Anchorage disc jockeys suspended over slur against Alaska Native women
Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008
ANCHORAGE — A radio station suspended two disc jockeys Tuesday over a derogatory remark about Alaska Native women made on their show, a comment that has Alaskans comparing the shock-jock duo to Don Imus.
The Anchorage DJs, known as Woody and Wilcox, were joking about what makes someone a real Alaskan, when one of them said it’s somebody who makes love to the Yukon River and urinates in a Native woman. It’s a twist on an old saying — also offensive to many — that real Alaskans have urinated in the Yukon River and made love to an Alaska Native woman.
Some Alaska Natives are calling for sanctions against KBFX-FM, the hard rock station that features Woody and Wilcox on its morning show.
Michelle Davis, who is part Tlingit, said she was listening to the show April 9 while stuck in traffic on her way to work when she heard the comment.
“I was horrified,” she said Tuesday. “It was a very ugly image.”
Natives are likening the remarks to those made last spring by Imus, who called the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos.” CBS Radio fired Imus on April 12, 2007, and pulled the plug on his nationally syndicated show. He returned to the air in December at WABC-AM in New York after a series of public apologies.
State Rep. Mary Nelson, a Bethel Democrat who is part Yupik, voiced her disgust on the floor of the state House on Sunday, the last day of the legislative session. She labeled the Anchorage DJs’s comments “abhorrent to the highest degree” and called for an apology, as well as punishment by the Federal Communications Commission.
Gary Donovan, a market manager for the station, said he couldn’t recall which of the two disc jockeys — whose real names are Greg Wood and Chris Wilcox — made the derogatory remarks. He said station officials reviewed the tape before deciding what action to take, but declined to elaborate, noting he stood by a statement posted on the station’s Web site.
“KBFX wishes to apologize to everyone in our audience and the community who was offended by the insensitive and inappropriate comments alluding to native women,” the statement reads.
There is no listing for Wood or Wilcox in Anchorage. A message left at a listing for the initials G. and M. Wood was not immediately returned.
A voice mailbox for Clear Channel Communications Inc., which owns KBFX, was full Tuesday evening, and an e-mail sent by The Associated Press was not immediately answered.
The station said it has indefinitely suspended the disc jockeys while they get sensitivity training.
“We are confident that what was said was an isolated incident, and it in no way reflects the views of KBFX station personnel,” the station’s statement reads.
The length of the suspension wasn’t clear, though the station said the disc jockeys’ pay during that period would be donated to charity.
At the core of the escalating outrage is the fact that Alaska Native women are disproportionately targeted in violent crimes, including rape, said Denise Morris, president of the Alaska Native Justice Center, an Anchorage-based social advocacy organization that is planning to file a formal complaint with the FCC.
The state has long posted the highest sexual assault rate in the nation, and the problem is worst in rural, largely Native areas, according to a recent law enforcement study.
“These comments just cannot be taken lightly,” Morris said. “Who is their listening audience? Young men. It just goes to show that these individuals are not conscientious of what their words mean and the impact their words have.”
Davis said she immediately filed a complaint with the FCC as an individual, under the category of obscene, profane and indecent speech.
“What they said falls into the category of hate speech,” she said. “The actual physical act they’re proposing is degrading. People are pretty offended. There is too much violence against Native women and we shouldn’t tolerate that type of disrespect.”
The FCC considers complaints confidential and won’t discuss cases unless the agency takes action against them, said Rosemary Kimball, an FCC spokeswoman. She said complaints found valid generally face sanctions including fines, even license revocations.
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
I remember when we didn't have such people in Alaska.
It is totally outrageous to have such people in Alaska. It's much worse than Don Imus' idiotic word phrasing.
Those two didn't even consider the sacredness of the human body. Bodies created by God, with the cooperation of humans.
They would never consider a minority saying these things about white women.
And it's because minorities don't degrade women in general.
These two don't believe in THE GOLDEN RULE!
"The station said it has indefinitely suspended the disc jockeys while they get sensitivity training."
Well, that ought to take a while ...
These two need fired. Plain and simple. I wonder if Fairbanks Residents can complain to the FCC.
I know most will think I am racist but I assure you I am not. I feel that you should learn to take a joke. If they said something about a white person would it matter, I think not. Anymore who is the minority, we have programs to help natives, blacks, hispanics, and women. Just a thought.
