OT: A rant on the Imus issue.

[dbdynsty25]

You are a hyprocrit! You say you hate posts that are 5 sentences long yet you're post wast 6 full sentences long and once "..."!

Another classic from the JRod greatest hits collection.

[JRod]

You are a hyprocrit! You say you hate posts that are 5 sentences long yet you're post wast 6 full sentences long and once "..."!

Another classic from the JRod greatest hits collection.

Here's another one...

f*** you!

[LAking]

Brando is right on this one. As much as we would like to think the world is perfect and balanced and that "racism is racism", it's just not like that. Power is not distributed equally in this country or any other part of the world for that matter. There is a HUGE difference between a black person using the "n" word and a white person using it. The mere fact that a black person would feel differently about it coming from a white person than a black person is proof. Something about the context changes the way they feel.

The world is more complicated than some of you are making it out to be. I have friends who are black who use the n word amongst each other. I have friends who are gay who will call each other "faggy". It's meant to be ironic. When Imus says that kind of stuff it's clearly not ironic. He's just being a bigot, and he deserves to be fired for it.

If i called female African American coworker a "nappy ho" i should be fired too. As far as Sharpton and Jackson go. Yes, they aren't model citizens. We all know this. However, this doesn't change what Imus said. The United States supported slavery for hundreds of years, does that mean we didn't have the right to condemn what the Nazi's did to the Jews?

[FatPitcher]

The n-word is "nappy" now?

Like I said, ridiculous.

[Jackdog]

Brando is right on this one. As much as we would like to think the world is perfect and balanced and that "racism is racism", it's just not like that. Power is not distributed equally in this country or any other part of the world for that matter. There is a HUGE difference between a black person using the "n" word and a white person using it. The mere fact that a black person would feel differently about it coming from a white person than a black person is proof. Something about the context changes the way they feel.

The world is more complicated than some of you are making it out to be. I have friends who are black who use the n word amongst each other. I have friends who are gay who will call each other "faggy". It's meant to be ironic. When Imus says that kind of stuff it's clearly not ironic. He's just being a bigot, and he deserves to be fired for it.

If i called female African American coworker a "nappy ho" i should be fired too. As far as Sharpton and Jackson go. Yes, they aren't model citizens. We all know this. However, this doesn't change what Imus said. The United States supported slavery for hundreds of years, does that mean we didn't have the right to condemn what the Nazi's did to the Jews?

In my best Jim Mora voice:
Slavery? Are we still talking about slavery? Please!!

I am black and if I don't get a job it's because of slavery right? I can be an asshole to any white person I see and put the blame on slavery? I can use words whites can't and it's all good because of slavery? Right? Wrong. It's not that complicated. Time to move the f*** on.

If your black friends call each other nigga's it's because their ignorant. They have a double standard and that's exactly what Dr King gave his live to abolish. Do you think for a second he would use the word? Do you think he would have watched BET uncut or boycotted it? I know the answer to that because I was raised right. He wanted all to be equal. No double standards based on skin color. He wanted my people to get the respect they deserved. But what has happened?

We have flipped the script. We call our women "Ho's" and "Bitches" and make being a "Thug" cool. White kids pick up on it and then get sent mixed messages. Some of my so called "brothas" have no problem calling a grown white man a boy. Is that respectfull? Hell no! I could go on but it's tired as hell.

I am sorry Imus had to get fired because of a stupid joke. He is not a bigot. He has helped so many soldiers and children of color it not funny. He said he was sorry for the joke and that should have been enough. Now that "Conkhead" Al and Jesse Jackass,who by the way does NOT represent me and my black family has tosted Imus. I fully expect them to go after all the rappers that say ten times worse and mean it.

This whole thing was bullshit.

[Jared]

This whole thing is goofy. How did this become a big deal? Kramer, Mel Gibson, sure, but this? Just some guy cracking jokes using terminology from the "hip-hop" culture. Would it have been better if he said, "Those women on the Rutgers team look rather rough-and-tumble!"? Of course, it's nicer never to say anything that be construed as mean or negative, but he and others have been doing it for decades without this kind of trumped-up controversy. Funny how the self-proclaimed defenders of free speech and tolerance of many viewpoints and blah blah blah all have the pitchforks out when an opportune moment arises. It's a perfect example of why I don't give anything they say much credence.

