Josh Homme: I Am Not A Homophobe
Clearly we're not quite all talked out over the arguably Homme-phobic, "faggot"-using, sodomy-threatening (promising?) rant Josh went on after having himself a Urie moment in Oslo. Now we should probably cut Josh some slack because he was sick, sick, sick with a fever (see what I did there), and because hey, as Chris Rock said at 'Roo about Isiah Washington using the f-word, "it's not the word, it's the context," and in this context Homme's ... well he's threatening anal rape. OK that's not helping Josh. So let's see if Josh can help Josh. Here's his open letter to the media and "citizens of the internet," released this morning:
Member of the Peanut Gallery:Some journalists & citizens on the internet & are wondering: Q? Am I a homophobe because I included a slang for gay in with other "acceptable" curse words during a verbal lashing I gave a young concertgoer, after being hit by his shoe, during a show the other day? A= Nope. My gay family & friends, as well as myself, KNOW I am not a homophobe. For years now I've known gay is not a choice; one's skin color doesn't determine one's intelligence level; & red hair doesn't mean you're someone's stepchild. You see, it's not the words, it's their intent. I never said, nor suggested, that being gay is wrong, but apparently, based on your outrage to my flu-infused rant, you do! By that logic... I also told that young whipper snapper I'd have anal sex with him... how can I possibly reconcile these opposing viewpoints? I called him a pussy too. Does it mean I hate our one worlds' collective vagina? I never have been nor intend to be politically correct. That's your cross to bear. To me, that PC world would suck more shit than the porta-potty truck at Glastonbury. Homophobic? I'm in Queens of the Stone Age for crissake... You say, "So. Your band name doesn't prove anything." Maybe not. But it's a helluv a lot more definitive than the logic of some watchdog... (sorry canine-American, canine-European, canine-African, canine-Australian & canine-Asian) moralist, keeping score from pure perfectionville? If your glass house is squeegeed that clean & you need to do something, do what the great philosopher Bill Hick's once suggested: - forgive me-. Or don't. I'm not asking for either, OK? I think you should let both of your cheeks go loose so the stick will drop out. Either way I expect that you'll soon find another injustice from your chair, then roll to your bullhorn & point it out to the rest of us... Because you're so above it all. Or If you'll allow me to translate a wish of mine into your PC lingo:
Will you please go have, consensual, sex with yourself.
Pretty please with all natural, carbon offset sugar on top.Sincerely,
Mr. Missundastood
A.K.A. Joshua, Baby Duck, Jho
Head Choreographer & Do Stuff Corporation's pansexual spokes-thing
All this about "butt-fucking" and still he uses cheek-y metaphors. The guy's got class. Or, the guy's an ass. I'm boldly predicting those will be the responses here (along with pretty much everything in between). In the meantime, Josh and Shia should probably start a focus group for varying models of f-word apologies. They've got themselves pretty different styles, which is surprising to absolutely zero citizens of the internet.
Posted at 9:36 AM by amrit
Tags: Queens Of The Stone Age
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBgwPBPxY4s&NR=1
Score = 0
I agree with him. Lighten up bitches
Score = -5
"fag", "faggot" are the new "douche", "douchebag". lighten up queers.
[bonus]: don't throw shit at concerts. no video / cameras allowed.
Score = -24
[ this is what I mean ]
Score = -8
You know what "K"? I'm really fucking tired of seeing your stupid "Flash Yr Dick" logo on nearly every fucking Stereogum thread. Do you really think people want to hear about your dick? Are you so fucking arrogant or immature or meat-headed that you get off on the idea of thousands of people momentarily thinking about your dick as they scroll down the screen? Well, fyi, it makes you look like a giant douche. A giant fucking douche with a backwards hat and a Sammy Hagar t-shirt and hugely inflated sense of self importance. Even your comments live up to your stupid logo. Fag is the new douche? We're all queers? Dude, get real. Do everyone a favor too (and I know you won't, but whatever, I can ask): get your annoying as shit "Flash Yr Dick" off of Stereogum.