Jokes about how to become a sourdough (or a 'real' Alaskan) have been around for a long time -- 28 years that I know of. The form these two individuals used is especially offensive.
Let's disregard race for a moment -- "urinates in a [blank] woman." That's just plain disgusting.
You could even remove gender -- "urinates [on] a [blank] [person]" -- and it'd still be offensive.
Thete's a fine line between risque and offensive. When someone says something degrading, it crosses the line and ceases to be a joke.
Jeez oh peetz, it was just a joke.
The fun police are here to save the day.
It was just a joke? Try using such jokes on Mexicans, Jews, African Americans, white women, religious leaders, the old people, the handicapped, just about anyone.
Such "jokers" are actually bullies. Like all bullies, they have zero self-esteem. Having no self esteem, they feel free to spread their misery, hoping to reach others like them. Why? Because, MISERY LOVES COMPANY!
There's a saying in counseling education: "We see ourselves in everyone we see" It means that when we have self-hatred, we hate those strangers we know nothing about...just seeing them is enough to incite hatred!
Hey I got a great blond joke....
So, Freeze, it's okay to imply a guy can obtain some mythical social status simply by peeing on your mother or daughter?
I agree these two insensitive radio personalities should be fired!! Who in their right mind would even think of speaking something so offensive to any ethnic group? I don't see the "humor" in such desparaging remarks. In this day and age, it is simply intolerable to make such gross inferences to any race. There has to be accountability for this slanderous public assault against Alaska Native Women!
Elder,
Minorities don't abuse women in general.
Then who is abusing Native women in the bush villages, who is writing the lyrics to so many rap songs, who slaps their women if their machismo is insulted? I could go on but you get the picture.
Racism is no more acceptable when it is YOU practicing it.
They had the power of voice to be heard by many.They also had the chance to contribute constructive messages,but failed.This cannot be labeled as a "joke" but can be labeled disrespecful and unhealthy for the mass of our community.
If you don't like something, especially on the radio, TURN IT OFF! DUH!!!
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
No one is implying its acceptable to urinate on anyone. It was a humorous take on an old saying. Blowing it out of proportion and insinuating that the general public is stupid enough to assume these DJ's are actually advocating the act is more offensive than anything.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Not sure whats worse,the acual crude statement on air or the fact some of you are defending it.
Elder: "And it's because minorities don't degrade women in general."
Show statistics or admit ignorance.
When minorities achieve higher self esteem, these jokes will not bother them. It is their perception of themselves that causes the jokes to cut so deep. Whites try so hard not to be percieved as racist, that they actually help foster the low self esteem problems in minorities. For instance, Blondes are beautiful and they know it. So believe it or not, their self esteem is high enough to not only laugh at, but sometimes tell their friends a good blonde joke. Anyone who thinks limiting free speech will solve this problem is wrong.
NATIVE; "belonging to a locality or country by birth" is the definition. Nothing about a specific race I have more often then not heard caucasian people born and raised in Alaska refered to as native Alaskans of which they truly are.
Yes, fire people and run them out of town for exercising free speech. Burn their house down. Tar and feather um! You ever listen to some of the MUSIC that the radio stations play? Turn the channel. Get thicker skin.
I agree Reader1!!! While we turn this into a Wich hunt let's see who else is guilty.... How about the News Miner? They said it to, in the article above. Was it necessary to repeat it exactly? Does putting quotation marks around something make it ok to repeat? Using this logic, had the DJ said "My uncle said...." then it would be ok. What they said is degrading boo hoo. Repeating it is degrading as well, had the News Miner not repeated it I would have had no idea how to be a real Alaskan.
I think we need to lighten up ALOT! Ever see Blazing Sadles? Funny movie and the world just kept on turning.
If there had been a native woman standing in front of them, or any woman, at the time they made the comment, would they have made it? Of course not, because it's an insult.
wow. I've heard worse blonde jokes, and told worse to blondes, but as stealhead said, they just laugh..as is normal for a joke. Anyone getting upset by this reaaalllly needs to lighten up. If you don't like the jokes they tell, turn the radio station, it's that simple. I've heard them tell jokes about whites before, and no one seems to find anything wrong with that. In fact, it's pretty sad that we can make jokes about blondes, whites, blacks, hispanics, fat people, skinny people, old people, and even Yo MAMA, but we can't touch the native jokes.
There's no reason to get yer panties, er moose hide britches, all in a bunch.
Ps. the best joke on here was the whole, "minority groups don't degrade women" thing. Classic.