It wasn't just his "nappy hos" comment. He said it, got flack for it, and then people started to look at the things he's said before and discovered that this wasn't an isolated incident. I bet that most people didn't know about his history with this kind of stuff....but then with the increased scrutiny, they did. So if someone has a history of sexist and/or racist comments, what do you do? Just nod and say "that's ok"?

As for "defenders of free speech", Imus has the right to say whatever he wants, racist or otherwise. But companies that hire him to talk on the radio also have the right to fire him if he's making sexist/racist statements on the radio. The Imus situation has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

[pk500]

The Imus situation has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You're right: It has everything to do with hypocrisy of political correctness, better known as the emasculation of America.

Take care,
PK

[Leebo33]

But companies that hire him to talk on the radio also have the right to fire him if he's making sexist/racist statements on the radio.

I agree. Companies that hire him have the right to ignore and profit from his sexist/racist comments for decades and then appear to give a sh*t when public opinion sways a bit. I think NBC and CBS should calculate all the advertising dollars they've received from the "racist" Imus program over the years and donate the truckloads of money to Rutgers University minority scholarship programs. Or at least they should donate as much as Imus has to charity over the years.

[Leebo33]

You're right: It has everything to do with hypocrisy of political correctness

We've all known it existed, but most of us are too big of pussies or too lazy to do anything about it. I know I'm going to be a lot less forgiving in the future and I'm going to encourage my friends/family to quit putting up with it.

[Jackdog]

The Imus situation has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You're right: It has everything to do with hypocrisy of political correctness, better known as the emasculation of America.

Take care,
PK

Yep. I love you whitey!!;)

[Jackdog]

But companies that hire him to talk on the radio also have the right to fire him if he's making sexist/racist statements on the radio.

I agree. Companies that hire him have the right to ignore and profit from his sexist/racist comments for decades and then appear to give a sh*t when public opinion sways a bit. I think NBC and CBS should calculate all the advertising dollars they've received from the "racist" Imus program over the years and donate the truckloads of money to Rutgers University minority scholarship programs. Or at least they should donate as much as Imus has to charity over the years.

AMEN!!! Imus raised money out of the kindness of his heart. Nothing he did on that front was agenda driven. Al and Jesse cannot say that at all.

[pk500]

The Imus situation has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You're right: It has everything to do with hypocrisy of political correctness, better known as the emasculation of America.

Take care,
PK

Yep. I love you whitey!!;)

You've always been a n*ggarific JAMF yourself!

Take care,
PK

[TheGamer]

Imus should have been fired, he has a history of making disparaging and racist/sexist remarks and then apologizing after the fact. My thing is if you feel one way about something and you are going to say it, stick to it, don't apologize because you are getting pressure from the media and corporate. say it and stick to it, because if it wasn't how you felt you wouldn't have said it to begin with. There are only so many times you can say it was a joke, a slip of the tongue or taken out of context. this guy has been making racist remarks since he's been on the air, going as far to hire someone to make jokes against black people. If that's not racist I don't know what is. I don't care what so called "good works" he has done, he should have been fired. Regardless if Jesse, Al or the NABJ made a big deal out if it or not. this guy has too much clout to be spewing that crap over the air.

[Leebo33]

My thing is if you feel one way about something and you are going to say it, stick to it, don't apologize because you are getting pressure from the media

Tell that to CBS and NBC. Apparently, Imus said a lot worse in the past and as far as I know he's never even been suspended let alone fired. I could be wrong though because I barely knew Imus existed prior to this issue.

What I've learned from this whole ordeal is it's OK (or at least not as bad) to utter racist remarks if you are:

1) Not white
2) Making a lot of money for your company. But this only applies until you draw too much attention to yourself and/or you are close to retiring anyway.

[TheGamer]

My thing is if you feel one way about something and you are going to say it, stick to it, don't apologize because you are getting pressure from the media

Tell that to CBS and NBC. Apparently, Imus said a lot worse in the past and as far as I know he's never even been suspended let alone fired. I could be wrong though because I barely knew Imus existed prior to this issue.