Anyone with me?
And here's a preemptive "fuck off" to whatever you write back.
Score = 14
shut up.
Score = -2
word, this idiot is worse than all of the 'Frist!' posters out there...
Score = 1
Two words for you - Firefox & AdBlock.
Score = -2
yeah. when you watch the video you're definitely like "woah". but then at the same time, he has nothing to prove to anybody, just a person who got pissed (a shoe to the face of an unassuming man can do that). I applaud his honesty, and how he stands by what he said. We're all just human.
Score = 8
That's some good old fashioned sarcasm. Love it.
Major props for the Bill Hicks reference.
Score = 5
what a fag
Score = -6
i honestly don't believe josh homme is a homophobe. however, as a gay man, i do take offense to the word because, no matter it's usage, it still has meaning. and josh is clearly using the word for it's negative connotations. i wonder if josh would be so cavalier about using the "n-word?" but i'm not going to lose sleep over this. there are way more important issues to tackle.
also, as a gay man, i would still totally have sex with josh homme.
Score = 30
I know several gay lads, and most of them constantly refer to their "fag hags", so don't pretend like any usage of the word offends you, pal.
Also, Amrit, pointing out your puns is totally lame. Didn't you read Maddox's last post?
Score = -23
you do realize that i am not one of your "gay lads." right? and that homosexuals are not mindless drones, right? and that it's possible that my views might be different from other gay men, right? you get that, don't you? and reading some of these comments makes me far more ill than anything Homme said in a fit of anger. and don't call me "pal." i'm not your effing "pal." dick.
Score = 21
Haha! For what its worth, here's another gay man that isn't crazy about "faggot" being proposed as the new "douche". Smart folks might consider that those of us on the receiving end of the word throughout our lives may have a special relationship with the word. Much like black people might still insist on getting all "PC and sensitive" about the "N" word.
I agree that the context of this has been blown out of proportion, but I think it's worth mentioning that the word is used in a very particular context many of us.
Score = 3
Getting "ill" over Stereogum comments? Do you have no self-esteem at all, or are you one of those people like Al Sharpton who makes a living pretending to be a victim? Whatever the reason, stop acting so butthurt. Josh Homme is An Hero compared to you, buddy.
Score = -13
well, because of my basic humanity and belief that all people should be afforded respect and courtesy, regardless of sexual orientation (or race, since you went there), yes, i do get a bit queasy realizing how many backwards bigots still exist in the world. i'd respond more, but your inability to form a coherent thought, much less an informed, reasoned argument, inspire my pity. also, since you're obviously a radiohead fan, i'm just wondering how mr. yorke and crew would feel about having a fan that holds your simplistic, disrespectful, and stunted views. best of luck with life, guy. something tells me you're going to need it.
Score = 7
Epic lulz. Well, if I liked Broken Social Scene, they'd be glad to have me as a fan ("I'm Still Your Fag"). If I was you, I wouldn't watch John Cameron Mitchell's (a gay man) "Shortbus." The progressive (read: 21st century) language in it might make you cry.
Score = -6
fuck that. funny how he gets all sorts of defensive here. a simple "my bad. i shouldn't have said that word" would have sufficed, but he's gotta play the "i have gay friends" card.
if it was the N word, it would have been a helluva lot uglier because we've all learned that that is unacceptable. people won't learn that the F word is also NOT okay if people like this asshole keep using it and then justifying it through sorry excuses.
i will give him that the kid was a twat, and deserved a little ass-kicking (verbal or not), but when you're in the public eye, especially with younger kids like the ones in this crowd, you need to take some sort of responsibility for your actions and your words.
this letter to the "peanut gallery" is pretty fucking pathetic. if i ever had any respect for him i wouldn't anymore. fortnately, nothing lost, nothing gained.
Score = 9
Who cares about what he said? He assaulted a 12-year old kid for gods sake. You can't really act like you're a badass when you do that as a grown man. It's like terrorizing a toddler who threw a crayon at you. This is the kind of meat headed chest beating I saw in middle school.
