Who do you think invented the term "Uncle Tom"? Just because Sly is white doesn't mean it's a racial slur. There are a lot of black people who would refer to Colin Powell as an "Uncle Tom" as well.

Mark Belling certainly was a racist when he referred to Hispanics as "wetbacks". But let's get real. Sly was using labels in the same context that any black person would have used them. Why should he lose his job? I've heard black employees call white employees "honky" and "patio boys", I've heard gay/lesbians call straights "breeders" and "rednecks", the list goes on. But we'll never see any of them lose their jobs, will we? That's why I don't give a shit about minorities anymore. F*** you! You want the whoe world set up so you can be a hateful as you want, while everybody else pays the price instead.

Yes, there should be consistent reaction to both incidents, but not by going off the deep end as some would like. Mark Belling should not be fired for what he did and Sly should not be fired for what he did.

Radio is extremely difficult in that there is no "delete" key and no editor's review like there is in a newspaper. You're stuck with what you say over the air whether you like it or not. In both cases, these comments were mistakes, but they were aberrations, rather than normal patterns of behavior.

The reaction to Sly's remarks was about right. He issued a written apology for his mistake, and management accepted it and moved on. It's time for the rest of us to move on as well.

If we do not like what Sly said, there is a way he will lose his show. Radio, like any other business, requires that its employees satisfy enough customers. If enough people stop listening, Sly will be off the air. That is the way to get radio personalities off the air, not exploding a mistake and using it as an opportunity.

And I say this as someone who strongly supports Condoleezza Rice and, in general, strongly disagrees with much of what Sly says.

I agree with the first poster, though I wouldn't necessarily be as brash. Fair is fair. Anyone who spouts off should be punished for it, whether they are black, white gay, straight, male, female, etc. As a minority myself, I have dealt with my share of slurs, but I also cringe when I hear another minority speak hatefully of someone else. There is simply no way anyone can rightfully speak out against hate while being hateful themselves. There truly is a double standard and it must stop. All it will accomplish is that it will force people to choose upsides. And not necessarily with the good side.

What do we as minorities stand to gain in the way of equality by becoming hatemongers? It only puts one more thorn in the side of our society. One more obstacle that we don't need. The history of our country is rife with chapters of brutality towards minorities. But what will be said of our generation in a hundred years from now? How will we be remembered? We would like to think of ourselves as enlightened, impassioned, eager to change things, but we must not forget that we are also human and that we do make mistakes. And one of those mistakes is the erroneous presumption that we are infallible just because we are the good guys. That's where the trouble begins.

I would simply like to see the same groups that pressured/continue to pressure WISN for Belling's resignation apply that same pressure to WTDY for Sylvester's resignation. I could care less about what either of them said. Their commments simply make them sound like ingornant, bigoted a$$holes, but they have a right to speak their mind. I think consistency from the left-leaning groups that asked for Belling's resignation isn't too much to ask...it might actually lend some credibility to their push to oust Belling.

"I would simply like to see the same groups that pressured/continue to pressure WISN for Belling's resignation apply that same pressure to WTDY for Sylvester's resignation."

Boy, you just want the whole f**king world to get fired, don't you! Nobody can work anywhere just because they said something you disagree with. Just how tolerant are YOU, by the way? Have you ever said something that offended someone else? Belling deserves to be fired, but Sly honestly didn't say anything about Colin Powell or Condi Rice that any black person would have said. Just because Sly is white doesn't magically change the context of the words he used. If Sly were black, Esit wouldn't even be an issue. Minorities express their prejudices far more freely and openly. When there's balance in the way hate speech is addressed, then I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say. Until then, STFU!!

"I would simply like to see the same groups that pressured/continue to pressure WISN for Belling's resignation apply that same pressure to WTDY for Sylvester's resignation."

Boy, you just want the whole f**king world to get fired, don't you! Nobody can work anywhere just because they said something you disagree with. Just how tolerant are YOU, by the way? Have you ever said something that offended someone else? Belling deserves to be fired, but Sly honestly didn't say anything about Colin Powell or Condi Rice that any black person would have said. Just because Sly is white doesn't magically change the context of the words he used. If Sly were black, it wouldn't even be an issue. Minorities express their prejudices far more freely and openly. When there's balance in the way hate speech is addressed, then I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say. Until then, STFU!!

Calm the fuck down asshole.

"Calm the fuck down asshole."

Ah, the typical liberal response to the voice of dissension. Hey dickhead, why don't you just learn to respect other people's opinions instead of calling them assholes? Not everyone has to agree with you, and I don't see why anyone should. Liberal dickwads like you have been ruling this town far too long. It's about time the other side had their say.

"Hey dickhead, why don't you just learn to respect other people's opinions instead of calling them assholes?"

That is hilarious.

