Are we jumping on the band wagon to drive Raven off of the view?
It always good to have a representative of our community out there in mainstream media, television, and politics. But are they the right representative? Do we blindly support the gay candidate for governor just because he is LGBT? Do we buy the singer's records just because they are LGBT. Do we support someone on the news panel just because they are LGBT. The answer should be no. I am sure we give these individuals more of a try since they are LGBT, but has one of them worn out that trial period? Here is what has usatoday.com to say.
Raven Symoné may still be a relative newcomer to ABC's The View, but she's getting well-versed in controversy.
In July, Symoné, who just got out of a same-sex relationship, got into a heated debate with Candace Cameron Bure over religious liberty. More recently, she took heat after she said she wouldn't be inclined to hire someone with a "ghetto" name.
On Wednesday, she angered viewers by expressing some qualified support for Ben Fields, the South Carolina policeman who violently dragged a student from her desk after she refused to put her phone away.
"I think it's important that we all understand what happened and we don't know everything. First, she was asked by multiple teachers to put her phone away or to leave the room. We don't know if she popped off at the mouth. We don't know what she said, but she did not get up. They called him as a last resort. He talked to her for 30 seconds and she still didn't get up. She still didn't put the phone away. You do not need to be manhandling a child that way but at the same time, kids, put your phones away."
As of Saturday, nearly 120,000 people had signed a petition addressed to View executive producer Barbara Walters urging her to fire Symoné,
The petition reads:
Raven Symone has been spouting her ignorant and self hating spiel on the view for Long enough, from stating that she wouldn't hire somebody for having a ghetto name, to openly complaining about reverse racism, the final straw was her comment about the recent viral video of the school police officer assaulting the student, where Raven Symone said "get off your phone in school then". African Americans and black people around the diaspora need a voice representative of their views and not a voice representative of what white people want us to say. We need strong black rolemodels in prominent positions on television an Raven Symone cannot provide that. That is why I ask that we petition to remove her from The View.
There has been no official comment from The View's producers.
Here is the video from her comments on her most recent controversial commentary.
If this is video of one of the reasons causing people to sign the petition, I just don't see it. Being in education and a teacher for 10 years, I have a great deal of things to say about the actual student / police officer incident, but the comments by Raven do not add up to a call for dismissal.
Will you sign the petition? Aren't there so many other instances where fellow 'The View' panelists are just as far off the mark?
She was 100% spot on. Some
She was 100% spot on. Some kids in school have no respect for teachers or anyone in authority. The teacher called security as a last resort and after the security person asked her to put her phone away and get up and she continued to disobey. She got EXACTLY what she deserved.
I don’t care what color you
I don't care what color you are or what country you are from. When you are addressed by an authority figure, you show them respect. And when your teacher tells you to put your cell phone away, you damn well better put your cell phone away. I don't think cell phones should be allowed in a class room, leave them in your locker. There is NOTHING that important that can't wait till lunch time, and besides we as tax payers are paying for your education, so pay attention and respect your teachers and everyone else in authority. And as for your rights, YOU DON'T have any unless you are over 18 and paying taxes. And as far a Raven is concerned, I am sorry if you think she is BLACK ENOUGH.
So you want to kick someone
So you want to kick someone off a show because you don’t like thier opinions. Hmm, others say the same about other lgbt commentators
Raven was just expressing her
Raven was just expressing her point of VIEW. There's nothing wrong with that. People can agree to disagree. It's her opinion.
Raven is very young to be on
Raven is very young to be on a show like "The View" and has to grow up a bit, but that comes with experience. Let her be, she'll be fine.
The show is called “The View”
The show is called "The View" for a reason. Raven Symoné is merely expressing her view.
Engaging hundreds of
Engaging hundreds of thousands of people, creating controversy, lots of buzz back-and-forth on the topic… yeah, she isn't going anywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if it was her own publicist that floated the petition.
Raven’s the best member of
Raven's the best member of the View. DON'T get rid of her!!
This is the most ridiculous
This is the most ridiculous petition I've seen in at least a week. #peoplewithnothingbettertodo
I agree with raven she’s said
I agree with raven she’s said nothing wrong its an opunion …
Raven is alright with me.
Raven is alright with me.
So we remove anyone who does
So we remove anyone who does not agree with the way we think? Get over yourselves, let the woman stay, long live freedom of speech!!
I agree with Raven! Speak it
I agree with Raven! Speak it my friend!
I might not be a all out
I might not be a all out supporter of any of them but just based on the school incedent I do not feel she was wrong in saying something that millions are thinking. In this instance, I got her back. That Cameron Burre needs to stop the sh&t with her religious beliefs.