22, 1995     Page: 6A

Award to Liddy trashes concept of free speech
   
Go ahead, broadcast a recipe for a fertilizer bomb, an arson fire or a
child kidnapping. Wrap yourself in the flag and the First Amendment while you
doJust don’t expect many thanks for your efforts. Except from the National
Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts, that is.
    They’re likely to give you their highest award.
   
The association honored talk show host G. Gordon Liddy recently with its
Freedom of Speech award, according to the Associated Press. The award came in
response to Liddy’s delightful lessons on how to shoot federal police
officers.
   
“So you shoot twice to the body, center of mass, and if that does not work,
then shoot to the groin area,” Liddy told his hundreds of thousands of
listeners.
   
In a statement justifying the award, the association said: “The issue here
is not a judgment of his opinions, but rather, a show of support for his right
to express them.”
   
Yes, and that fine distinction will be a great comfort to the spouse and
children at the graveside of a federal agent.
   
What will next year’s winner have to do to win the prize, we wonder? Maybe
the wizards of the Ku Klux Klan should torch a cross and then apply. Free
speech, you know.
   
To reward Liddy for his disgraceful advice is like giving an Oscar to the
makers of a porn film. As columnist Charles Krauthammer put it, of course
filmmakers have the right to show men and women cheapening themselves by
making love under floodlights and for money. Nobody’s questioning their right.
   
But they should have the decency not to. And Hollywood — so far, at least
— has shown the utter good sense not to dignify its trashy fringe with
recognition of any kind.
   
Interestingly, the adult film industry does have its own awards night. A
tawdrier and more degrading evening would be hard to imagine. But if the
National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts continues to defame the First
Amendment by honoring irresponsible speech, then its own awards night could
come sadly close.