It makes me sick that some of you are defending this action saying "its just a joke." How is degrading and insulting so many people funny? Its not just a slur on native woman, its on ALL WOMEN!
So you are saying "it wasn't a joke"? That's the way I read it. Are you saying they made a speech calling for people to be urinated on? Did they say we should all go into the streets and do this imediately? Are they calling for the extermination of a race? Chill out and do some research on what constitutes a joke.
Why did the chicken cross the road? OOOOhhh no I degraded a chicken!!! Why does it have to be a chicken? Do you mean Chicken AK or the cute defenceless bird? The world is comming to an end. Free scholarsips for chickens!!! SAVE THE CHICKENS
Scott- so you're telling me that you've never laughed at, or told a joke that was about a specific gender, race, or any other human-type quality?
haha, or chicken-type quality for that matter? Thanks Klown
It's called the First Ammendment - Freedom of Speach. Libel and slander only apply when such speech is focused on a particular living political or public figure.
Tasteless joke - sure. If you don't like it - don't listen. Shock jocks have been doing this for 40 years - this is old hat. Just shrug it off and move on.
If you are not a sponsor of the show or a registered listening fan - and now that you've heard/read the story and are outraged....... and feel the two radio hosts should be punished in some way for what they said - you are violating their civil rights by attempting to deny them the ability to work and support themselves.
Freedom of speach applies to EVERYONE. It is a slippery slope when people start to determine what are good words and what are bad words.
Well first of all I can take jokes as an Alaska Native but, when it comes to peeing inside of a women, that is really sick and narrow minded. I wonder what there parents think about there sons who disgrace women. It's not only becuase it was towards Alaskan Native Women but, all Women should be insulted about what these two foul mouths, what said about women in general. I can take jokes but, this kind of joke should be said in your own privacy not on the air. As a Strong Alaska Native Women; I don't take things personally but, enough is enough on Women Battering. We been suffering for hundreds of years on crap like this, men like these two will defiently pay the price when this happens to there family member. What comes around goes around.
White folk have no culture and this bothers them alot, so they have to make racist remarks to the native people in order to make them selves feel better. Telling blonde jokes to a blond only say's that they don't respect there own race. HOW DISGUSTING!!!!!!
Just because you personaly are "offended" does not mean someone shouldnt be able to say something. If the sponsors want them fired because they dont want to send that sort of message (IE, free speech that doesnt violate the Fascist Communication Commision's rules) then they have that right as well. You can choose to not do business with the sponsors. Its called freedom, and a lot of people have spilled a lot of blood into the ground to allow us to have it. You would give it away cause you are "offended" BAAAAAAAAAA! BAAAAAAAAA!
I am a woman and do not find this offensive so don't generalize all women into one boo hoo catagory. I have enough self respect and confidence not to let a JOKE hurt me. I agree that if they were serious about doing it then punish them, but its thier job to shock and amaze people in the morning. Come on Women, make a joke on them and GET OVER IT
First, no one stated that these gentleman didn't have the constitutional right to say what they did. That taken into consideration, that doesn't mean that it was acceptable. You say that "a lot of people have spilled a lot of blood into the ground to allow us to have it [freedom of speech]" that includes Native Americans. Let me remind you that another thing this country is based on is diversity, and this patchwork quilt we call America should be respected. If you don't want to comply get out of alaska and STAY OUT!!!!!!
are you really comparing peeing inside a native woman to a chicken? You really shook the dust off your white sheet today.
I love a good joke, and that one is plain disgusting. But really, what are Anchorage people talking about anyway? True Alaskans dont live in Anchorage!
haha you're right krazydan, I make jokes because I'm really mad that I have no culture. I get so steamed about it that I just burst into knock knock jokes. I wonder why blacks, hispanics, and natives all enjoy a good joke too? Maybe it's because we all share much of the same culture. You don't differ from us "white folk" as much as you think
way to avoid my actual question and respond with a question of your own Scott. You really dug deep into your book of debate tactics today. Obviously I don't compare a chicken to a person, i thought starting my post out with "haha..." would negate any implication that I was serious..guess not
Disrespect is disrespect. Does a "joke" have to hurt someone to be funny? Do we have to degrade someone else to make ourselves laugh and to make ourselves feel better? Racism comes in a lot of forms and by just telling someone it is just a joke doesn't stop it from being hurtful. We shouldn't disregard any form of racism or write it off, we should all stand up against racism and call it what it is and stop trying to hide behind falsehoods of "jokes" or "freedom of speech". We should all stand up and realize what we say and how we say it, take a closer look at our words because our children are listening and learning from our language and they learn by what we do and say. Do you really want your children to learn that telling these types of "jokes" is the right thing to do? Our next generation is going to learn by our mistakes and by our teaching, let them learn the truth and what is the right way to treat people.
