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Okuizumo Government via AFP - Getty Images, file
A replica of Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece sculpture David at a public park in Okuizumo, Shimane prefecture, western Japan, in a photo taken by a local official on Aug. 28, 2012.
Agence France-Presse reports — A replica of Michelangelo's Renaissance sculpture David that was erected suddenly last summer is unnerving residents of a Japanese town, with some calling for the naked masterpiece to be given underwear.
The 16 foot tall marble statue was donated by a businessman who hails from the area around Okuizumo.
"It is the first time we have had anything like this in our town. Perhaps people were perplexed," town official Yoji Morinaga said.
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Leave a Comment:
And I thought prudishness was limited to the U. S.
Art is art. The complainers need to grow up.
I haven't figured out how to collapse something, anybody know? Tyler or whomever should delete this. Oh, good. somebody did.
Talk about penis envy! C'mon Tojo get over your bad selves.
The Italians have been enjoying this view for hundreds of years.
If they're envious of that little thing, they're pretty darn pitiful.
That's because you're an ahistoric Americentric American who speaks with an acidic tongue, Mike.
Thats what happens when you let your kids play with barbie and ken dolls when they are young.
If they are that upset then just put a toga on it and call it good.
This is silly.
Boxers or briefs???
To the author of this piece, and MSNBC, which does not seem to believe in copy editing: The adjective for JAPAN is JAPANESE. GOOD GRAMMAR COUNTS! Use it, or look like illiterates.
Japan is the porn capital of the east. This is really funny.
How about a fig leaf instead of underwear? Much more classy... even if still absurdly prudish.
The author doesn't write the headlines. I agree though; the first thing people read is the headline, so they could at least get that right (write?).
It is a great sculpture, sure... but I've always thought the hands were all wrong... they're too big.
hahahaha......................Commando shorts?
they had better not visit the Sistine chapel in the Vatican, Adam is naked while God is touching out to him; the Japanese are a very sophisticated culture, it is a small group not the majority of Japanese.
What about a banana hamock?
There is just something wrong with the picture. 6 guys staring up intensely at Michelangelo's "junk". Have to wonder what they are REALLY thinking...............
Well, put two dumplings and an egg roll there instead.
The Japanese Taliban will try to blow it up.
@ Mark-423819
You're correct, the hands are too big.
There's an old saying that the size of a man's hands indicate the size of . . .
. . . apparently not true of David, if at all!
@ ProBusiness
Wishing they were so lucky?
@ Antistupidity
I have a response to that, but won't! :)
Pretty weird coming from a society that hosts a huge penis festival yearly (pun intended). Guess they're embarrassed about their tiny wasabis. It's like a can of cocktail wieners learning about bigger-than-the-bun footlong hotdogs. They don't like it.
Yeah I chose not to put up the whole comment either :)
Tighty-whities...how ridiculous would that look?
@ Antistupidity
I didn't realize it until I read Mark-423819's posting that the statue had hands!
:)
He's just your average guy hanging out.
Wow, this from a people who take nude mixed gender hot baths.
Spoken like a true moron. Apparently you've never heard of the middle east...or ANYWHERE eastward.
Savvy
My thoughts exactly! I have a t-shirt from the Festival which looks very phallic and says, in Japanese, "Proud of my big root".
Agree with the above. Here in the USA women are not covered in sheets, but many of you hypocritical liberals love that look, yet blast fellow Americans for being prudish. Don't you just love it when a liberal trashed the USA? Hey liberals, go immigrate elsewhere since our country is so prudish for you and enjoy dressing in sheet. Japan should just return the gift since they are offended by it. You do not alter someones' artwork!
Wow what a great article. 3 whole sentences, this reporter really pulled out all the stops covering this story.
My small city has a park in the downtown area with a statue of David also, and it when it was put up during the 1960's, it caused an uproar similar to this.. What the city finally did was turn the statue around so David's butt was facing the street. Over the years mildew or algae or whatever that green stuff is has grown all over the statue. The unofficial name of the park is now "Green weenie park". Most people don't even remember the actual park name. True story!
Why did they bother setting up the statue in the town if they're so embarrassed/offended by it?
I am actually amazed that someone has not demanded that the picture of the statue should be taken down yet.