Score = 7
From his missive: "I also told that young whipper snapper I'd have anal sex with him... how can I possibly reconcile these opposing viewpoints?"
Uh, because you're a self-loathing homophobe. Haven't you seen American Beauty? Has anyone checked his home for Nazi plates?
Score = 3
well of course he isnt a homophobe! he siad he will "fuck you up the ass in front of all of your friends".
Score = 5
he should be forced to fuck isiah washington up the ass as punishment. that'll learn him.
Score = -3
who is this bill hick, and what part of him suggested that line of thought?
Score = -8
As a Stick-Up-My-Ass-American, I take great offense at Homme's suggestion that I allow my stick to drop.
Score = 10
It's really fascinating that so many people have come to believe that the so-called "N-word" and the so-called "F-word" are ABSOLUTELY unacceptable in ANY public context. It's actually pretty freaky, because I suspect a great many people policing the use of those words consider themselves great advocates of free speech. Further bewildering is that somewhere along the way we generally conceded that words like fuck and shit are acceptable in most social contexts (I hear the cashiers at Wal-Mart using those words now). What is going on? Josh Homme is an idiot, but he has some points. And he makes fun rock music. That's good enough for me.
Score = 2
Saying "Shit" and "Fuck" by themselves makes each word non-specific.
Score = 0
I never said Josh Homme CAN'T say "faggot" , He's free to say what he likes, just as I'm free to dislike what he says. I think Josh has a feminine sensibility that has made him one of the more exciting men in rock. I certainly do not think he is a homophobe. I did find it disappointing that he would use the word to emasculate. His whole "anal sex" rant and general language's intent was to emasculate. But I'm not going to pretend that there was any real weight in the logic of his rant since it was allegedly fever-induced. I just found it unfortunate and was ready to move on, thinking "he'll eventually say something so right-on that will totally cancel out that minor slip".....well, my bad I was wrong. Mr. Homme just couldn't be an adult, take responsibility for his own actions and say, like others mentioned, "Sorry dudes, my bad" - Instead he lashed out with another juvenile rant, this time the intent was to emasculate those that he deems "politically correct". Dude, aren't we past calling everyone who questions your language's intent a "PC pussy" or whatever???? Josh, I love yr ginger ass, but yr killing me......
Score = 0
All you kids would have freaked out during the punk revolution. You guys are way too sensitive these days. The kid loved it...he got bitched out by Josh Homme. What's cooler than that?
Score = 10
awesome comment. bare with me as I adjust my icon to offend some skirts.
Score = -9
the whole 'butt-fucking' line reminds me more of prison sex, than gay sex. there's a big difference. i mean has anyone ever heard of prison sex threatened on someone else? especially between two men outside of prison? josh homme just took violent verbal threats to the next level. THAT is the issue more than anything else. and i would argue that IT is definitely the most surprising thing said in his rant.
Score = -1
yeah! prison sex! w00t!
Score = 2
his records really aren't that great. this makes me want to listen to them less. but i was not aching to listen to them anyway.
Score = -9
the Fword is not the same as the Nword. Race is not a choice but being gay is. God didn't make gay people, I hate to tell you. If God wanted you to like men, he would have given you a pussy. I personally don't use the Fword because only God can judge you. I do think that being gay is a sin, but that doesn't stop me from having friends that are gay. Oh..and I would be offended if someone called me a "Homophobe" implying that I am scared of gay people, which I am most definitely not.
Score = -51
has anyone broken it to your gay "friends" that you think they're going to hell?
Score = 14
wow. you really have no clue, do you? have you ever actually met a gay person?
Score = 7
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7456588.stm
I think science might disagree with you on some of your "points".
Score = 12
Fortunately for him, he's nowhere near the celebrity of Isiah Washington, so he'll get off way easier. Only scrutiny he's gonna get is from fans and messageboards. I also agree with the notion that the dude probably isn't a homophobe (his sexy/macho look & good hair seems way too calculated and possibly enhanced by a stylist who could possibly *gasp* be a gay dude). He stupidly chose his words poorly, and now there's the high quality video footage to prove it.
