OK, most of the folks I know think Don Imus should be fired for what he said. But here's some reasons a suspension and humiliation is probably enough for now.
The climate of edgy material on TV and radio is very harsh and edgy in pursuit of a laugh. "Hip-hop" music says things that are as bad or worse all the time. People knock Christians, shy people, virgins and overweight people at will. If you put up with constant F-bombs on pay cable, which offend me, how do you turn around and fire someone on radio for saying something stupid and hurtful? I'm shocked by stuff on cable TV but no one's muzzling FX.
Imus is an icon, a symbol of another era of radio. There's a place for crankiness in the media (see "House") as long as it isn't hateful (this incident notwithstanding).
Imus is a jerk at times but I don't think he's a racist. He has apologized and he has raised a lot of money for charity and sick kids.
Imus has said that if it were white people stranded by Katrina, the government would have helped them sooner.
I'm equally offended by the world-wrecking daily rants of Rush Limbaugh, who has helped prop up the worst president in 100 years.
And the biggest, selfish reason: If WFAN replaces Imus, it will be with a show so bad that it will make Mike and the Mad Dog look like McNeil-Lehrer.
As for the African-American who commented here, I agree: The Madison Ave.-Hollywood overemphasis on images of thin, blonde, white Barbie beauty is a terrible thing for youngsters, of all races and shapes. But let's take heart: high-definition TV makes the overly thin and pale look pretty unhealthy.
14 comments:
I agree he is not a racist and his does use humor and at times bad humor to push his points. He did say he was sorry and I believe him. His show is good and we need other points of view. He is not a fake like O'rielly or rush or ann coulter so I can stomach his humor and becase of this I have learned so much in the world of politics and this is an area we all need to pay attention too. Especially in this world of highly sensitive lemmings.
If anyone cares to read it, One of our writers on Highbrid Nation actually worked wit Imus over the last few years at WFAN and had some really interesting things to say about the whole situation with Imus and he also has some inside info that the media hasn't mentioned about the whole story.
As for the "Rev's",Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton,yeah,Imus can get fired when you both turn in your ordination papers and drop the title "Rev" (which,by the way, no man deserves)because you grandstanding fake preachers both have violated 1 Timothy Ch.3.
I am the African American father of an African American 4 yr old daughter, who has beautiful, natural and sometimes kinky hair. She already has enough with constantly seeing this society's vision of "beautiful", blond, blue eyed ultra thin white women. There isn'tmuch I can do about that, except to throw out her TV, throw away all of her disney books, and not take her to the mall when we shop. Obvioulsy, this will not happen. What I do not need is for some overpaid loud mouth white men to demean her and other African American women by calling them "nappy headed hos". I don't know if firing him is the right thing, even though I would like to see that happen. But I do know that a two week suspension does not, in my book, adequately meet my needs for punishment.
I agree that Don Imus should not be fired. But how about 3 other people who should have been able to keep their jobs:
Al Campanis
Jimmy the Greek
Rush Limbaugh (at ESPN)
Sharpton should not act like he is such a "perfect" individual. Look what he said about the Jews coming to his house. He acts like he is helping the blacks, but he should go "really help" Katrina victims. And, I cannot believe he had the nerve to bring his daughter on his show to face Imus--what a deeming thing to do to her. Perhaps, the jews he insulted should have take their children to visit Sharpton when he insulted them.
I gets real easy for you folks to blame someone else when the going gets tough. This is not Al Sharpton's problem, it is Imus', and I resent tthe fact that some of you pooh pooh how deeply hrting and demeaning his commnets are.
psi personally think al sharpten, has done an injustice to all people he is bigoted,racist all things he implies others are i grant you imus and others sometimes speak to loudly but the reverands jackson, sharpton use this platform to enhance their own fame which of these men can stand up for the rightiousness they imply shame on them for for instilling their equivalant racist speaches
I think that his suspension is a must and that what he said was inapproriate. On the other hand, the Rutger's coach and team is playing up the "victim" role which gives Imus more power. The Media has also overplayed and sensationalize the event and the press conference. The Afro American people must know that Imus is not the views of the mass majority of people. Stop playing the race card.
i agree he should bot be fired what happened to our freedom of speech is only there when the naacp isn't complaining about some thing and the fact are if he was making fun of a white player's saying they looked like white trash nothin would have never been said this is what a country has came to we can't point out the odvious and the fact is if they looked professionalit woulded had been said boo hoow they look the part of comin street thugs but they calim to be ladies a least there is someone out there that will speak the truth
if a black person can call a girl a ho in a rap song and nothing is said why all the fuss?
I believe the Rev Jesse Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton are racist and bigoted in thier response to the Imus situation. Why is it that the "Leaders of the Black Community" are not out protesting the use of profanity and degradation towards women by hip hop and rap artists? Why is there not a protest at every hip hop/rap label such as Def Jam? Why are they not on every TV and Radio talk show condemning artists and producers that use language that is not acceptable ( i.e. nigga, bitch, ho, etc.). And why are they not protesting the "Gansta" images and actions by such artist. I watch in disgust when artist such as Snoop Dog can use such language in his art, be a convicted felon and he is still accepted in his neighborhood coaching youth football. Yes, I have I have heard the arguements that such language is part of the youth and black cultures, but where do we draw the line? Rev Jackson and Rev Sharpton, I am awaiting your full out assault on the degradation of women by the rap/hiphop community.
anonymous....
Leave the man (Imus) alone. I think the remark is cute. Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
He has done no worse than all the blacks out there, including Jackson and Sharpton! Give me more of Imus and his cute comments!!!!!
this imus incident reminds me of the early '70's when i was in the us navy. we had race relation seminars to "enhance" our race relations. i was called a racist (i'm white) because i called a friend of mine the "n" word (he was black). it didn't matter what he called me nor did it matter that his sister (black also) was my girlfriend. where is the line drawn? i'm Chrisitan, but i have to put up with the "jokes", rude comments, etc. and what about jesse jackson? he has made equally stupid remarks... oh but wait, he's black so it's ok. i say: get over it. leave imus alone (and i don't particularly care for the man) and get on with life. personally, i've about had it with all of this "politacally correct" bs.
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