Don Imus dropped from MSNBC on Tv, maybe to lose job entirely

[Black C]

There are two camps here: Those who want to restrict offensive speech in order to foster a more civil dialogue, and those who think restricting offensive speech is worse than offensive speech itself. In one corner you have well-meaning folks who want to protect people from getting their feelings hurt. In the other you have comedians, commentators and rappers who are more concerned about truths, be they funny or serious, than about people's feelings. Triumphs celebrated by the first group might make people feel better at the time, but they come at a great cost.

[ricoFlame]

imus just happened to insult the wrong group of people this time...and everyone seems to have rallied against him...howard stern sure hates him, i can tell you that much

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Black C

In the other you have comedians, commentators and rappers who are more concerned about truths, be they funny or serious, than about people's feelings. Triumphs celebrated by the first group might make people feel better at the time, but they come at a great cost.

what great cost is that?

[Calgaryborn]

I guess what bothers me most about this whole situation is that it has served to empower Sharpton and Jackson. Any press makes them money through their sham charities.

As far as this Imus character goes: He did apologize. In fact he has apologized several times and wants to meet with this team of girls to apologize in person and let them respond however they wish. What ever happened to forgiveness? Where does Jackson and Sharpton get of not practicing it? Aren't they suppose to be Christian? And Who has Imus offended? His slight was against these young women not all black people or all women. A public acknowledgment of the inappropriate nature of his comments should be more then enough to put this to rest for anyone other than these young women. These women should graciously accept his personal apology and move on. I mean how were they harmed beyond a momentary sting? They probably wouldn't have even known what was said if not for the press.

[Black C]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

what great cost is that?

It is amazing to me that those who used to defend freedom of speech ("While I detest what so-and-so is saying, I defend his right to say it") now get right in line to take it away bit by bit. And it is even more amazing to me that so many folks really seem to give a flying F.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

And Who has Imus offended? His slight was against these young women not all black people or all women.

If some caustic popular radio host in Toronto said "the Canadian women's hockey team look like a bunch of white-trash streetwalkers", would it be okay because he just insulted those particular women? And if that radio host was an old black guy with a history of controversial comments and a huge audience, would you think "ah, he was just talking about the hockey players, so what"?

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

If some caustic popular radio host in Toronto said "the Canadian women's hockey team look like a bunch of white-trash streetwalkers", would it be okay because he just insulted those particular women? And if that radio host was an old black guy with a history of controversial comments and a huge audience, would you think "ah, he was just talking about the hockey players, so what"?

I think that the womens hockey team should go have a talk with that guy. Maybe even bring there sticks. The rest of us could choose to not listen to this radio program and/or station. Personally I have never listened to Imus and probably wouldn't because of his bathroom humour. Obviously millions do like his brand of humour. If this one bad joke(which he apoligized for) ruined the show forever for some of them then they should turn the dial.

Again why not practice a little forgiveness?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

I think that the womens hockey team should go have a talk with that guy. Maybe even bring there sticks.

Ha. Not a bad idea.

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

If this one bad joke(which he apoligized for) ruined the show forever for some of them then they should turn the dial.

True, but when GM and American Express pull their advertising the priorities change. And besides that, when a radio personality pisses off millions of people to the point where they don't want to hear him or support his employers or advertisers, idealism or a "just change the channel" mentality doesn't go over well with the acountants.

[Bobblehead]

Interesting article yesterday by Jason Whitlock.

Jesse and Al might win the battle with Imus and get him fired or severely neutered. But the war? We don’t stand a chance in the war. Not when everybody knows “nappy-headed ho’s” is a compliment compared to what we allow black rap artists to say about black women on a daily basis.

We look foolish and cruel for kicking a man who went on Sharpton’s radio show and apologized. Imus didn’t pull a Michael Richards and schedule an interview on Letterman. Imus went to the Black vice president’s house, acknowledged his mistake and asked for forgiveness.

(the "Black vice president" is explained in the article)

Time for Jackson, Sharpton to Step Down

[mykalberta]

Imus basically said what all male sports fans believe but in a much harsher tone.

Women sports suck to watch, basketball, soccer, hockey. They are all boring as hell. Did any player from the final NCAA game make a basket that was more than 8 feet from the basket (only one I remember is that real short one). The game reminded me of my sisters junior high team, wild shots followed by frantic rebounding where the tall girl wins even though she has no athletic ability whatsoever and then maybe 1/4 shots go in.

Sharpton and the fraud Jackson should also be persecuted. Had Imus said curyl haired ho's about the US national soccer team would be there this up roar no. Why, because race relations in the US are so out of balance its a complete and utter farce (i guess a farce of race relations is better than no relations in Canada )

MYK

[Burninator]

I worry that Sharpton and Jackson are just making things worse in their attempt to make things better.