I'm with the other gay dude who said as a gay guy he'd bang Josh Homme. Yum!
Score = 9
RL - are you fucking serious?! "I personally don't use the Fword because only God can judge you. I do think that being gay is a sin... "
You think that being gay is a sin yet you get offended if you're called a homophobe?
What the fuck does that mean? Worse, you believe in God. Like, the Christian God? Fucking religious people or so brainwashed. You can't even get your beliefs straight.
It's really annoying to hear religious people back up their beliefs by some bullshit fairy-fucking-tale with a God up in the clouds, in "Heaven", looking down upon us judging our behavior, sending us to "Hell" if we're "bad".
BULLSHIT
Score = 6
GOD WILL STRIKE DOWN THESE FORNICATORS AND PANSY GIRLY MEN WITH THEIR WAYWARD PENISES. THE END TIMES ARE HERE- WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF THE ALMIGHTY? OR WILL YOU BURN IN THE PIT? OPEN THE BOOK, PEOPLE...OPEN IT AND READ! YOU WILL LEARN THE TRUTH.
Score = -2
Yeah, it is obvious that being gay is a choice. I remember the day that I decided, "I am sexually attracted to women." And lo and behold, I was! But then I got to thinking about how great it would be to be gay instead. Seriously, who would pass up the option of being part of minority that is virulently hated by many, merely tolerated by others, and is denied rights that everyone else takes for granted. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to go ahead and be gay, you know, for the perks. At that moment, all of my attraction to women was gone and it was just men, men, men.
Score = 24
Point is: he's still an asshole regardless of his intent. I met him in VA a couple of years ago and he's a total turd. No respect for his fans, regardless of whether or not they hit him in the head with a shoe.
Go read some Derrida, too. Authorial intent cannot be given primacy over the function of the discourse. Just because he doesn't intend to hurt anyone's feelings doesn't mean that it won't. And I don't think that would make him PC to not use that word, just, I don't know...not a fucking ape?
Score = 0
.. .but Homme IS an asshole [note: allow , script in comments so that my point can officially be *glaring*, thus enabling me to gain further negative status(es) from the fluctuating "justice board"] - every review I've ever read with him [few, yes - not a "fan"] has shown this proper. if you want lace and white gloves - go see Elton John, Cirque de Soleil or a Cheap Trick cover band. if you *don't* want to be ridiculed like a little pansy fucker - stray from Tori Amos, QotSA and early 90's Fugazi. Ice cream eating motherfuckers.
[bonus]: don't throw shit at concerts. no video / cameras allowed. (<---- this closing statement would be bold)
Score = 0
I agree. Josh, basically, IS Queens of the Stone Age. He represents their music so well. He gives the impression that he's a hard-drinking asshole who will fuck you up with his macho manliness and his gigantic balls. I side with Josh on this one. He could've chosen his words more carefully, but this is par for the course for him, mostly.
Nothing to see here, people. Move along...
Score = 6
haha, john m. i wish irony wasn't so slippery.
Score = -2
Bill Hicks wins again.
Score = 3
Bill Hicks wins for eternity.
Score = 3
i'm only gay for Jamie.
Score = 2
"it's Pit Pat!"
Score = 0
Ease up on Josh. Man ain't no homophobe. Some punk ass converse wearing daddy supported wanna be music journalist got his polo shirt all knotted up for nothing, and now all you whiney niggas trying to be all self-righteous. Politically correct lil bitches.
Who's the ball bag who quoted Derrida? Jesus. Derrida, for fuck's sake. Save that shit for when you're trying to impress to get laid. "Authorial intent". Oh my fucking god.
Score = -1
Best gay-related thread on a music site. Ever. John M, will you be my boyfriend? I'd totally choose to be gay for you.
