Enough with Imus

(CBS 2 has announced that CBS-owned radio station WFAN has fired Don Imus)

The nationwide sensation with "shock jock" Don Imus and his producer keeps on going and going. From the major news networks to the hundreds of web sites, everyone is having a field day with this. Yet, should all of this be a total surprise?

In the past, Imus has criticised and denigrated Jews, Catholics, overweight people, and other minorities. It is probably true he was a terrible talk show host, but why the sudden deluge? Was it just bad timing for him to utter the comments "nappyheaded ho" and "hardcore hos" when the Rutgers' women basketball team lost the NCAA Final?

After a week of condemnations by Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, black activists, feminist groups, and presidential candidates, it was Rutgers' turn. The university president, Richard McCormick, said "Mr. Imus' comments were offensive to the Rutgers University community, as well as the entire nation. In this difficult time, we must make an increased commitment to tolerance, civility and equality," while the team coach, C. Vivian Stringer went even further stating that "It’s not about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. It’s about women. Are women hos? Think about that. Would you have wanted your daughter to have been called that?"

Team captain Essence Carson stated it simply by saying, "At first we thought to let it slide, but when we read the transcript, we decided it was unacceptable." Rightly so!

First, I applaud McCormick and Carson's comments. They have every right to respond back to Imus' regretful words.

However, Coach Stringer's words suggest that Imus was also attacking women in general. Yet, is it not true that the word "hos" has been used by both whites and blacks (more frequent on the latter)? It would seem that the rest of us are warned that saying the "H-word" would make us insensitive and racist. Then she spends at least 30 minutes hyping it up. Was this hour-long conference really necessary? How much can you milk this up?

But please, let's stop beating around the bush here.

Let me say it again. How much can we keep this story going?????

Already, CNN was busy contacting "past political guests" of MSNBC host Don Imus to inquire whether they would appear again on his show after those racist remarks. Does this mean that every federal, state, and local politician must voice their opinion on the "shock jock" just to avoid being labelled as "soft" on combating racism?

The sponsors of Imus' program started leaving. On Tuesday, Staples and Miralus Healthcare dropped their sponsorship. Procter & Gamble said it would suspend its advertising altogether from MSNBC. Today, American Express will no longer advertise on Mr. Imus' show, but will continue to advertise on other MSNBC shows. General Motors followed in the same fashion.

Protests against Imus are being planned today: one at City Hall, one at Rutgers-Newark campus, and Rutgers-New Brunswick campus.

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At the end of all of this, we have clearly concluded that Imus was stupid and dumb for uttering those distasteful remarks and should be disciplined, but it would seem the mob wants much more.

Where's George Carlin when you need him? His comments would make Imus' look like child's play. Yet, we have not seen nation-wide protests to force HBO to drop his shows or a boycott on all the movie stores of his DVD's.

It seems the mob wants the "I do not approve of what he said or did" content. Then broadcast media will be boring, free of vulgar and indecent content. I guess that leaves the guns, violence, and drugs on cable and satellite.

Are you telling me that none of these basketball players are somewhere snapping their fingers to the beat of 50 Cent or Snoop Dogg? These entertainers are the ones glorifying the nappy-headed pimps and hos. Go ahead and ask these players what songs they have on their iPods.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were just busy sitting and waiting for someone like Imus to have a slip of the tongue.

It is also embarassing to note that Comedy Central offered Dave Chappelle $50 million to make racially insensitive jokes about black and white people on TV. Do black activists have an answer for that?

Honestly, did Imus' remarks destroy Rutgers' wonderful season? No.

Did Imus' remarks permanently harmed Rutgers' basketball program? No.

Is he a threat to America? No.

After a week or two of this, we should be done. Now all of this is a distraction and an ample opportunity for some to make some sort of financial windfall out of this.

If the NAACP wants Don Imus fired, fine. But the NAACP should tell BET and their hip-hop stars and entertainers to stop popularising hos and their bling-bling. Fair enough?

Interesting Article

TIME - The Imus Fallout: Who Can Say What?

Sharpton Promises More Fallout

'It is our feeling that this is only the beginning. We must have a broad discussion on what is permitted and not permitted in terms of the airwaves'