One of the Rutgers University Women's Basketball players, Kia Vaughn, said it best:
"Unless they've given 'ho' a whole new definition, that's not what I am."
I will not replay Don Imus' incredibly offensive remark, or delve into what kind of mental illness would make a person think it was funny.
But he, and any other racists out there, should not be allowed to spew hatred over the air in any context. His brand of "humor" needs to be retired as surely as lynch mobs and Jim Crow "laws."
Americans should be righteously disgusted and just plain tired of seeing the same ground covered over and over with no real gain. As long as anyone still holds such egregious ideas, we should all be ashamed because doing nothing just contributes to the problem. It is not good enough to proclaim ourselves above such attitudes. Those of us who are not racists must make our voices heard if we really want things to change.
Or they never will. It's that simple.
40 comments:
So not cool. Not cool at all.
Cece,
So.Not.Cool.
Really.
Terrible...
I have only read about it... Don't care to hear him... And quite frankly I do not know who this guy is... and all I can say is how utterly horrible....
Racist, sexist bastard. How do you expect to get away with calling a woman a ho over national airwaves?
Pendullum.
I know who he is because I'm from NY, but have never listened to him. So not my style.
Monicker,
Well, there you are. He has a whole rich white guy entitlement thing going, plus a humongous ego.
He is less than weasel poop.
Amen, sister! Off with his head (or stop giving him airtime).
Laurie,
Paying someone to pollute the airways and people's minds just adds insult to injury.
This is especially absurd in a world in which farmers are paid not to grow crops. If it didn't really go against the grain that this jackass is paid at all, I might suggest that the studio pay him NOT to broadcast.
It almost makes me wish i listened to his show, just so i could say that i'll never listen to it again.
I guess i could say that anyway. I'll never listen to his show again! There.
Jerk!
Meno,
You tell 'im, girl. Boy, I'll bet he's shaking in his boots now. Pig.
I am all for freedom of speech, but isn't it time we stop putting up with idiots who think degrading comments are funny? Racists remarks are never funny. never. wtf
I'm glad that there's such an outcry against this craziness. But, what's a non-racist to do? Idiots are among us. What can we do about it?
We're one the same page. I wrote about this today, too.
:)
Peace,
~Chani
Eslocura,
I'm sure that freedom of speech was never intended to be an excuse for such dastardly behavior. He may have the legal right to express himself, but we don't have to listen to him. We have freedom FROM speech if we care to exercise it.
Lex,
There will always be idiots, but they must not be allowed to run their mouths uncontested. We have a responsibility to speak out against their messages of hate because if we don't, they win converts.
Chani,
I will happily be on the same page with you any day. I'm goin' in.
OK, that part I can do.
Lex,
I knew you could. :)
We all can and should. Allowing such cretins to make divisive remarks as if there was nothing wrong with it would be like saying "boys will be boys."
Not to belabor the point, but his comment so lacked any kind of humor that it had to be the outpouring of a hate-filled heart.
Not to belabor the point, but his comment so lacked any kind of humor that it had to be the outpouring of a hate-filled heart.
Don Imus is just a washed-up old white guy who is a Howard Stern wannabe.
Really. I know that's not very kind... but it's the truth as I see it.
:)
Peace,
~Chani
Chani,
Howard Stern is revolting, too.
My point is that only someone with racist inclinations would have said what Imus did.
Racism is a great evil but to defeat it the young must grow up being thought to respect and indeed appreciate other cultures and in an atmosphere of equal opportunity and justice. I believe the Canadian mosaic model works better than the American melting pot model. Appreciate rather than try to assimilate.
I don't know this guy or heard what he said but bring him to me and I'll check his nut.
Oh yeah this guy has stirred up a shit storm in these parts. I would never listen to him- What an Ass.
I keep thinking to myself, "Didn't we, as a nation, as a society, didn't we come out of the sixties with some greater understanding of others?" And then, every day, I am reminded that this kind of thing will probably never go away.
The ironic thing is that at the root of all of this kind of hate is a person's own inner insecurities.
I agree with you that what he said was stupid and definitely not funny. But at the same time, if I was on the woman's basketball team from Rutgers, Al Sharpton is the last guy I want speaking on my behalf. He's arguably a bigger racist than Imus.
When it comes to someone talking like an idiot, I either change the channel or turn it off. If they say this in front of my wife, mother, or daughter though, I hope their health insurance is decent.
I formerly thought better of Imus than that. I am disappointed, to say the least.
Ian
Well, I think the outcry against happened fast enough. He is currently suspended and hopefully his rating will drop enough his contract won't be renewed. I hate to say that we need occassional a-holes to stupidly say this crap as a reminder these a-hole still exist. Wrapped in my cozy world, I tend to forget they are out there and I get complacent.
It's gross, really gross.
I can't believe our appetite for this type of entertainment. It's like cocaine. There wouldn't be a "war on drugs" if people didn't buy the stuff. He wouldn't get away with it if people didn't listen to him.