Grumpymom-"I am a woman and do not find this offensive so don't generalize all women into one boo hoo catagory. I have enough self respect and confidence not to let a JOKE hurt me. I agree that if they were serious about doing it then punish them, but its thier job to shock and amaze people in the morning. Come on Women, make a joke on them and GET OVER IT"
I do not think that this article is one you should comment on. This article is talking about the crude comments made about Alaska Native women. We are not "boo hooing" about this either, we are speaking up stating to everyone that can hear that this type of "shock and amaze" is not to be tolerated. I have enough self respect and confidence to not let a JOKE hurt me also. This "joke", although it was not funny at all, is racist, crude and against everything politically correct that American's strive for.
The sensitivity training these two men should recieve is to be dropped off in a village near the yukon river and see how far they can make it to becoming a "Real Alaskan Man".
I said, MINORITIES DON'T DEGRADE WOMEN IN GENERAL" This means that they don't degrade OTHERS, such as non-native women I should have clarified that.
As for their own women, they are like all other humans. Some do; some don't!
These people who defend such comments about native women, instead of being outraged, are guilty of the sin of omission. Yes, there is such a sin. The two dj's are guilty of the sin of commission!
To these people, I say: Think about your sister, your mother, your other female relatives. Picture a minority talking about p--ing on your loved ones! Get the picture? Does it now sink in, why the natives are outraged? If not, it is YOU, who desperately need sensitivity training.
some comment up the line a bit has the call letters wrong. KFBX is here in Fairbanks and the Anchorage station is KBFX=FM. Let's not get the two confused please!
InupiaqDiva: Amen! Yours is the best response here. Those two wouldn't survive in the real Alaska for 48 hours.
As if peed ON isn't bad enough, the gentlemen used the words "...peed IN a native woman." I am Yupik, I am strong, I have an excellent job. This so called joke hurt, because too many times I have seen how other people treat Alaska Native Women, and men. I witnessed so many examples, of racism against natives that this latest is the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. So many white men have impregnated native women, and left them immediatly afterwards and moved to the cities, or even to the forty eight contiguous states. ENOUGH ALREADY stop the blatant disrespect. We all have something good to offer our society. We all have something positive to contribute. Lets use each others strengths to make the world a better place to live. Live Strong, Live happy.
Do you know what it feels like to be dehumanized?
To lie there and be raped over and over again
To stare into space while your mind screams
To not be recognized for the inner beauty and innate strengths that all humans possess
The emptiness and feeling of worthlessness intensifies
When those in positions of power toss you aside
"NOT GOOD ENOUGH!"
"NOT IN THE INNER CIRCLE"
Do you know what it looks like to be dehumanized?
It's like a cold wind that blows over the rivers and streams onto the beaches and into your village
What does such talk scream out?
SO WHAT! THAT'S NORMAL!!!
That's been happening to your people for centuries!
What do you expect?
We expect to hear good news with the bad news
The two offensive, insensitive, out of state people broadcasting to all of Alaska need to be REMOVED!!
What may be percieved as a joke is incredibly demeaning, and dehumanizing to women
Thanks to strong Native women like Davis, Kapsner, Kitka and others for speaking up
In this day and age women no longer need to tolerate such talk
Being a 'Native Woman' here in Alaska...what those men had to say was very wrong.
Being part Irish & French I definitely think 'peeing in a (BLANK) woman was very wrong.
For those of you who think it may have been a 'joke' come to my back yard & I'll show you a joke...especially since the bears are waking up now & the ice is melting...TRY being a 'REAL ALASKAN' for once!
Maybe we should REMOVE the Catholic Church then? I mean, it has caused a lot more REAL damage to the Alaskan Natives than two twits on the air making a single degrading comment.