These two are the voice of the "black community", because they are the most out spoken and prominent. Now whether or not they actually represent the true feelings of this community (I believe they don't) is for one to decide. Sharpton and Jackson are telling black people what offends them. Was the "black community" actually offended by this? Or just these two guys? Hard to say. My expert opinion (from a early twenty year old white guy who has little experience with race relations) is that yes black people would find the remarks of Imus offensive. But to the point of racking the guy over the coals and making a huge deal out of it? I would say no. Don't get me wrong, I totally think that Imus is in the wrong here.

But I worry that Sharpton and Jackson are making things worse by keep beating the race thing to death. Yes racism is a bad thing. But endlessly dwelling on it is a bad thing too. I would like to say "fear mongering" but I don't think that is the right word. Perhaps "making a mountain of a mole hill" is more appropriate.

[Ayrahb]

I have a nagging feeling that an Imus article from Anti-defamation League might change a few opinions on this board:

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/DiRaB_41/5019_41.htm

[Hakan]

What gives you that feeling?

[RedHot25]

Wow, from that link:

On November 30, 2006, Mr. Imus and his co-hosts referred to the "Jewish management at whoever we work for, CBS" whom he later described as "money grubbing s." That discussion resulted in a barrage of phone calls, letters and e-mails to ADL from listeners and viewers.
In December 2004, Mr. Imus referred to publishers of a new book called "The Christmas Thief" as "thieving Jews." Later on the same program, he attempted to apologize for that remark by saying (of thieving Jews), "I apologize … I realize that's redundant."


And from one of their letter they wrote to him apparently:


Regardless of the intent, we ask you to consider the potential impact of such words in the "real world" where, our surveys show, nearly 35 million adults harbor unquestionably anti-Semitic attitudes, including the notions that "Jews have too much power in the business world" (19% of the population) and "Jews control Wall Street" (17%). These are classical anti-Semitic stereotypes; therefore, it was particularly unnerving to hear them being bandied about on your program.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I worry that Sharpton and Jackson are just making things worse in their attempt to make things better.

These two are the voice of the "black community", because they are the most out spoken and prominent.

Actually, I think Bill Cosby is a better voice.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Azure

Actually, I think Bill Cosby is a better voice.

If he was the one who said that you black people need to stop acting victimized and start behaving (I'm ), I agree.

That is similar to that article I quoted above:

We have more important issues to deal with than Imus. If we are unwilling to clean up the filth and disrespect we heap on each other, nothing will change with our condition. You can fire every Don Imus in the country, and our incarceration rate, fatherless-child rate, illiteracy rate and murder rate will still continue to skyrocket.

A man who doesn’t respect himself wastes his breath demanding that others respect him.

We don’t respect ourselves right now. If we did, we wouldn’t call each other the N-word. If we did, we wouldn’t let people with prison values define who we are in music and videos. If we did, we wouldn’t call black women bitches and hos and abandon them when they have our babies.

[Azure]

Great find Bobblehead.

That explains it 100% right there.

[Calgaryborn]

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Article...e.asp?ID=27826

I thought I'd add the above link to the discussion. It is a pretty good
run down of the shamefull career of Al Sharpton. I guess it at least
shows the inequality demonstrated by the media based on race and
political affiliation.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Article...e.asp?ID=27826

I thought I'd add the above link to the discussion. It is a pretty good
run down of the shamefull career of Al Sharpton. I guess it at least
shows the inequality demonstrated by the media based on race and
political affiliation.

Well to be fair, Its not like CNN and those of their ilk are condoning Sharpton and his kind either. They are just letting all high profile voices be heard in this situation, no matter what side they tend to fall on.

But Sharpton, as you point out, is about the most vocal racist in the entire USA. Has been for years.


How anyone can take him seriously is mind-boggling actually. He professes hatred to everyone other than African Americans. He truly believes that the "whites" embody evil....all of them

This is a quote contained in that link....just one of a hundred examples of his nonsensical ravings over the years.

“White folks was in caves while we was building empires...We taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it.”

Yup Al, you really are the voice of racial equailty and understanding!!

[flames_1987]

Just out of intrest sake here's what Snoop Dogg had to say concerning the whole thing, and it being compared to rap lyrics. The guy has a few problems of his own but I think he makes a few good points.

"It's a completely different scenario. (Rappers) are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about hoes that's in the 'hood that ain't doing , that's trying to get a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha#####as say we are in the same league as him. Kick him off the air forever."