What I've learned from this whole ordeal is it's OK (or at least not as bad) to utter racist remarks if you are:

1) Not white
2) Making a lot of money for your company. But this only applies until you draw too much attention to yourself and/or you are close to retiring anyway.

I'm saying that his apologies ring hallow when he has a history of saying the same type of things over and over again. hate to be cliche', but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck....

[Jackdog]

Imus should have been fired, he has a history of making disparaging and racist/sexist remarks and then apologizing after the fact. My thing is if you feel one way about something and you are going to say it, stick to it, don't apologize because you are getting pressure from the media and corporate. say it and stick to it, because if it wasn't how you felt you wouldn't have said it to begin with. There are only so many times you can say it was a joke, a slip of the tongue or taken out of context. this guy has been making racist remarks since he's been on the air, going as far to hire someone to make jokes against black people. If that's not racist I don't know what is. I don't care what so called "good works" he has done, he should have been fired. Regardless if Jesse, Al or the NABJ made a big deal out if it or not. this guy has too much clout to be spewing that crap over the air.

Your logic applies to all correct? Rosie has clout. She has made comments about 9/11 so over the top don't you think she should be fired? Bill Maher was and after all she is on ABC. The same network that axed Maher. That's free TV. Her comment "Don't fear the terriorsts,they are mommies and daddies to" was enough to make me puke. Manily because they would cut off her clit and stone her to death for her sexual peference.But I regress. Back on topic.

If you happen to listen to "The Power" an all black station on XM radio,you would hear many things worse than the joke Imus made, except they aren't jokes. But it's OK I guess because it's blacks talking about whites and it's pay radio so that makes it OK. I don't believe in double standards based on race. That would make me a racist. Do you believe in a double standard or do you think they all should be held accountable?

I am not pickin at you, I am interested in your take.

I believe in the right to tune idiots out. Not fire them.

[Jackdog]

You're right: It has everything to do with hypocrisy of political correctness, better known as the emasculation of America.

Take care,
PK

Yep. I love you whitey!!;)

You've always been a n*ggarific JAMF yourself!

Take care,
PK

Paul,PM me your number man. I lost it in the move.

[Feanor]

Imus is a total c*nt for viscously attacking some college kids who did nothing but play basketball to a very high level and happen to be black. Attacking them based on how they look when they were just students playing a sport that happened to be on TV was completely disgraceful.

I'm glad he got fired because advertisers and guests just couldn't be associated with someone who said something so offensive, and I don't buy all this Political Correctness gone wild stuff either.

[Jackdog]

Imus is a total c*nt for viscously attacking some college kids who did nothing but play basketball to a very high level and happen to be black. Attacking them based on how they look when they were just students playing a sport that happened to be on TV was completely disgraceful.

I'm glad he got fired because advertisers and guests just couldn't be associated with someone who said something so offensive, and I don't buy all this Political Correctness gone wild stuff either.

Remember how Chelse Clinton got abused for her looks in the 90's? She was the poster white girl for many Def Comedy Jam performers. Did she deserve that? Hell she was still in her teens. Where was the outrage on that?

[pk500]

I'm glad he got fired because advertisers and guests just couldn't be associated with someone who said something so offensive, and I don't buy all this Political Correctness gone wild stuff either.

Al Sharpton has called white Jews "white interlopers" and "diamond cutters." So why does he still have a radio show?

During the home run chase of 1998, Barry Bonds said about the race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa: "They're just letting him (McGwire) do it because he's a white boy. They'll never let him (Sosa) win."

So why does Bonds still have a job in arguably the most politically correct town in America, San Francisco?

What's worse, Stephen A. Smith wrote this about Bonds' comment:

"But what, pray tell, was Bonds actually wrong about? The fact remains . . . a large segment of the black population feels exactly the same way Bonds does."

Why did ESPN hire Smith after these racist remarks? Why didn't the Philly Inquirer fire him immediately? Would it have been more offensive if Smith called McGwire "cracker" or "whitey" in his column? It would have been more obvious for the dense skull matter of the American public?