(Just a thought)
right on ggwarrior
All the justification to the remarks made by the two radio guys are sickening to my stomach...Intolerance leads to hate and hatred breeds stronger demons, have you seen what hate can lead to...i.e. the holocosts and current genocides that are occuring around the world...We must fight Intolerance and if your not, then you are part of the problem...Bottom line, what those men said was WRONG and DISGUSTING!!! It's not about a joke anymore, we must all stand up against this sort of injustice to ANY Minority, not just "Natives"/AK Natives.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Responsibility, thats what this is all about. If you say something that outrages the public on a public radio show, you should be promoted to the job market. Hopefully you can find a line of work that doesn't require you to think out loud. Racism does not work, my advise is to keep trying to hide it, or be held responsible.
1. This discussion demonstrates what News-Miner readers consider acceptable or unacceptable public behavior -- and broadcasting something over the air IS public behavior. I didn't count the aye-nay comments but it appears to me the radio jerks exceeded the community standard. It's worth noting the U.S. Supreme Court has defined community standards as the benchmark for determining free speech issues.
2. There is a direct means of addressing this situation, although it will take a bit more work than simply spouting off on the News-Miner's website. Identify the radio station's sponsors, write them, and tell them you're boycotting their businesses and products. Keep it polite but tell them you see their sponsorship as supporting offensive and degrading attitudes.
"...Intolerance leads to hate and hatred breeds stronger demons, have you seen what hate can lead to...i.e. the holocosts and current genocides that are occuring around the world..."
Controlling speech has led to genocide. Imagine if you didnt have the freedom to voice against these "demons." That means protecting ALL speech, especially unpopular speech.
Today its "intolerant" speech we ban, tommorrow we imprison someone for speaking against a government policy. Then maybe we start hanging people who say what "we" dont like.
Freedom is tolerating people we dont agree with
IT WAS A JOKE! GET OVER IT!
I would like to know why it is OK for native corporations to post jobs with native preference. I would like to know what the reaction would be if I opened and business and posted an add that stated whites preferred. This has gotten out of hand. Can’t we all just get along.
I guess I'm a different kind of female native!! When I was told about this by my "white" uncle, I just laughed! He looked at me in disgust and politely asked me, "Why are you laughing?". My response?? I told him that dad raised me not to take things personally. I was told that there are going to be alot of people who will talk about me and make fun of me just by where I came from. And he was right!!
I'm not condoning racism or peeing on anybody for that matter, but I'm also not going to throw a hissy fit over something somebody said over the radio. People are who they are. Everybody makes mistakes. They want to act dumb or say something stupid, let them. That only makes me that much stronger.
I am not turning against "my people", I love where I came from! I love to go hunting and fishing and hearing stories of how my elders lived back in the day. I love being able to make my own decisions, as they have always taught me. And this radio show just doesn't bother me.
If it were actions and not words, than yes I'd say something about it. Until then, I'm not pushing for someone to lose their job. They too have bills to pay and family to raise. There is a time and a place. Racism will only be vanished if people choose to vanish it. I think that will be a very long time from now.
FYI, if you see an injustice then you stand up for that person...standing by and watching or not doing anything is tolerance...free speech is free speech as long as it doesn't cause degredation or defamation of a race...just as Griff_in_Fairbanks stated above...this is the exact problem that our children face in schools with bullying and such, which leads to Columbine, etc...Live & Let Live!
There's a small segment of the population who think, "if people laugh when someone jokes about it, then actually doing it should be even funnier." This is what concerns me -- tasteless jokes can create an environment where reprehensible behavior appears to be acceptable.
A very vocal outcry against such jokes creates a clear definition of what the community considers unacceptable. This serves as a form of peer pressure for those who have trouble separating humor from actual practice.
fbksreader - talk to your Congressional representatives. Native hiring preference is defined in federal law, along with preferences aimed towards helping minority-, women-, and disabled-owned businesses. Other federal laws prohibit white hiring preferences.
FYI. if everyone stood up for injustice or free speech that causes degredation or defamation of a race; there would be little or no television, movies, newspapers, internet, music and so on and so forth. It is everywhere. So why single out one radio station?? You want to complain, complain to every station, movie producers, song writers, gci, bellsouth, at&t, FDN, ADN...........I think you get the point.
Butterfly... you write with a beautiful voice. Remember that thoughts lead to words, and words lead to actions. Lets express positive thoughts.
Thank you akuzilvak. On the positive side, it would be entertaining to see one of these men experience the native lifestyle like some has suggested. That would help earn "some" respect back. Because it took me a while to learn how to take care of animals. Whether it be raising, butchering, or tanning. I started as a very young girl, maybe 4 years old. But the best part of my culture is the food and dancing! Oh yea, can't forget to watch the games here and there!!
