Thursday, July 25, 2013

Correction

In my previous post, I asserted that Renee Vaughan had overtly pretended to be a pro-Zimmerman demonstrator when she carried a sign proclaiming "Racist and Proud!".

As best I can tell, I was wrong. It seems that she did make it clear to some participants in the demonstration at the time that she was mocking the pro-Zimmerman protesters, but wasn't claiming to be one of them.

Nonetheless, the news media repeatedly portrayed her as pro-Zimmerman.

She has apologized, although many news outlets have not corrected their false stories.

It seems likely to me that Vaughan knew that misleading photos of her would appear in the press, which has been very eager to inflame racial hatred. In fact, Ms. Vaughan was inflaming racial hatred herself.

I retract my assertion that she overtly pretended to be a pro-Zimmerman demonstrator. What is likely is that she knew that her photo would be used by the press to smear Zimmerman supporters, but she did not explicitly claim to be one.

Which would increase her moral culpability, by using craft to accomplish evil while leaving herself plausible deniability.

Thanks to commentors who pointed out the mistake in my post.  

4 comments:

  1. Well said. Apology accepted.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJuly 26, 2013 at 7:31 AM

    Some people think "fomenting hate" is just innocent satire:

    The technical term is satire.
    --- Hoo the Elite

    Other people regret fomenting hate:

    I fomented hate instead of love, and I am sorry
    --- Renee Vaughan

    It's a class difference, probably. Some have it. Others don't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Egnor has class to acknowledge his mistake:

      As best I can tell, I was wrong. It seems that she did make it clear to some participants in the demonstration at the time that she was mocking the pro-Zimmerman protesters, but wasn't claiming to be one of them.

      And you don't.

      Hoo

      Delete
    2. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJuly 26, 2013 at 9:25 AM

      Maybe this is about Egnor, for you. But in reality, the only person who counts in this kerfuffle is Renee Vaughn, since she had admitted fomenting hate and apologized more than once for doing so. And her employers have gone so far as to apologize for her, noting that her behavior was "an offense to good taste".

      I understand why, Dr Elite Diaper, that you would not know an "offense to good taste" if it was wearing a neon sign and handing out business cards. :-)

      Delete