My own qualm isn't so much people defending freedom of speech from public figures...bur rather, it's when they act as though famous people and celebrities (ESPECIALLY comedians) somehow deserve a special protected class "exemption" that wouldn't be likewise given to "ordinary nobodies."

This is what I believe is really at the heart of the Dave Chapelle controversy, as Alex brilliantly wrote about.

Fantastic piece, Mary! I plan to include it in my next quarterly Recommended Reads list that I publish (slated for the end of December).