Score = 3
haha...ha...."WAYWARD PENISES"....ha ha
Score = -2
Apparently those of you defending his bigotry as an example of "punk attitude" have never been to legitimate punk rock show; do you have any idea how often the Clash got spit on and had shit thrown at them? Punk attitude would have been playing through it undeterred, rather than throwing a cave-baby tantrum like he did. Also, free speech doesn't mean that you get to say whatever you want and NOT be held responsible for it; free speech means you say what you want, and if I think you're a dick for saying it, then you will get told. Free speech does not mean that you get to be a bigot when you're cranky and then not have to face the appropriate social consequences for your words and actions. And as for the he was sick and angry excuse, it seems like being sick and angry and just made him uninhibited enough to speak honestly, as a submental brotard, rather than censoring himself.
Score = 6
hehe, no shit. people here are mostly about 14 years old anyways, and don't know what punk was or is, or that it died less than a year after it started...
Score = 2
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z9VrdMf8H-Q
A transcript: [Holding up a sign from the audience] "It says 'no cocksmokers allowed.' I applaud you sir."
If ever there were a time I'd like to embed something in the comments here, this would be it. Hypocrisy at its finest. Whether or not there was malicious intent behind the word (and for all Homme says, he used the word in a derogatory manner), the meaning of the word can indeed be hurtful. If Homme had apologized for his usage of the word, I think this would be more acceptable. But it's clear he has a track record of homophobic comments, and he's too proud of himself to apologize for his blatant hostility. Pathetic.
Score = 6
He's not a homophobe. But he's no Steve Albini, either.
Score = -1
homophobic or not, he's definitely an asshole: a simple "I apologize, I'll choose my words more carefully the next time I berate a preteen." would have been much better than playing the "I have lots of gay friends" card.
Score = 7
the only word that comes to mind after reading that letter is : Douche
Score = 1
In a perfect word when people get upset they might say "hey there little buddy will you please not throw objects at my head?"
but its not a perfect world. so fuck it, resort to calling someone the most demeaning thing that can possibly come out of your mouth and go on with your life.
Lets say your at work and someone throws a shoe at your head. How would you react? Personally, I think he held back, all he did was throw the shoe back at him, I would have stomped his fucking ass.
Score = 0
I keep on reading "homophobic" but I don't think that Josh is afraid of anyone. What he did was more like gay-bashing and I've also seen "bigotry" - I agree with that too. Josh knows he's a role model, or that his actions on-stage, whether positive or negative, has influence on his fans who like to live vicariously through their heroes. He just doesn't care. Its unfortunate because forget about the fans - he has a 3 year-old kid and these videos are FOREVER. Its also ironic because he wife, Brody Dalle, left her ex-husband, Tim Armstrong of Rancid, because of - according to her - mental and verbal abuse. Now she has to deal with this. I think Josh has a very sarcastic, sadistic, ironic, misandristic, sense of humor and thinks everyone's in on the joke.
PS - I'm surprised no one has said this but if that incident in Oslo happened here in the states ......... Josh would've been arrested on the spot and it would've made the news that night.
Score = 1
I think Josh finally almost kinda-sorta came out and admitted he's gay with that letter. I've heard stories of stuff that goes on behind the scenes with QOTSA, and they are not always so *ahem* hetero-erotic, if you catch my drift.
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Score = 0
this is textbook-simple basic psychology. Josh was beaten up a lot and called a faggot a lot. and when he's pissed off, he resorts to treating people the way he was treated himself, then gets mad when called on it because he doesn't see himself as being in the role of the bully but as the bullied. of course, he's wrong in this case, but let's face it, this is some pretty simple shit.
what's offensive about Homne here is just his clear lack of self-awareness, and the fact that verbally assaulting a young kid (even if they threw a...(snicker)...shoe (oh no!!! not a shoe!!!) at you, is FUCKING wrong and disgusting. this guy has plenty of money, he's no kid, he should know better, apologize both for the rant in general and YES for the clearly homophobic language he used.
you don't get to judge yourself about whether you're a homophobe, a racist, a sexist, etc. nobody is objective enough to diagnose themselves in this way. you can tell whether you're a homophobe, a racist, or a sexist by who others react to what you say and do about these things. as per Derrida as mentioned above. you can't just go out there, say homophobic things and proclaim yourself A-OK. that's not how life works.