If women really want equality in this country why do we still have separate bathrooms? Why do women demand that they have separate bathrooms from men and yet ask for equality with the same breath? Give them the tools (guns) to make themselves equal to larger, stronger, tougher men and they want to outlaw them...talk about illogical and stupid. Do not even get me started on people and "curse" words.
What the hell are you talking about Tired-2176559? Your whole comment is illogical and stupid.
WTF, Tired? What does any of what you just spewed have to do with the issue of the article? Go screw yourself since you have such a problem with women!
When I first read the headline, I thought it must be from someplace in Kansas or Oklahoma. I guess Japan has its share of uptight repressed puritans too.
This from a country that parades 60 foot wood phalluses through their towns and chase a naked man around to touch him for luck or whatever??? REALLY!!!
This from the society that, according to my older brother, has some of the most prolific and demeaning hard-core porn on the net! What a joke!
It sounds like a classic case of "Penis Envy" to me!
their afraid that the women will get hurt, climbing the statue. after all its bigger than ????????????????????????????
This reminds me of the Simpsons episode when Marge pickets against Ichy and Scratchy. At the end they want her to protest Michelangelo's David, but she feels it is art. I have to agree with Marge though. There is nothing wrong with the human body. There is something wrong with violence and that after thousands of years we still use violence as entertainment.
It's only a replica, not the original. Personally I think they should just grow up and accept it as the art it is, but if that doesn't work then one of them should just take a chisel to it. One whack, and it's gone. Problem solved (unless they object to ass too).
It all has to do with Japanese men not wanting Japanese women to see something larger than themselves, if you get what I mean...
Apparently Japanese men are schlong-less. I can't think of any other reason they'd want to hide something that I thought ~half their population has.
Based off of your comment, we know what you're thinking.
I just read Tired’s rant on equality of women. I do not feel the need to be as big and strong as a man. I know I am not bigger or stronger than most men. Even if this is what I wanted, I am pretty sure body building would be the way to go. I do not think having a gun locked in a safe (just in case) is going to magically make me an equal opponent to a man trying to hurt me. Equality is not about that. When I ask for equality I would like for it to not be negative to be feminine, if that is how you are. Or to be more masculine. I would like to see more women in higher roles of employment. You do not have to be bigger or stronger to run a company. It is about education, experience and know how. I would like to see more opportunities for a parent (mom OR dad) to take time off to raise the kids without falling too far behind. But ya, I won't go too far on this since it is waaayyyy off topic. I just had to say something.
This, from the country that makes "rape games" - video games where the object is to rape girls.
And while you're at it, what about all that boring white marble? Paint him pink with blonde hair and cherry lips.
Fig leaf?
haggisbingo-2225582
Out of curiosity...Do you ever get tired of being wrong??
Damn! Bet Bathsheba woke up many nights pining for Uriah.
quiet123...I read somewhere that the original statue is mainly viewed from upclose to the statue looking up..and not directly perpendicular to it. So michaelangelo carved the marble being viewed from that angle so it is not anatomically correct from any other view than from below. If you were standing below it..I would look correct.
I always thought David's "package" was too small, compared to his hands, as others have mentioned. Can you imagine if the statue was sculpted true to life? Wow!
"(unless they object to ass too)."
They don't object 2 azz; They just prefer their victims 2 B MUCH younger than David is suppose 2 B here.
;-)
Maybe someones feeling a little inadequate?
@Backcountry164
Hagg, tired of being wrong? Surely you jest!
They should hang a sheet of plexiglass in front of the genitalia. It would be clear but have some pixelation. It would blur out what is behind it but you would still kind of see what was behind it. Just like their videos.
Just call in the Muslims to blow it off. Or convert it to a skittles fountain.
Underwear?? Seriously????? LOL!!! Obviously no artists in the group calling for this! LOL!!! My good laugh for the day!
apparently, the Japanese folks have some serious penis envy
Ever see Japanese porn? They pixelate the hoo haas.
Let's all grab our speedos and head to Rome to clothe the original David. I wonder how many it will take.
They could put a Kilt on David.
Although he'd probably have a lot more visitors on windy days!
:)
This from a country that has no qualms about raping the ocean of it's wildlife.
niece1964 - Fig leaf?
A fig leaf is nothing to worry about - but if it would take an elephant ear leaf then you would really have a conversation piece.
Seriously, there is a replica of David at the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, LA area, here in Southern Cal. You would be amazed at the different opinions people have of it.
The pissing and moaning should have been done before the statue was erected....(I know..I know), not after.
