Have You Found Your Balls Yet, Imus?

[domer]

I work with, as support staff in the New Jersey Public Defender's Office, of which I am an adjunct, a wealth of beautiful black women of numerous descriptions, who were conceivably smattered by Don Imus's insensitive broad brush of "humor" in the form of a slur. What I suggest to rectify the situation is, preferably, Imus's voluntary resignation representing on his part the courage to stand for something larger than himself, and perennial: the honor of black women, which transcends -- as appropriately handled -- any dark instinct that may bubble forth to scar like a lye-bath in the face. With this precedent established, perhaps other violent offenders can be reined in successfully, to wit, rap artists and hip-hop culture generally, who seem to thrive on debasing what could be their salvation.

[kimba1]

not saying he should quit.
but if he did,not much will result from it
he`ll pretty much will disappear.
he`s just a radio host.
if anything it might give abit more negative image to the black community.
as a unforgiving group of people
just like islamic extremist.
as

[Michael Tee]

I'm not a big follower of Don Imus, don't know much about his career, but following the recent commentary, it appears he's already been forced to apologize for similar remarks in the past and swear that he would be more sensitive, caring, respectful etc.  This is such bullshit.  He never should have been given his second chance.  Racists don't change.  Racism is bred in the bone.  In an ideal world they would be liquidated but we all know that ain't gonna happen.  Still to give this guy a third chance is incalculable stupidity.  Unless the airwaves are open to everybody - - and I mean, everybody, kiddie porn, coprophagia festivals, whatever - - then if anybody has to be banned, you can include racists like Imus in the banning.  As for kimba's idea to give the black community an opportunity to appear forgiving, that sucks - - they wouldn't look forgiving, they'd just look like schmucks.  And to give them credit, they don't seem to WANT to be forgiving or to be seen as such.  Enough is enough.  I hope they go after his air hosts, and if the air hosts don't want to know what time it is, then go after the sponsors.

[kimba1]

schuck?
forgiving  a sign of weakness?
by forgiving, imus will be indebted to them
by not he`ll just get fired and it just ends there.
his lose of a job will pay in full his debt to them.

awhile back kathy lee got accused of child labor abuse
she right did everything to correct this
but the attorney who charged her, stated right there he gotta be care ful how far he can keep accusing her.
because she has the right to just go away.

imus has the right to just go away and this arguement will stop right there.

nobody can have enough allies.

[larry]

I find it interesting that Imus gets the boot on the same day the La cross case is dropped. Maybe there is no connection but it could be a tic for tack action.

[Lanya]

Is there a double standard here?   Remember Jimmy the Greek? Fired from  CBS for making disparaging racial remarks about black male athletes in general and  Rush  got fired from ESPN for saying Donavan McNabb was overrated.

So...a 2 week vacation is punishment?  Hm.

[Amianthus]

Is there a double standard here?

The double standard I see is that the Dixie Chicks get taken out of the lineup at a number of stations, and the cry of censorship goes up. Imus gets a suspension, and those people who thought the Chicks had their First Amendment rights violated are not saying a peep.

[larry]

I saw that show when Rossie made her comments. I knew that was going to cause a big stink. It'll pass.

[Lanya]

<<The double standard I see is that the Dixie Chicks get taken out of the lineup at a number of stations, and the cry of censorship goes up. Imus gets a suspension, and those people who thought the Chicks had their First Amendment rights violated are not saying a peep.>>

That isn't comparable.  They were giving an opinion about a political leader, Imus was saying (on public airwaves) that  these college athletes who were not public figures,  were whores.  "I'm ashamed Bush is from Texas" does not equal "Those are some _ _ hoes."
They got death threats, plus loss of revenue. But they still spoke out, still sang, still recorded, still toured.  If you liked them, you bought their CDs or went to concerts.
And now, they've won an Emmy.   

[Amianthus]

That isn't comparable.  They were giving an opinion about a political leader, Imus was saying (on public airwaves) that  these college athletes who were not public figures,  were whores.

Freedom of speech only applies to politics?

[BT]

I'm not sure either are a freedom of speech issue. The government had nothing to do with the censuring of either.

Private enterprise did the censuring, as is their right.

[Amianthus]

I'm not sure either are a freedom of speech issue. The government had nothing to do with the censuring of either.

That wasn't my point.

Private enterprise did the censuring, as is their right.

I agree.

[BT]

Meanwhile in discussing Imus on the view, Rosie worries about thought police:

JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER: I think people who have a public voice just need to be conscious then of what they’re saying and the effect that it can have and understand that there’s going to be consequences if they say things like that.

O’DONNELL: Right, you just worry if the consequences, you know --

BEHAR: Because you could be next.

O’DONNELL: -impede upon- which is all right. If that happens, it happens. But the point of the story is, if it impedes on free speech in America, democracy is at stake. Because democracy is based on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. So we really have to worry about that in this country.

[Applause]

HASSELBECK: And we should be concerned and responsible without freedom too.

O’DONNELL: Right, but it’s not a freedom if you outlaw certain words or thoughts, because then the thought police come and then before you know it, everyone’s in Guantanamo Bay without representation.

HASSELBECK: That would be impossible to enforce.

BEHAR: What a jump!


http://newsbusters.org/stories/rosie_defends_don_imus.html?q=node/11950

[BT]

That wasn't my point.

Understood. Your point being that both were treated similarly, yet the outcry and silence vis a vis each case was different from certain quarters. Consistency not being their strong suite.

[Michael Tee]

<<schuck?
forgiving  a sign of weakness?
by forgiving, imus will be indebted to them
by not he`ll just get fired and it just ends there.
his lose of a job will pay in full his debt to them.>>

kimba, it appears the guy was already deep in shit with the black community and apologized once before.  According to your theories, he was "indebted" to them.  And this is how he repays that debt, by calling their daughters hos and nappy-headed?  You gotta be kidding!  The only way the black community is going to be spared a repeat of his racist and sexist insults is by canning his ass.  THAT'S where it's all gonna end.  He can still spew his racist venom from some neo-Nazi hate site on the internet or even on talk radio, but it will be the end of whatever legitimacy or national approval appears to come from being part of the MSM.

As for Ami's question, Freedom of speech applies only to politics?  I think most sixth-graders know the answer to that one.  Free speech is of the highest value in certain areas, politics and religion in particular, also the arts.  Which is why a private citizen not in the public eye can sue for slander in many cases where a politician or film star could not.  Free speech and fair comment defences would have their best chance of success where public figures are concerned.  "Fair comment," free and uninhibited political discourse, etc. are legally recognized values.  (although this doesn't seem to  extend any more to flag-burning, of course, if the burned flag is an American flag.)  To the extent that these athletes were in the national eye, if only briefly, Imus' lawyer could probably claim fair comment and I'm not saying he shouldn't have the LEGAL right to say what he did.