I forgot to add, Not all villages treat white people with disrespect. According to my great-grandparents, my dad is their first "white eskimo"!! It is how a person carries themselves.
This is proof that some of you just aren't happy unless you are mad. The article states this was a "twist on an old saying". So the OLD saying is to be an Alaskan one must "Make love to a native woman and urinate in the Yukon River"? Based on this "OLD SAYING" Alaskans just urinate any ol' place, I find that offensive. It would also lead one to beleive that Native women are mere sex objects to be used to gain a certain status (Real Alaskan). Sounds like people should have been offended a long time ago.
Consider this, had these guys not said anything at all and this weren't news. What have you done for the advancement of Native Women? If you had been ProActive well my hat is off to you. Chances are most here have done nothing. Did you have them on a pedestal bringing them to the forefront to be worshiped? Or are you just looking for a new cause and something to be angry over?
Last night I watched Family Guy, they portreyed white men as fat dopey and stupid.....get my lawyer on the phone.
Aklown --
"Sounds like people should have been offended a long time ago."
If I had ever heard the original saying before this happened, I would have been offended by it as a woman.
And I get so sick of the idea that because something is old and has been done before or been around for a while it's okay. Slavery is old and was around for many years, does that make it okay?
As for this:
"Last night I watched Family Guy, they portreyed white men as fat dopey and stupid.....get my lawyer on the phone."
Yeah, go check who writes and produces Family Guy. Most likely it's mostly white guys. It's a whole new ballgame when someone makes fun of themselves as opposed to being insulting and disrespectful to other groups.
I agree with the fact that everyone has Freedom of Speech, BUT, when it is directed to a certain race and to women, there can be dire consequences.
1) It is safe to say that these 2 tasteless comedians won't be working in the radio business anymore. They can now take their jokes and write them on bathroom walls.
2) It is safe to say that you would not say these jokes in front a young group of Native fathers- Try the acid test, would you do that? I as a Native father would say please practice your freedom of speech, but there could be dire consequences (i.e. losing your job or?).
Have a nice day.
Your a Real Alaskan when you judge those by their character rather than their race, therefore, you have character.
I have never been offended by anything, ever, and frankly, just dont get it. I have not liked things I have heard and seen. But I was never "offended." How self centered does does someone have to be to get "offended?" To think that you are so special that people should not be able to say something that you dont want to hear. Get over yourselves.
If you get offended by someone elses words, it sounds like YOU are the one with the problem. Not them.
beware your thoughts,
they become your words,
beware your words,
they become your actions,
beware your actions,
they seal your fate.
These former D.J.'s will soon be looking for jobs. If you condone their jokes, would you HONESTLY hire them and their buddies and then let them work alone with your daughters? I didn't think so.
Reader 1 --
"How self centered does does someone have to be to get 'offended?'"
I am not self-centered, I am a woman who does not like men speaking about women in such a negative way. We have issues in our society with spousal/partner abuse, with rape, with hate crimes. Statements such as those made by these two DJs perpetuate the negative stereotypes about how women should be viewed and treated. As the parent of two daughters, I don't appreciate the possibility of them hearing about that type of abuse to their future selves. As the parentof a son, I don't appreciate the possibility of him hearing adult men joking about that type of treatment of women. Joking about such a thing, especially to a child, gives the image that it is okay. As the parent of Native children, I don't appreciate the possibility of them hearing on the radio that that type of treatment of ANY Native person is a joking matter.
Yes, one can change the station. But if the DJs in question have not made such negative statements in the past, what would warn me that I need to change the station BEFORE they spew their hatred?
We as parents have a responsibility to teach our children right from wrong, and yes, we are always battling outside influences. But these DJs have a responsibility, being on free (to the listener) airwaves, to curtail what they say. Yes, we have free speech, but if anything and everything could be said on the radio, there would be no FCC and no regulations.
Reader1...you made several postings in this blog...if you are not offended by anything, then you would not be offended if someone spat on your mother or grandmother or how about insulted them in front of your face, I highly doubt you would walk away and allow them to have "free speech" with "your family"..this is what this statment does, they insulted a group of people and if you don't understand that, then may God grace you with sensitivity towards others...Peace!