It's classic art...Not porn...geez.
Leave it alone or take the whole thing down, anything "short" of that would only bring attention, or maybe that's what they want...Little old ladies looking up to see if David has a pee-pee under there. It would make for some funny ass photo's
There is also a statue of David in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. A lot of photos, as you can imagine.
This is one thing that is lost on current society. Passion creates all art. Without passion there is none. Take a look at the absolutely beautiful architecture of the time David was created. We could not possibly match it today. In skill, or beauty.
And yet all arts programs are being cut from our schools so it is easier to create corporate drones. We wouldn't want them to think or be passionate, now would we?
Do I sense some “insecurity” from Japanese males and perhaps envy from females caused by David’s bird being on full display?
I'm just glad it's in Japan because if it was China we would have an article about some guy named "Won Long Dong" or something like that complaining..............talk about all the editing and deleting that would cause.
I'm wondering why they chose this statue for a public park anyway. A nice statue of Buddha would be more appropriate.
@justsayin..fool
I think he looks correct regardless of where I would be standing.
They can put him in my backyard and I promise to keep him clean & dusted!
:)
For those commenting on the anatomical discrepancy between David's head and hands and the rest of the statue, this feature was intentional on the part of Michelangelo. As I've been told by guides in Florence, as well as read in reference materials, it was done to show that the universal qualities which man possesses which make him capable of so much are physical strength and intellectual reasoning.
Another interesting feature of the statue is its extreme balance. It was the first major sculpture designed with the stone removed from between the legs. Yet, at approximately 15 feet tall and about 6 tons (references vary), if the marble were to be removed beneath the left foot, David would balance on the right foot.
In 1980, I had the privilege of seeing and even touching the original statue. (At that time, there were no guards hovering over it, and it was just roped off from the public like other displays.) It is by far the most breath-taking thing I have ever seen. Even more fantastic than the Sistine Chapel, which I also saw. I could only stare and say "WOW"! One of the more impressive things was the position in which it was displayed. As one rounded a corner in the museum, the statue was straight ahead at the end of the aisle. As one approached the statue, its unbelievable size became apparent and gradually one saw the veins, sinews, etc. which stand out so vividly.
As a side note, I did miss out on one of the more "interesting" souvenirs that day. Seeing it at one kiosk and not wanting to carry anything with me so soon, I passed it up, planning to buy it later. Of course, I never saw it again. I was a small jigsaw puzzle (like a child's 8x10" backed by cardboard) of the statue -- from waist to mid-thigh. Would have been one heck of a conversation piece!
I'm with poster #1.
I am just relieved that, for once, the ridiculous prudishness is not coming from holy rolling, self righteous, Americans.
This has got to be the most comments I have ever seen for such a small article!
The article says David was erected, quite frankly I must have missed that b/c he looked quite flaccid to me!
This article was not posted by NBC to inform its readers. They wanted to post a photo of a nude man in order to see how many ignorant comments they could collect. The Viners have not let NBC down!
@ woods - There are a lot of comments. I noticed that the first thing that came to the minds of a bunch of guys was penis envy. I wonder why that was. . . .
To Just Me-1436687 -
I'm not ashamed to admit I'm jealous. My dream trip (one day) will be to Italy to see the works of the Masters. Thank you for sharing. Nice post.
I didn't know that there are republicans in Japan. you learn someting new every day. lol
Interesting... the only people I have ever seen use the word 'gubers' with that spelling are from- What did you call them?- oh yes... 'backwards billybob towns'.
Backwards or forwards, Billy Bob towns prefer 'goobers' and have for a couple of centuries now. And none of us would have issues with David in the town square. Jenna Jameson signing autographs at the local 4H show, maybe... but maybe not. We really are not as prudish as you may think, and we are quite good with the written word... unlike many who have such a detrimental view of our ways but can't seem to express it in a manner that might give some validity to their opinion, however mistaken it may be.
It belongs in a museum not out in the public square. You don't see Lady Liberty with her ta ta's hanging out.
You mean Victory, Onemanonewomanmarriage, and yes, she has a breast hanging out. So did Columbia, before they "updated" her to be anorexic. And when I worked in an art museum we regularly received complaints about the nudes, ironically sometimes from crunchy mommies who felt that they could whip it out and breastfeed their infants right in the gallery (we had a family area).
