Imus Episode Is Over - But Racism Roars On
The firing of Don Imus sent a real message - that unabated, nasty and mean- spirited racial and sexist attacks will be not be tolerated by a society that deserves much better than that from the people who have control of microphones.
The debate brought out the best and worst in people. There were those who suggested it was “no big deal.” Right. No big deal unless it was your ethnic pride that was ravaged by an on-air assault artist. Words hurt. Words can kill. Words of hatred started in motion the Hitler holocaust.
It really irritated me to hear people on the radio saying that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were making a big deal out of nothing. Let me tell me you: This was not about Sharpton and Jackson. This was about a man attacking women of accomplishment for the way they looked. It was all about an insinuaton that they were morally corrupt.
I’ve had it with people who draw everything in shades of white and black.
The shade on this one was a shade of deep red, the shade of embarrassment for a broadcaster who thought he was big enough to use his bully pulpit to insult a group of hard working young women.
They brought pride to their school.
He brought shame to my business.
What a shame for him. A man who is a major broadcaster had the chance to become a uniter. In the end, his choice of words and his nonchalant attack on some innocent kids, left him seen as a divider.
It is narrow-minded to limit our ire over the vulgar treatment of women at the hands of radion talk show hosts. What about Rap music? Women are demeaned constantly, but because of the appeal of the beat of the music and the idolization of the singers, no one makes this an issue. However, children of all ages listen to these lyrics which totally disregard the value of women. What are they learning?
It is narrow-minded to limit our ire over the vulgar treatment of women at the hands of radio talk show hosts. What about Rap music? Women are demeaned constantly, but because of the appeal of the beat of the music and the idolization of the singers, no one makes this an issue. However, children of all ages listen to these lyrics which totally disregard the value of women. What are they learning?
Free Speech is under attack why is it not being defended? I do not agree with Imus,but when I hear this type of thing I turn people like him off.I don’t like rap music,so I don’t listen to it,I do not care for the mayor who said the brothers and the sisters are running philadelphia so I did not vote for him, I do not care for the man who called N.Y. hymetown therefore I will not support this type of individual.But they all have a right to there opinion and I respect that because I believe in free speech.Where are the politicians white,black who realize that there cannot be an attack on free speech,that is the problem.It is OK to disagree with Imus or anyone else.It is OK to turn him off and encourage others to turn him off.But we all have the right to free speech.We must not allow infringement on our rights
I agree! If it is okay for one group, then it should be okay for all groups. No double standards.
Rap and the media portray women negatively every day in their lyrics and especially their videos. The allowance of that is not helping the cause of women, especially african american women.
I also agree with J! What happened to freedom of speech? We (the media and community) are giving people too much power and short lived fame. If you dont like what the guy said, dont listen to him! Its simple. I highly doubt if he had made a ‘negative’ comment about white women, it would have NEVER escalated to this level.
Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill!
Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star writes a great editorial on this matter. Simply put he writes that as a black journalist he doesn’t see Don Imus as the enemy. How many young black athletes even knew who Don Imus was? The greater threat to young black Americans today is other young black Americans. The lyrics in hip hop and rap are far more offensive and yet young African-Americans look to these artist as heros. Why haven’t the “Reverends” addressed this issue as fervently as he attacked Imus? Furthermore, how can to men that call themselves “Reverends” not accept another persons apology. Are they acting as Jesus Christ, whom they claim to follow, would have acted? I am amazed that the Amish is Pennsylvania culd forgive the man and his family the same day that man executed their children, they even raised money for his children, and yet a week after Imus statement we still debate whether or not he deserves anyone’s forgiveness.
Larry, allow me to edit your first sentence.
The firing of Don Imus sent a real message - that unabated, nasty and mean- spirited racial and sexist attacks will be not be tolerated by powerful corporations when advertisers cancel their ads thereby depriving them of revenue.
Yes, much better!
I would follow up by saying this is precisely the reason why powerful rich corporations will continue to market and sell racist, misogyinistic and hateful forms of entertainment, namely rap and hip hop. Because we buy it and advertisers find it helps to sell their products
Well said, Larry! I’m amazed that some responders feel this unwarranted verbal assaults are free speech. It’s not. Free Speech does not mean people can falsely demean others (right Al Sharpton!)without any truth to back up their claims.
Too much hate talk in rap music and on the airwaves. Sadly, I agree with Steve that the firing of Imus had more do to with the loss of sponsors (big bucks) than anything else.
Yes, people who listen to this trash talking can always change the dials. But what about those who don’t and formulate their opinions on these types of lies.
Karl,
Actually “free speech” DOES mean people can falsely demean others without truth to backup their claims. This is why leftists can say Bush=Hitler or those on the right can call a democrat a baby killing america hater.
In the US we have libel and slander laws on the books and a person can be sued/prosecuted for his speech. However the bar is very high with these laws which is why they are very rarely used. In Imus’s case he can make the very reasonable and probably winning argument in court that he was engaging in opinion.
We should always keep in mind that we all have the freedom in this country to say practicaly anything we wish BUT we are not free from criticism of our speech. (and getting fired is a legitimate punishment)
Yes I agree that Don Imus should have been fired and I would love to see Howard Stern taken off the airwaves permantly too !! The issue is not about Black and White-it just so happens that the people involved were black and white.To those people who do not believe Imus should not have been fired I say this-how would you have felt if he said something ugly and untrue about your daughter on national TV???!!! Having said that where are the REVERENDS now when the boys at Duke were lied about and slammed in the press!! No justice no peace was all I heard by the rent a riot crowd!! I guess the Rainbow Coalition does not include whites!!
Steve, you certainly offer a good argument, one I can’t dispute. I am beating my own dead horse when I say that with Free speech should come responsibility. But as Steve implies, who gets to define responsibilty. Still, I feel sorry for Imus and I respect the Rutger’s women’s team for offering forgivness. Imus stumbled over his own arrogance and felt he was too clever to be judged or too funny to be taken seriously. His being fired does prove Steve’s point.
Thanks for all the contributions. I think the entire affair will have an absolute impact shortly on anyone who crosses the line.
Larry
i guess we will see if there is an absolute impact. I read about a certain philadelphia firefighter who wrote and recorded a song advocating the shooting of police.I must stress that this is free speech,but where are jessie jackson and al S. now and when will this man be fired?Do we have free speech for everyone or not?