Do you people really not see it? Are you so blind that you dont see that freedom of speech is just that. That you have to take the bad with the good. Picking and choosing what is OK to say and what is not is what leads to fascism, socialism, communism, every evil, liberty stifling "ism" you can think of.
What these guys said was a joke. In bad taste? Maybe. But they clearly were not saying we should run out and do those things. One person finds it funny, the next is "offended."
If you dont like it, dont tune into that station. Dont do business with the sponsor. Use your wallet to protest it. But for the sake of all of us, dont try to stop those offensive words from ever being said.
"You People" hmmm..."...don't try to stop us"...your statements clearly states your indifference towards minorities or people of "color"...no explanation needed further.
Your other statement..."But for the sake of all of us" clearly states that you have no respect for people of "color"...and one more thing your other statement above states..."But they clearly were not saying we should run out and do those things" does an idiot such as yourself know this nooooo, they may go out and do those things, who knows...there's a saying, never argue with an idiot, they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience...that said...I'll comment no further on your ignorance.
Reader1, yes free speech is a basic right in America. However, engaging in certain activities curtails your freedom of speech, and being on the radio is one of those activities. In part because freedom from discrimination is another right in America, and there's no need for that kind of talk to be on a radio station that can be listened to by anyone anywhere. What if that was playing on a school bus? In an office where kids are present (dr's office, maybe)? In a car where kids are riding?
Yes, we will change the channel. But without warning that that kind of talk is going to happen, it's not always possible to avoid. I certainly don't listen to talk radio with my kids in the car -- I make an informed choice. When radio personalities are given free reign over what they say, the listener cannot make an informed choice.
You are correct, concerned, I dont have any more respect for a minority or person of color than I do for anyone else. You want equality? Start looking at "you people" as just that, ONE people.
Not with the liberal goggles of blacks here, and natives there, women over here. I take people one at a time.
I was taught that when during a discussion (I think this qualifies)if a person resorts to personal attacks and name calling (you called me an idiot and ignorant) then they have lost.
Inchworm, no one was discriminated against except the DJs who said it! Their words did not deny someone a rightful job. They didnt make someone go to the back of a bus. They may have hurt some feelings, but they didnt discriminate.
I'm a little confused as why my comment above was removed, but in a nutshell it said that people should learn what the F.C.C can do for them before complaining to the F.C.C..
who is alaska hasnt made a native joke before!
Personally, I'm more concerned over whats going to happen the market for Yukon River salmon, when a bunch of wanna-bees start making love to the Yukon River.
Q: What does it mean when a man is breathing heavy and screaming your name?
A: It means your not holding the pillow down hard enough.
Uh Oh. I shouldn't have said that. I suppose all men have the right now to attack and degrade me for being an insensitive wench. Some people will probably assume that I am even promoting the suffocation of men.
As a blond female of Polish descent, I have heard my fair share of jokes and have laughed along with all of them. Good thing I have a sense of humor, or I would be a pretty miserable little girl by now.
This situation reeks of an insatiable craving for drama. There aren't enough problems in the world today, so lets over-analyze everything anyone has ever said so we can throw a big hissy-fit about it.
Woe is you.
FREEZE!!! Now you are a part of the problem, since you wrote that joke I have wittnessed two men being assaulted and have been attacked my self all because you made light of the ongoing abuse of men. Now we should all boycott the internet for promoting violence and hatered against men. I want my lawyer, I am so oppressed.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Reader1, you are actually right. But the behavior of the DJs encourages a discriminatory attitude towards a minority and against women. Almost as bad in my opinion.
no ones thought about the rivers point of view, theyre so cold, who would want to make love with it?
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
It is simple. Unless you are Native and/or a woman you will not understand, and have no right to say it was just a joke. Fultonreed, that is exactly why we are so easily offended, because the disrespect of my people and women will continue if we are not.
reader1- I am sad to see where this "discussion" is headed, so let me add some guidance straight from the news article.
Natives are likening the remarks to those made last spring by Imus, who called the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos.” CBS Radio fired Imus on April 12, 2007, and pulled the plug on his nationally syndicated show. He returned to the air in December at WABC-AM in New York after a series of public apologies.
“KBFX wishes to apologize to everyone in our audience and the community who was offended by the insensitive and inappropriate comments alluding to native women,” the statement reads.
“We are confident that what was said was an isolated incident, and it in no way reflects the views of KBFX station personnel,” the station’s statement reads.
This "joke" was not tolerated by the community and the supervisors of these two men. I did not hear this 'old saying' before this article, and have learned a couple of different points of interest.