Shinto shrines have phalluses in them, so I don't understand what the big deal is about. Plus, my male friends have told me that Japanese porn is the most disturbing that they've ever seen, with what looks like underaged girls expressing fear and pain, not pleasure.
So maybe the Japanese, despite their education, eschew healthy nudity, sensuality, and pleasure? How sad.
That's right, onemanonewomanmarriage...
Lock it up behind closed doors. If it's there, it doesn't have to offend your delicate sensibilities.
As for Lady Liberty with her ta ta's hanging out... that wouldn't make a lot of sense. If they wanted to give a true depiction, she'd be bent over the base of the statue with a phallus pointed at her toosh with the letters REPUB on one of the boys and LICAN on the other. :p
They want to cover up Michelangelo's "David"? This, coming from a country that has a fertility festival complete with penis shaped, well, everything.
funny thing, though - it couldn't be DAVID because he isn't circumcised. side comment - Japanese put digital blockers over the "operating parts" of their porn videos. They just have really GOOD IMAGINATIONS
Onemanonewomanmarriage
Do you want to see some really offensive art? Take a look at my avatar. It is a bronze I poured a couple of years ago. On the left is a single farmer plowing a field behind an ox. On the right is the world, with the mass of humanity created by the "go forth and multiply" philosophy dripping off the planet, causing it to implode and breaking the arm of the scale of justice.
It would not bother me for an instant if a few billion fell off the face of the earth. It can start with attitudes like yours for all I care.
FYI, Michelangelo's David is in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Enneagram, no, David is not at the Louvre, it is in Florence, Italy.
Compromise: The undies should be a super-size version of those they sell in the souvenir shops of Florence with David's package printed on them.
"It belongs in a museum not out in the public square. You don't see Lady Liberty with her ta ta's hanging out."
Sometimes you do: Delacroix' Liberty Leading the People. Google it.
Sheri - Thank you for the clarification. I may have seen a copy or perhaps it was on loan at that time.
tell japan to go "suck it"
Most japs have a small penis. They feel inadequate. You should see how they reacted to the nude statue of Shaq a few years ago. Tore it down overnight.
So you are such a stud I guess. At least this kind of statement says so much about you that we need not collapse it. You've done yourself enough damage.
A case of penis envy gone awry?
more like a dic* heads.
And.................how would you know japs have small penis? hmmm...............sounds like you've some weird fetish.
"Most j*** have a small penis." How do you know?
Their probably saying that this guy is really hung.
Most "japs" would kick your racist ass for calling them "japs".
Yeah!! They prefer ''Slants''
Doesn't look "erected" to me... OK, someone had to say it.
David Had Dicky-Do B@lls, They Hang Down Farther Than His Dicky-Do
It may not be erect, but it's as hard as rock! :-)
ahahahahaha! I can't stop laughiing!ahahahaha!
I cracked up at the first sentence...the sculpture was erected...hahhahahah!
I love humor!! Especially the irreverent, pun-filled variety.
is there such a word as "dicaphobic"?
give it underwear - or at least a FIG LEAF (of course, 3X normal size) NAH!
Puritans are alive and well everywhere.... It's a beautiful work of art, must we take everything so personally?
When they shower do they close their eyes, and wear underwear?
depends on whether they are trying to conserve water and showering with a friend
Penis envy ?
Go talk to Joe above
I was once in Japan, in a phone booth I couldn't see outside the glass windows because they were covered with porn advertising. So....????
My god....is this news? It should read "Wack Jobs" in this town are complaining.
@rickeyt..
As long as the wack jobs wern't wacking.....
Back East (#8.1):
Now THAT is funny!!
He doesn't need clothes, but the grounds around him do need landscaping. It's not a work of art if you just plop a statue down in the middle of a parking lot. I thought people of Japan were into beautiful, inspiring gardens, but all I see in that photo are weeds, a saggy fence, and a poorly kept lawn.
Agreed the grounds around the statue and in the background should be upgraded to compliment the statue.
That's what I was thinking. It looks like it was just plopped down in an empty lot in some industrial area.
If you can get to Florence sometime go to the Acadamie and see the original. The setting there is almost perfect and the impression is very different from this photo. To walk up to this statue is to be awestruck by the talent and amazing skill of Michelangelo. It is an incredible work of the sculptors art.