Take care,
PK

[BasketballJones]

Unfortunately, it's another lost opportunity to unite people of different backgrounds.. Add the Duke Lacrosse situation to the mix and the remarks of Sharpton and Jackson and we have Americas Double Standard. Don't forget the Michael Richards racist tirade. Imus is no different than those clowns. It could have been all about forgiveness, repentence, tolerance, and unification. Instead we have a bunch of fillthy rich celebrity opportunist and politicians looking to jump in the spotlight and self promote themselves. If one of us uttered a racist or sexist remark would Imus be leading a charge to protect our jobs? Imus was fired but he won't be hurting for money. Maybe Imus, Richards, Jackson, and Sharpton could join together and buy a NASCAR team and donate any winnings to Rutgers and Duke. (There has to be some humor inserted somewhere, and that's one of them deep jokes fellers)

The opportunity exists to focus on what we all have in common rather than focus on what is different. Maybe the two "Reverands" could have utilized Imus and his ignorance to promote diversity unity rather than diversity division. Hypocritcal that I haven't heard the mention of Jesus in any of this. If any of these celebrity bozos lack how to do this maybe they can watch my 8 year old son and his friends interact. Sadly, the adult morals and values incorporated in our air waves, music, and literature will corrupt their innocent perceptions and soon they will learn they are all different.

It's a bit odd we are attempting to promote peace and tolerance among Shiites and Sunni's in a culture our country doesn't understand when we can't do it in our own country in a culture which we perceive to understand.

I am thankful my God doesn't care about race or ethniticity and is loving and compassionate enough to forgive me for all my stupidity and that he gives me the strength, humility, and courage to try to change all the things I screw up. You can bet I'm capable of doing it again (ask my wife). We need to promote the spirit of change in people and not the celebrity people of change.

[TheGamer]

you guys presume too much. racism is wrong in any respect. In Imus situation, this guy had too much clout. his show was a platform for many politicians and even had a candidate announcing his candidacy for president on a show. he can't have it two ways. yes he has freedom of speech, blah blah blah, (I fought for it also), but if your going to have a politcal show, and the influence it gains, you have to be held accountable for what you say. he wasn't attacking politicians, he was attacking college students. not even college students on a whole. particular people on a team, that did absolutely nothing to be attacked. I don't think this particular instance has anything to do with Sharpton, Jackson or anyone else. but yes anyone who makes racist or sexist remarks should be held accountable.

[Leebo33]

I don't buy all this Political Correctness gone wild stuff either.

It's not the fact that Imus got booted, IMO, it's the people that were leading the charge. It would be like George Bush leading an environmental movement. I can't speak for everyone, but I just want to know what the rules are and have them apply to everyone. And it makes me sick that CBS and NBC somehow look like responsible citizens in this case when people should really be questioning why they let it go on for so long in the first place. Wow, they had the courage to fire an old man that they were done with...*after* the sponsors started dropping.

[Jared]

The Imus situation has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You're right: It has everything to do with hypocrisy of political correctness, better known as the emasculation of America.

Take care,
PK

Political correctness? Imus has said racist and sexist things in the past, on the air. He got fired for it. And that's part of the "emasculation of America"? Please. If someone says racist or sexist things on the job, the employer has the full right to fire that person, especially when that job is communication to millions over the airwaves.

And yes, people like Sharpton have said things that are racist as well, and they should have been nailed for it.

And I agree with Leebo in that CBS and NBC should have taken action earlier, not when they were forced to because of bad PR and losing sponsors.

[JRod]

The Imus situation has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

You're right: It has everything to do with hypocrisy of political correctness, better known as the emasculation of America.

Take care,
PK

Political correctness? Imus has said racist and sexist things in the past, on the air. He got fired for it. And that's part of the "emasculation of America"? Please. If someone says racist or sexist things on the job, the employer has the full right to fire that person, especially when that job is communication to millions over the airwaves.

I have a huge problem with this. Let's say you go to work tomorrow and say something offensive whether you think it's offensive or not, it's now PC to fire that person immediately.

America is making the logical connection that if you say something racist or sexist then you are racist or a sexist. Which is dangerous in my opinion. I know people that have made comments which have a racial tone to them, yet wouldn't be considered racists.

But as so many has pointed out, this isn't solely about Imus or racism, nor is it about the double racial standard. The over sensitivity is leading to a persecution of everyone's freedom of speech.