1) Radio Disc Jockeys are not above being held responsible for their words. They are held accountable for their "hate speech".
2) There are still people out there that have "thick skin" and are "confident" that can take a 'joke' such as this. I pray that these people don't go and excersize their 'free speech' in a African American dominant neighborhood and announce over the air a 'joke' about urinating in an African American woman. Same situation, different race.
This is Alaska, I am Alaska Native, Inupiaq to be more specific. When a joke refers to a man urinating in me and the joke is over the air on the radio station that is being listened to by the general public, of course Alaska Natives everywhere is going to complain to the radio station and bring light to the problem. These are the steps that have been taken and it sounds like alot of the above users want to enable these two disc jockeys. I agree that they have bills and need to be able to pay them, but not in the profession they have now been suspended from. Even Don Imus had to profusely apologize for his racey remarks and receive approval from NAACP and the very team he was talking about to get back on the air.
I also want to remind everyone that it does not matter the target demographic the station was aiming for. There are people of all ages listening, therefore, they should be striving to be positive role-models.
No amount of crude attempts at humor can change the fact that good native women were outraged.
As it seems some people just can't get past the "it's only a joke" phase of their intellectual makeup, I will now reiterate what I already posted, and hope to God, that this will sink in those thick brain cells of the defenders of those two dj's.
Picture your women being thought of as funny objects. Objects you can pee in. You can't? Thought so. Okay, the following may help. It's a famous quote from the venerable Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemoeller.
"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Natives have to speak up!
If someone wants to make a joke about peeing in my girlfriend, go for it...it prrobably wont be that funny because it wont make much sense, but go for it. I have a sense of humor, and I like to use it.
akkid 86- I suggested the removal of your comment simply because the Fairbanks Daily News Miner is not the place for those jokes. I hope that there were not a large number of people who read them. If you used those jokes on the air, you would be out of a job right along with these disc jockeys. Please refer to the user agreement as to why I suggested removal.
My point is, last post, I would rather live in country where people are free to say something that might offend, then one where you cant.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Radio stations and comedians have historically tested the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. No one is ever going to agree on censorship issues like this because people are all different and have varying levels of sensitivity. If my wife were an Alaskan Native I would find this offensive. Then again, if my wife laughed at the joke and cited an even funnier joke about white male disc-jockey's then I would lighten up.
The fact that this 'thread' has so many posts shows that people are at least engaged and aware. There will always be extremes of opinions on censorship. The fact is that freedom of speech does not exist in America. You cannot stand up and say whatever you want. Not since the Hate Crime legislation was passed. It's good that threads like this cause so much interest, because Hate Crime legislation can easily turn into some Orwellian 1984 Thought Police scenario.
Balance is the key and an awareness of your audience.
I don't think you should fire them though. That seems extreme.
Give them a few hours community service in a Native Alaskan Woman's Refuge.
If you punish people out of anger it leads no where.
People are not being punished "out of anger". Hopefully they're being punished out of RIGHTEOUS anger!
It all comes down to, how do the native women feel about being the object of sick humor. How would all other nationalities and races of women feel about being objects for men to pee in.
Shakespeare said it very well, indeed. "Much truth is spoken in humor!" I hope I paraphrased it right.
I think you all should go back and read the "Racism Exists" letter to the Editor from Tuesday.
There's some really good comments there.
I have a question... i read the majority of the comments and the article but was it proved that the guy who said the comment did it intentionally? or was it just a mix up of words?
The Shakespeare quote is more accurately like this: "Much truth is spoken in jest".
It means humor is used, no matter how, to expose our subconscious thought processes and beliefs.
The fact that two DJs who have made their pay-checks by behaving as irreverent adolescents have stepped into this mud-pie doesn't surprise me in the least. And while distastefully childish, and something that would've personally led me to change the station, the greater offense in this drama, in my opinion, is this;
The two were employed by a Christian-Right-owned network (Clear Channel), that KNEW the DJs were routinely pushing the envelope. They KNEW that they had a web-site that paraded scantily clad women, with implicit remarks pertaining to masturbation, etc.
YET!!
When these two 'launch into raunch,' as they're known (and historically paid) to do, and the heat gets turned up, whether appropriately or not, the station's owners feign indignation and empathy for the plaintiffs, suspend the DJs, give their pay to charity, and pretend that they had nothing at all to do with it. All the wh