I hope they never erect a statue for me. Just think you spend all that time standing out there in all kinds of weater with birds using you for a toilet and a bunch of taggers wanting to deface you.....cmon this is just a story here and these people are from a smaller town where they may be the last people on earth that actually believe in morality....
I think this was the first thing they put in the proposed place of the park Notice the temp fence in the background.
So, tell me, how do you tell the difference? What if its a bunch of naked guys walking down the street during a gay parade, is that a form of "art" too?
One mans treasure is another mans trash. Depends on the interpretation.
Gee Oneman...obsess about gays much?
"What if it a bunch of naked guys walking down the street during a gay parade, is that a form of "art" too?"
That is not art; That is personal expression.
You're name says it all; Take your homophobic crap somewhere else.
I'm sure there are towns in the US that would do the same.
Yes there are. I live in one of them.
And be picketed by the Westboro Satanic Church.
Westboro would only get upset if you did a replica of 'The Kiss" with two dudes.
This is an article. 2 lines that dont even form a coherent thought.
Richard...
THREE lines..... not two.
One, two, three.... see how that works?
OK... I apologize. I just couldn't resist. Enjoy your day.
XD,
Actually there are 4 lines divided into 3 sentences in 2 colors. Isn't this exciting?
You read it then commented so it worked. Thats all that counts with the newsies now is how many comments can they get per article....
Wow Really. It's art people. You would think that they knew prior to building the statue that he was naked.
I think they have more pressing matters to be concerned about than if David has undies or not.
One of the sentences in the article:
"The 16 foot tall marble statue was donated by a businessman who hails from the area around Okuizumo."
Wonder if someone sneaked in and put it there in the middle of the night.
Most places that censor this type of sculpture place a fig leaf or loin cloth over the 'offending' area. Much better than BVDs...
♪♫He's free as the breeze
He's always at ease
He lives in the jungle and hangs by his knees
As he swings through the trees
With a trapeze.....in his B.V.D.s.
He's got a union card and he's practicing hard
To play, the guitar, gonna be a big star
Yeah, he's gonna go far
And carry moonbeams home in a jar!
He ordered Chets guitar course C.O.D.
Makes A and E and he's working on B
Big C&W and R&B and even the chimpanzees agree
That someday soon he'll be a celebrity!♪♫
:-)
If you love something, put a banana-hammock on it! -Beyonce
Male or female, so-called "flawed" or so-called "perfect" - the human body is amazing and beautiful. Why destroy this piece of art?
In Victorian times the sculpture was displayed with a detachable, over sized fig leaf. It would certainly be more tasteful than a diaper and a sight more dignified.
He is the Man, no doubt about that, and the greatest warrior of the Old Testament. Perhaps the creative individuals in that city should come up with some costumes that are more up to date?
NEWS FLASH: Uncountable males born since the beginning of time.... and yes, you guessed it, they all have a penis!
Some use it for display, some for keeping pee off of their feet, I forget what else its used for. Damn senility.
Only if all the female statues get bras.................. too funny.. what is wrong with you
Its Not Alive...............
And a few women also
I've seen the original and the thing that strikes you the most is that the hands are larger than one would expect. They're huge at close distance, but they do look less large in proportion farther away.
Most people actually seemed to be more impressed by his ass than his penis pertaining to that region of the sculpture.
Japan actually has a very long history of erotic art, so this probably says more about the current attitudes than those handed down culturally.
Now that you pointed it out, yes, the hands are quite large.
Debra and Mike - I certainly hope you don't feel qualified to be an art critic, especially one of the masters. The size of his hands? Really? In relation to what? Perhaps it's the angle of the camera, lighting, etc. I'm sure you'd be dissing on the Pieta as well.
The hands and head being unproportional to the rest of the body is well known. You don't have to be an art critic or a master art critic (?) to judge the proportionality of a sculpture of a human body.
Read the history of the statue from its original beginnings to Michelangelo's completion of it in 1501-04. As the history states, during that period of the Renaissance individual parts of the human body were often exaggerated. The original purpose of the statue was to be part of the buttresses of the cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, thus potentially explaining why both the head and the hands were exaggerated. Because of the size and weight of the finished statue, it could not be placed on the roof of the cathedral.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_%28Michelangelo%29
Yes they do have erotic art and some of it is quite expensive and held closely by only a few of the richest people in Japan. reproductions are frowned on and a close watch for them is always in effect
Why would someone want to change a statue that dates back as far as Michelangelo's David? I think if they keep fighting for it, and do it, visitors will begin to argue and be offended by doing the BVD thing. Michelangelo is a renaissance artist, and David is part of him. A part of our lives. A part of history. It should remain as is. It would not look right. it would be a disgrace and Michelangelo would turn over in his grave if he knew what was being thought about. This is down right WRONG. Keep David as is.
not only that, but what about all the paintings of NAKED WOMEN? Are they going to paint over those too? I realize these are replicas, but they are replicas of masterpieces. Isn't covering David a male chauvinist ego buster? Cover the man, but not the woman. NO. either cover all of them, if it gets that far, or don't cover any of them........
