George Capsis, publisher of this paper, is easy to get in touch with. His phone number can be found on the WestView website.
On July 6th his phone started ringing rapid-fire and didn’t stop. This was the day the Post published their Hate Off the Press story about WestView’s use of the N-word in a headline.
After naively answering a few calls, George found himself in a state of emotional exhaustion and decided to leave the work to the machine. Over a three-day period, until it was full, the machine captured a variety of voices from all over the country.
The most benign were the press inquires and people, leaving no opinion, simply looking for a copy of the paper.
Most were angry and among them some understood the headline to be ironic and didn’t care and some only heard the headline and assumed it a hate-filled, racist rant.
Some used the phrase “the N word” but most used a stand-in like “that word.” Many fought offensive language with offensive language… no irony in that. Here is a sample of direct quotes:
“What the f*ck is wrong with you? You know what buddy you’re gonna get it. Shut the f*ck up you low-life motherf*cker”
“I hope retribution comes to you and your family and your paper. I hope the wrath of God comes down on you. May he curse you and your family to eternity for what you did. I’m gonna pray for your demise.”
“Please be assured that the far right does not hate Obama because he is black or the offensive word you used. We hate Obama because he is a Fascist pig bent on destroying the United States of America.”
A woman with a thick southern accent:
“I think it is appalling that you would disrespect our commander in chief that way. (Pause). You have a blessed day.”
“Shame on you.”
“The WestView News needs to be put out of business for using the N word. I hope the paper dies”
“It is very appalling to all African Americans no matter what your intent.”
From a minister: “Book of Exodus chapter 22 verse 28: Do not speak evil of the ruler of the people.”