Squirrel,
I agree with your point about melting pot vs mosaic. One of the richest aspects of life in America is our great cultural diversity, so trying to turn everyone into White Anglo Saxon Protestants robs us all.
I would not want to live in a world in which everyone was exactly like me. We can only learn from those whose backgrounds and customs are different. And I think that is what we're here for, to open our minds and hearts to others.
Urchin,
What an ass, indeed.
Thomas,
Insecurity fuels so much hateful behavior. But I find it hard to sympathize with a rich and famous man of no talent who cruelly attacks people who did nothing to deserve it.
Furious,
I would love to witness this. And with any luck, they wouldn't have health insurance at all.
Ian,
I've never listened to him, although he's been around my whole life. But such comments are always disappointing, from anyone.
Olives,
It's easy for all of us to become complacent if we are not, personally, under attack.
So yes, it's a wake up call. Or in Imus' case, maybe a death knell.
Claudia,
How true. I can't see why anyone would listen to him, or Howard Stern. They're crude idiots. But I guess people have their reasons, until the crude idiots go too far.
It seems that Imus has reached that point, and hopefully, will be gone from the airwaves.
Listening to garbage does not elevate anyone's soul.
My 12 year old today said, "why are there so many racists"...sad that a 12 year old recognizes the sickness.
Robin,
It's sad in the loss of innocence sense, but otherwise, I don't think it sad that she is aware of these attitudes. Her awareness will allow her to take a stand against such ills, and that is a wonderful thing.
How nice to see you here again!
I heard a story on NPR yesterday, using the words and voices of the women and coach of the Rutgers' team. They were amazing--so articulate and graceful and wise.
They put the Imus' of the world to shame, as they should be.
Jocelyn,
They certainly do. They are very impressive (and lovely looking) young women.
As they say, class tells.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and admit I like Howard Stern. I don't think he's a thing like Imus. I don't know if people perceive Stern as a racist, but as a long time listener, I can assure you he's not. He is often grossly juvenile and I suppose it could be argued, sexist, but not racist. He will certainly have any asshole on air and let him/her make an absolute ass of his/herself though. Also, he is the best interviewer I've ever heard.
As for Imus, he is some kinda washed up ol' cowboy wanna-be who was a somebody at the beginning of this kind of talk radio. People like Ann Coulter, Mel Gibson and Al Sharpton blurt out what's really in their heart...and frankly I'd rather know who they are than not. It's better to know who to avoid.
Lee,
I can't argue that it's helpful to know where people really stand.
Racism was rampant and open in a part of the country where we used to live. Flip always said exactly what you did, that it's better to know how people feel than to be blindsided where it's more subtle. But while I appreciate the practicality of that, I would rather not hear it because it does bad things to my blood pressure and adrenalin levels.
And I just want such mean-spirited stupidity to go away.
Those young ladies from Rutgers and their coach are quite dignified in the face of such insults. I think they're amazing.
It seems this is on everyone's minds today. I was writing about some thoughts the situation inspired, and I've seen so many bloggers speaking out about the things Imus says and lots of other people. Hopefully, some real change will happen as a result.
My grandma is livid about this whole situation, and for good reason. Don't even get me started on what I think of people like Imus.
Liz,
Yes, those young women are all behaving with amazing grace and dignity. The contrast between their elegance and Imus' crudeness is more eloquent than verbal retaliation could ever be.
This self-control has surely been a factor in their academic success and athletic prowess, too.
My mother would say that they are ladies.
Thinker,
Your grandma is right. And I would hope that the man's rank stupidity will lose him the rest of his fans.
Imus and his ilk always disgusted me when they spew all their hatred and bigotry while hiding behind "freedom of speech."
Those women are awesome to stand up against this and are to be greatly admired.
Velvet,
He's appalling. The nerve of him even thinking such disgusting things.
We should all be very proud of those young American women. I think their refinement has made a lot of people realize that some things can't be ignored or trivialized.
Wanda Sikes said that she was shocked. She thought that Imus must have been dead a long time ago...he certainly looks like it.
I just heard that he got fired. Maybe he will learn and grow ffrom hte experience. Anyone who says things like that has to be thinking them on some level.
Seventh,
Exactly. The words wouldn't have come out if the thought had not been there.
I am pleased that enough people cared, and that the network listened. (I know, they don't want to lose listeners.) But for whatever reason, they made the right choice.
And Imus does look shockingly cadaverous.
I couldn't have said it better myself, Heart. Truly.
I'm dealing with a bit of a racist issue at work lately. Trying to figure out whether to even blog about it.
Katrice,
I am just so sick of racism. There is nothing more stupid.
A lily-white America is unimaginable. Most of the cultural aspects that we take for granted in our daily life are gifts from various minorities.
I'm sorry you're having such a problem at work, and I believe that if you do post about it, you will get a lot of support and wisdom from our many friends in the blogosphere.
Good luck in dealing with it. Just remember: You are right and they are wrong. (You heard it here first, folks.)
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