Gosh, these Madison liberals have the most shallow mentalities. Is this all an education at UW-Madison is worth? Just look at the crap these morons write!

Belling deserves to be fired, but Sly doesn't??? And the rationale behind that would be what exactly? Both used derogatory terms in reference to minorities, both should be treated equally, but in typical liberal fashion, only the conservative host needs to be reprimanded because he "probably has never even met a black person in his whole life" while Sly "received permission" from his black callers to use those terms - fu@ckin' ridiculous. Where's the consistency in logic and methodology??? I am anti-censorship, and feel that everyone can say what they want when they want it, but I don't get liberal groups who pick and choose which derogatory speech they're going to try to silence...gee, why is their such strong anti-liberal sentiment in this country? ITS BECAUSE LIBERALS ARE FUCKWADS WHO LIVE BY DOUBLE STANDARDS IN OUR SOCIETY...AND THEY'RE WHINY LITTLE BITCHES!!!

"ITS BECAUSE LIBERALS ARE FUCKWADS WHO LIVE BY DOUBLE STANDARDS IN OUR SOCIETY...AND THEY'RE WHINY LITTLE BITCHES!!!"

No, liberals want everyone fired from their jobs regardless. It's the rational people who only want the guilty fired. Sly honestly didn't say anything that a black person would have said. Blacks say "Uncle Tom" to refer to blacks who sell out and turn their backs on their own race. If Sly were black, I'm sure there would be no outrage at all.

Belling used the word "wetback", which is a racial slur pure and simple. And yes, liberals do live by double-standards, and yes they are fuckwads.

Ha ha ha! You Americans are so stupid! Look at the kind of things you write about. This is what you stupid Americans call intelligent conversation. So stupid! I hope for the day when America is destroyed, whether by a nuclear war, by a meteor or by God himself. You stupid Americans must all die because you are so stupid. Crawl back into your shitholes an rot! Ha ha ha! All of your men are gay and all of your women are whores! Go to hell Americans!

To the anonymous poster- drop me an e-mail, tough guy. You can show your newfound hatred of minorities to me in an alleyway downtown and I'll show you my long-established contempt for racist college students who don't understand the way the world works. Otherwise, I won't dwell on an anonymous comment made out of sheer ignorance.

-pain1
pain@unincorporated.org

What anonymous poster are you referring to? And why do you consider that poster to be racist?

"You can show your newfound hatred of minorities to me in an alleyway downtown and I'll show you my long-established contempt for racist college students who don't understand the way the world works."

Ooooh, big tough bad-ass! You really scare us! We're just shitting our pants! So now we know how Madison liberals really like to slove problems: take to the streets and kick the crap out of everybody who doesn't see things your way. Democracy the way it should be, eh? No wonder people got fed up with political correctness so quickly. Take some drugs, say your mantra, go out and buy something nice for your mom, plowboy!

Uh-oh, sounds like there's gonna be a rumble here! pain1 is really super-pissed! He's gonna bash someone's head in. Look out, here he comes! He's gonna prove to the world what a real bad-ass he is! Bring it on, pain1. Step into the alleyway and show us how big and mean you are!

By the way, pain1, did you make it to second grade yet? Your spelling has improved greatly, though you still have some growing up to do.

I don't think the stereotype madisonian liberal would come across your face with the 9 iron.

i just think it's funny how whenever there's any sort of racial controversy in this country, it's the white folks who get the most upset.

why so defensive?

i'm with pain1 on this one.
-els

"i just think it's funny how whenever there's any sort of racial controversy in this country, it's the white folks who get the most upset."

You've never heard of Al Sharpton, Gene Parks, Regina Rhine, Louis Farakhan or Jesse Jackson, pal!

Ah, I see some students are already back from Thanksgiving! We missed you. Just can't wait to give your two cents worth to the Badger Herald Online, eh?

"it's the white folks who get the most upset."

White folks? And ONLY white folks? Excuse me, but I see quite a few blacks out on the street pissing off with impugnity up and down both sides of State Street. Especially when they're trying to scare white college students into coughing up some spare change. And a lot of those blacks are older but none the wiser. And if those college students don't give up the money, they are immediately considered racist.

That kind of bullsh*t has been going on for the longest time. That's why it's not hip to be a liberal anymore. Everyone is so sick and tired of liberals using guilt to get others to do what they won't do themselves. How about setting an example. You won't accomplish much by trying to shame someone else into helping the needy.

Remember, we earn our own money so WE will decide how it gets spent. I don't need some snob-faced rich white kid, whose parents are eager to get rid of him or her, to tell me how to be compassionate.

Look out, everybody! pain1 gonna open up a can o' whoop-ass! He gon' take us to the mountaintop an' unleash th' 'rath o' da Lord wid a quickness! Y'all repent, cuz da day o' reckonin' be comin'!