NY Radio station mocks victims of tsunami

[Greenguy]

http://cbsnewyork.com/topstories/top...025160857.html

Jan 25, 2005 6:01 pm US/Eastern
NEW YORK (CBS) As the world continues to pour out its heart and pocketbooks to victims of the Asian tsunami, a New York radio station played a song, which sparked outrage from listeners, because it used racial slurs and made light of the disaster.

With the tsunami killing an astounding 212,000 and leaving 6,200 others missing, who would poke fun at this?

The answer is hip-hop radio station WQHT, known as Hot 97. The station’s morning DJ, known as Miss Jones, aired an insulting song that included racial slurs at Asians and had lyrics about God laughing at those who drowned in the waves.

Jameson Gong, who is with the Organization of Chinese Americans, says Asian Americans are outraged.

“People from all over the community are talking about what to do, rallies, protests and sending letters to the FCC,” says Jameson Gong of the organization of Chinese Americans.

The station, owned by Emmis Communications, aired the song for four days before pulling it.

Calls to station management were not returned but on the station’s website a statement was posted.

“Hot 97 regrets the airing of material that made light of a serious and tragic event. We apologize to our listeners and anyone who was offended.” - WQHT radio statement.

City Council member John Liu would like to see Federal action.

“Clearly, if the FCC can level a $550,000.00 fine for a wardrobe malfunction, they certainly can address this kind of absolute indecency,” said John Liu, (D) New York City Council.

The station has issued an apology but others say that is not enough. They feel that some punitive action needs to be taken.
*****

This has been on the news all morning - while I agree 100% that the song is VERY offensive, here's the problem with the rest of it:

1 - The repeated cries for fines form the FCC - that's NOT what the FCC does! They can't issue fines for things some people think are indecent. If they could, I'd be filing complaints about Bill O'Rilley all day long

2 - It truly is an offensive song, yet all the news outlets keep playing the song or printing the lyrics under the cover that it's "news" If it's that offensive, why put it out there for the entire country to hear/read?

Fucking Media