Jacob1983

I'm sure you guys have heard about this especially since Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson have been trying to capitalize off it and whine about how oppressed they are. I think this whole incident is stupid. Imus was an idiot for saying what he said about the Rutgers women's college basketball team. And it was good that he apologized but I don't the guy should be fired mainly because he has a history for saying offensive and stupid things. He is a shock value artist in my opinion. He's like an old timey Howard Stern.
I think Sharpton and Jackson should let this go already. It seems like they just love to ruin white men's lives and draw attention to themslves. Let's not forget that Sharpton and Jackson have dealt with dealing with racist comments in the past. I believe both of them have said offensive things about Jews in the past yet they get to throw stones at this Imus guy. Double standard in my opinion.
I just would like to see what would have happened if Imus had been a black man.
In our society, it seems like white people are the only type of people that can be racist.

Racial slur gets Imus 2-week suspension - Yahoo! News

NEW YORK - Don Imus' morning talk show will be suspended from CBS Radio and MSNBC for two weeks following protests about his reference to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos," both networks said Monday.



MSNBC, which telecasts the radio show, said Imus' expressions of regret and embarrassment, coupled with his stated dedication to changing the show's discourse, made it believe suspension was the appropriate response.

"Our future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word," the network said.

The suspension begins next Monday

nopal

Good, the suspension is deserved. What he said was not just racist, it was sexist. If Sharpton, or any of the others you constantly hold to a higher standard than your personal favorites, had said the same thing, their suspension would be justified too.

Indian Summer

I'm definitely in favor of the suspension. Jacob, I'm not sure what you're talking about saying he didn't deserve to get fired- there's a pretty big difference between being fired and a two week suspension. He just doesn't get paid for two weeks or go into work.

Stacie18

So just because he has a history of saying offensive and stupid things makes this okay?

Stacie18

So am I. I don't think he should be fired, but two weeks suspension is definitely appropriate.

Ruby_Slippers

I listen to Imus all the time. I think he is refreshing because he isn’t conservative or liberal. He thinks for himself and critics both sides. When I first started listening to him I was shocked by all the things that he said until I realized it was theater. I’m sure he serious about some of the things he says but most of it is political satire.

That said, I think this issue is being publicized for many reasons.

1.The comment itself. It is unjustifiable and mean. I think race and sex are both at play here. Imus is extremely sexist. He doesn’t like women who are not attractive in his eyes. I.e. skinny and pretty. He mocks any woman who isn’t pretty and he especially mocks overweight women. I’ve heard his comments about UConn before. He referred to the white basketball players as hoes too. And mocked one girl with large teeth. I think that the reason for the outcry is because he picked on something that is soooo sensitive to the African-American consciousness and that is hair. The term nappy is strictly an African-American term so I am almost positive that he repeated something that he heard somewhere in Black culture.

2.Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. They should absolutely be offended. Although, I think there are more pressing issues to raise hell about. Hurricane Katrina, anyone? I think they are outraged for a majority of reasons—some of them being personal. Jesse Jackson has been trying to get on Imus’ show for almost 20 years. Imus does not like him and he mocks him on his show. But this issue has allowed attention to be brought to the fact that there is a severe lack of diversity at company’s like NBC. For the few black faces that are seen on camera there are even less people working behind the scenes.

3. Personally, I think this issue has shown the sexism of both white and black men towards black women. Imus referring to the young ladies as “nappy hoes” surely was a poorly executed line from a rap lyric. Rappers are always referring to black women in derogatory terms. And all the people speaking on this issue have been black men. I have seen very few black women having a voice on this issue. I would like to see that change.

Jacob1983

I never disputed the differences between being fired and being suspended. There is still talk that Imus may get canned. I will admit the first time that I heard him say "nappy headed hoes" I laughed. It was funny because you don't think an old man would say that especially when he's on a radio show.

A lot of the liberal media outlets are playing this off that Imus is a criminal and Sharpton and Jackson are the poster boys for fighting racism. LOL
I saw Stephen aka Screamin A. Smith whining about the incident on Anderson Cooper last night. He was saying that if a black guy said something about white people, then the black guy would have been fired. That's bull crap. In our society, white people are the only people who can be racist. No one else can and if a minority is racist then it's not their fault because the white man has oppressed them or something. I just get sick and tired of playing the race card.

Indian Summer

Wait, white people can be racist? Since when? It seems to go against the rest of your point.

On a side note, black people saying racist things about white people get the same heat. There was recently a rapper who wanted to hire only white girls for a song about cocaine or something- he got in a lotttt of trouble with his label and stuff.

Jacob1983

That was sarcasm in my post. If you couldn't detect it, then you need to take Sarcasm 101.

It's common sense that a member of any racial/ethnic group can be racist. However, the key is what kind of consequences that person will get. A white person that says something racist about blacks and/or jews will hands down get way more flack and criticism if say a black person says racist things about white people or Jews. It's sad that America is like but it's true. I also hate this stupid myth that minorities shouldn't be racist because they know better. Anyone can be racist. It doesn't matter what color you are. I personally believe that all humans have a level of comfort when it comes people outside of their races. It's that old saying or belief that people are usually more comfortable around people that are like them.

There is a double standard when it comes to racism in America. Black people can be racist and it's okay but if a white person especially a white man is racist then it's a crime.
If I had a dollar for all the rappers that have said the n-word, hoe, slut, b#tch I would have a lot of money. Black people can say those words but white people can't?

ceilirose

I've always found Imus to be a pompous jerk along with his on-air staff so this is really a non-surprise for me.

I don't think you can take the argument that's it's the liberal media's fault that Imus is a "criminal" since his show is on the so called "liberal media" - MSNBC and CBS Radio.

Stacie18

I agree with Jacob in that Don Imus is too old to still be using the term H O E. That's comical in itself. If he had just called them h.oes it would have been okay. However, he felt the need to call them "nappy-headed" h oes. He is a racist and a bigot.

Jacob1983

I just love how in our society people enjoy tearing a person down or seeing something bad happen to them.
It's like if a person tells one lie, then they are a liar. If a person has a beer, then they are a drunk and alcoholic. If a person says something racist then they are automatically a racist. No ifs, ands, or buts right?

I don't see why people are in shock that this Imus guy said something stupid. He is a shock value artist and wants attention. Jackson and Sharpton need to step aside from the situation. They have no purpose being involved and they are hypocrites in my opinion because they always come off as thinking that only white people can be racist and black people can't be racist.
I want to see a reporter or news anchor get in it with Sharpton or Jackson about racism. I want to hear a person ask Sharpton or Jackson if they have ever said something racist i.e. the n-word.

Ruby_Slippers

Jacob, please stop using the word racist. Clearly you do not understand what it means.

Also there is no such thing as "the race card". Race isn't a game.

Indian Summer

Well, generally, when someone repeatedly says offensive and racist comments like Imus... then yes, they're offensive and racist. This is far from a one time occurrence.

As for Sharpton and Jackson, I don't see how them pointing out cases of blatant racism means they only acknowledge white racism. It could just as equally mean that they hear about cases involving that kind more often, or that the people who listen to them do.

Anyway, the n-word has a very different context when it's said among blacks sometimes. I don't see how that would make them racist.

Stacie18

Jacob, do you believe that Imus isn't racist? Heck, Howard Stern even admitted that Imus used the N-word constantly when referring to blacks when they worked for WNBC.