Score = 2
Great comment, onceler! The fact is simple: Homme acted like a bully and used inappropriate language, even for the context of a rock concert. (If you're too sick not to go on that sort of tirade in public, you probably shouldn't be on stage. I've been sicker than that, and yes I got plenty grouchy, but I didn't start spewing homophobic or sexual slurs - and when I did snap at someone, I felt bad later on and apologized. That's civilized behavior.)
And we all have some kind of prejudice to some degree, whether we admit it or not. It comes with our very necessary cognitive ability to put things into categories, to discern, to make judgments. Sometimes our knee-jerk reactions just aren't what we'd like them to be. My father is a racist. Do I consciously agree with any of his B.S.? Absolutely not. Could I grow up listening to those tirades and not have something sink in to my subconscious? No way. That's why change is so hard. The measure of our behavior is how we talk and act and treat people, not how we define ourselves. I can call myself non-racist all I want, but if I let slip ethnic slurs when I'm in a bad mood, I'm not really in control of those subconscious prejudices - I'm letting them come out and control me. If I speak and act in a way that promotes fairness and equality, I'm working against those subconscious prejudices, decreasing their power over me so that eventually even those uncomfortable knee-jerk reactions may be less intense. Being or not being a racist, sexist, or homophobe is not a matter of self-identification - it's about the choices we make. Besides, Josh Homme could be, within his soul, as utterly unprejudiced as a newborn puppy and that wouldn't matter one bit if his actions and words suggested otherwise. I don't consider myself a bigot - but then, I don't act in such a way that I have to defend myself against allegations of bigotry.
Score = 3
I don't think Josh has time to be gay, what with fucking his smoking hot wife all the time. What is she doing with that lame-o?
Score = 2
are you 12? your responses are juvenile. i would love to engage you in a serious convo, but you lose credibility with each response. as a fan of BSS and Mitchell (seen Shortbus, you're not that exotic), and someone who stated I DIDN"T THINK THIS WAS A BIG DEAL, i can differentiate the intent of words used. BSS and Mitchell aren't using their language (which is aggressive and confrontational, but in no way progressive, something any educated person would know) to give carte blanche to dips like you who just want to say things are "gay" or call their friends "fags," or find an excuse to use the word "butthurt." maybe you are just dealing with some latency issues, i don't know. what i do know is that your limited and impulsive statements do not paint you as some free-thinking progressive. they make you sound dumb. read my intitial comment. i don't think josh homme is a homophobe. i just wish people didn't have to stoop to spitting venomous epithets, no matter how benign they think they are. anyone who doesn't understand that, i guess you, is clearly not as progressive as they would like to seem. if you've never been on the recieving end of a fist while someone calls you "faggot" you might not understand. but a true progressive mind might have some empathy and understand the power of words when used incorrectly. i guess these are concepts for grown-ups. you just go back to your Wii, kiddo.
Score = 2
Also, you contradicted yourself. In your first response you said, "however, as a gay man, i do take offense to the word because, no matter it's usage, it still has meaning." And then in your last you said, "as a fan of BSS and Mitchell (seen Shortbus, you're not that exotic), and someone who stated I DIDN"T THINK THIS WAS A BIG DEAL, i can differentiate the intent of words used. BSS and Mitchell aren't using their language (which is aggressive and confrontational, but in no way progressive, something any educated person would know) to give carte blanche to dips like you . . ." Conflicting statements, no? P.S. Also, why would you volunteer the information that you would have sex with someone who repulses you? That just propagates the stereotype that gay men are sex fiends with no morals (like the ones who engage in very distasteful public sex acts at SF street fairs). I don't agree with that, of course, but it's ammuntion to people like Homme.
