Imus is simply a distraction to get the eye off the goal. He made enough money a year to know what's acceptable and what isn't. So he got fired..he has more in his bank account than most of us little people. Sharpton and Jackson also are well paid pawns paid to disrupt the focus of public opinion.
It just proves how low sports fanatics will sink when insulting a loosing team. I think it was mainly the use of the term hoe/whore that sank his ship. Although Sharpton and Jackson jumped on the bandwagon. (They always do don't they...that's where their prestige and notoreity come from.) It was actually the woman's vote that sealed his doom. They are the largest bank of consumers out there afterall.
This is an unwelcome constriction on speech. Of Course Imus was stupid and in poor taste, but thats not the point. This will be used for justification to attack say, Rosie O'Donnell or somebody else.
black folks are usually more sensitive to, and more aware of, racism than whites for the mere fact that they encounter it a lot more than whites. we have a long history of fucking with the black community, and although segregation and genocide are no longer the official policy of the united states, to say that racism is dead is just moronic. 200 years ago they were bought and sold as cattle. the us consitution specifically calls them 3/5ths of a person. 100 years ago they used to lynch black people at picnics. they made post cards to celebrate. it's only within the past 40-odd years that they've had the right to vote. and there still is a shit-ton of racism in society. it's moved to the back, but it's still there. and that's why it's offensive... (and he lost his job because his sponsors pulled out. y'see, in a free market people have the right to 'vote with their wallets', and a lot of people did.)
I heard the silliest shit this morning. This guy was defending IMUS saying that he was just talking like young black guys... so he shouldn't be responsible... The last time I checked...a grown man, even if he's imitating someone else should know if the words he's saying are offensive or not. Young black guys say "nigga" all the time, and he knew that was offensive enough to not say. And this is not about Freedom of Speech. IMUS had the right to say whatever he wants...but he doesn't have to be on the radio with Corporations sponsoring him. If IMUS wants to get a website and broadcast a show with now sponsors and say all the racist stuff he wants, he can. But when he's on public radio and being sponsored by companies, then we as a public have to right to say we don't want him on the air...or to boycott the companies that sponsor him.