In Japan? Really? I'm surprised they don't dress him in a Hentai kiddie-porn outfit. Or a Sailor Moon short=short skirt and panties. Miso horny!
As ridiculous as this whole thing is, Hello Kitty boxers on Michelangelo's David would be epic.
Someone w/ better Photoshop skills needs to get working on it.
Or those full-length pajamas w/ feet!
Should just be thankful he's not a fountain...
Japan is pretty easy going when it comes to nudity, but this may just seem strange or very out of place to them.
I may be wrong, but I think their culture is usually ok with nudity, but not with any kind of body hair. And 'David' does appear to have some fuzz.
I know Japan has a panty fetish, but this is taking it a bit far.
If there going to change him. How about this. Give him a jock strap, a ball cap, a ball bat propped over his left shoulder, and a ball glove between his right arm and thigh. That would look to American though. Wouldn't it?
*They're*
*too*
Japan has a baseball league where they wear jock straps and ball caps and even carry baseball bats and gloves. The Japanese are into boring sports, as well.
Bob,
I Know the Japs have baseball, and what's so boring about it? Guess you've never played and don't watch it.
Is football boring *too*?
You guess wrong, sawmill, I played baseball through high school. My grandfather played minor league ball and my dad played college ball. I enjoy playing the sport, but watching it on TV bores me to tears.
Playing football: not boring. Watching football: boring. I guess I'm more of a doer and less of a spectator.
Sawmill....just an FYI...the term "Japs" is so far out of favor, you must have been raised in a family that has still harbored a lot of bigotry. It is one thing to be an idiot, but once you type a written comment, you pretty much validate that. My dad was a WWII vet who still feels the need to use that term, we just shake our heads and walk out of the room and give him his meds before we leave. Yes, lets remember this is a country that incarcerated Americans---yes born in the USA of Japanese parents...and some idiot still uses the term?
If my David looked like this, I would most likely cry, every time I saw him. Being a woman, there is no such thing as hands too big!!!
They may take away my guns, they may take away my every civil liberty ever guaranteed me by the Constitution that your very own father risked his life to protect and defend, but the day they take away my freedom to say what I want, when I want to say it, will be the day I breathe my last...
Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs
Oh I'm sorry...that's not PC...my bad
re: Sir Q: "Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs Japs
Oh I'm sorry...that's not PC...my bad"
What a d**chebag!
You can say or write anything you want, no one is "taking that away". We just have a right to call you a douchbag for whatever stupid thing comes out of your little brain.
I guess d**chebag is PC so no one is going to come down on you for saying it...but you're going to get just the opposite reaction from me and applaud you for saying it, and more to the point, the right that you have for saying it. Strange isn't it that freedom of speech is supposed to be the platform for the liberalist agenda...that is as long as you say what they want you to say and remains politically correct. Calling someone else a name as you and Bob Freebird have chosen to do has no more effect on them than breathing on them would. But some people prefer to live in their glass houses...
Let me explain to you how freedom of speech works. You can say anything you want (within reason; fire in a crowded theater, etc.), but you don't have the right to be free of criticism for it. Quit being such a victim, Q, no one is supressing your right to free speech. Are all conservatives whiney babies?
Well let me explain to YOU how freedom of speech works. You can say anything you want, anywhere you want, anytime you want. PERIOD. End of story. Your nonsensical "fire in a crowded theater" included. However, my own PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY keeps me from doing it, something you libs like to have nothing to do with. The true victims are the ones who take offense at anything that can be spoken, as if the very essence can somehow make them any less of a human being. And you're right, no one is going to suppress my right to free speech. I'll see to that personally. Are all left-wing libs so capable of stating the obvious?
They can always ship it to me if they don't want it, hehe. Will be a great centerpiece for my tropical garden.