Score = -1
nope. i never said Homme repulsed me. I said very clearly that i do not think he is homophobic. i think he chose an unfortunate way to express himself in a fit of anger. in this context, the word was meant to be hateful. i can take offense to the word without having to think Homme is evil. what i DO find repulsive is people using his fit of anger to justify their own use of derogatory language. words are powerful, and intent is key. even in it's gentler uses (the BSS song) the word still has meaning. do i think BSS are homophobes? absolutely not, nor is their intent to use the word to denegrate homosexuals. do i think it's an unfortunate use of the word? absolutely. but the sum total of their words and actions (and interactions i was fortunate enough to have with them) proved to me that they were completely gay-friendly. if i thought Homme were a seething bigot, you're right, i would seem like a self-hating homosexual. since i don't, i can shake my head, ask "why on earth did you have to say that?" and move on. and not sure about your last sentence, because it suggests you do believe Homme is a homophobe. besides, i'm pretty sure Homme would be down for some fiendish sex, if not necessarily with me.
Score = -1
you are all geeks.
Score = 1
seriously? laughter just made me shoot hi-c ecto cooler out my nose. thanks, rl. i never thought i'd see a comment like this on a site like this. wow.
Score = 0
Before you let ill thought criticisms fly, think to yourself if you want to live in that "perfect little PC world" where everyone must speak and act in a censored manner at all times public and private?
We cannot and should not create a social environment where there is a collective agreeance to not "hurt anyone's feelings". Now speak.
Score = 0
There's a big difference between a "perfect little PC world" where everyone completely censors themselves at all times and a civil world where people refrain from spouting derogatory, offensive language in public. I'm not a "politically correct" person. I believe in using straightfoward, honest language to express facts and opinions. I can disagree with someone clearly and unequivocally, yet acknowledge what merits there may be to their position and seek to find some degree of common ground. That's civility. There's nothing censored or sanitzed about it - just respectful and humane. And trust me, as an ethical vegetarian who believes abortion is murder but assisted suicide isn't, I've been in PLENTY of situations that raised my hackles to the boiling point, if you'll excuse the mixed metaphor.
What did Josh Homme accomplish with his rant that wouldn't have been just as well served with a stern "Get him out of here"? All he accomplished, in my eyes, is to use a word that is well beyond the pale of acceptabilty to most women I know and to end up ON CAMERA looking like a homophobic scumbag. Some of you say, "Well, he always does that." But why is that okay? Maybe it's time we all reclaimed the lost art of civility. Not politcal correctness. Not censorship. Civility. Maybe rational discourse will follow on its heels, and we'll be able to have a discussion about politics that isn't about whether the current president deserves to be lynched or canonized.
All in favor of civil discourse, say aye. All opposed, please go screw yourselves.
Score = 3
Josh Homme is human, like everyone else. Have you ever said something bad to someone in the heat of passion that you've regretted later on? I'm sure almost everyone has. Just give the guy a break. He's obviously not homophobic because if he were, he wouldn't have been so explicitly candid about his views on homosexuality in his rebuttal. If you wanna take a good look at someone who's really homophobic, go check out Pat Robertson, or Jerry Falwell. But leave Josh Homme alone. The fact that Josh, and the band, went up on stage when he was severely ill, shows how much of a devoted artist he really is. He's a passionate musician who cares deeply about his music and the fans that cherish his music. But when one rotten apple in the crowd wants to destroy the atmosphere for everyone else, then yes, I would be very angry, too. I’m not saying this to condone his behavior, or anything else he said, but Josh even admitted that it was wrong of him to explode like that.
He didn’t conjure up any excuses to justify his comments; he was honest about it. If you don’t like what he said, and if you’re dense enough to take it seriously, then don’t listen to the music and don’t watch the videos. It’s as simple as that. Artists aren't politicians, and their sole purpose on earth isn't to censor what other people say. It's up to you -as the listener- to choose what you want to listen too and what you want to ignore. To criticize Josh over something as meaningless and trite as this is nothing more than pure hyperbole and tabloid sensationalism. There are more important issues to focus on other than what someone said at a rock concert. Get over it, and start focusing your attention on things that are actually worthwhile.
Score = 1