Don Imus is Toast!
I am a charter fisherman and one of my favorite jokes is, "I don't keep small fish. I don't want to be called the Michael Jackson of sport fishing." I don't think that is too far, but let me know people! Am I pushing the limits of humor?
Radio shock jocks push the limits all the time. Is the only group available for poking fun at WASPs? This is not to say I agree with anything Imus in the Morning ever said. I personally think the things he said about the Rutgers's ladies basketball team were rude, crude and racist. Then I find most rap music rude, crude and sexist.
The world doesn't need guys like Imus to perpetuate racial stereotypes; rap musicians have that well under control. In our struggle to find a colorblind society, how are we dealing with humor? What are the limits and who sets them?
Joke:
A priest, a Boy Scout and Jessie Jackson are on an airplane. The plane develops major problems and the airplane crew bails out, leaving the trio with only two parachutes. The priest magnanimously suggests that the other two take the 'chutes. Jessie states, "I am world's smartest Afro-American, I must survive for my people!" and jumps out of the airplane.
The priest tells the Boy Scout to be safe and remember the Lord, and the scout says, "Put this on Father, the world's smartest Afro-American in the world just jumped out of the plane with my backpack."
So is that forbidden? Is that over the edge? Are Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton and Lewis Faracon above political humor? No! Any political figure is open to tasteless humor. Amateur athletes? Without a doubt no! Leave them alone unless they have a record. Yes, amateur athletes with felony convictions are wide open to lambasting in my opinion. Do you remember the University of Nebraska a few years back!
That's humor! Any famous person or group is subject to tasteless humor. President Bush has a ranch in Texas; he is subject to cowboy humor. Heck, he is subject to all kinds of tasteless humor. Every president is subject to the humor of any comedian of any ilk. So if Barack Oboma is elected, what are the ground rules going to be? Heck, Barack is already having problems with the swimsuit photos. Wait until he hit's the Carolinas to stump at a few pig pickings, that's going to be comfortable. What about Hillary? You don't think a few PMS related quips are going to thrown out there?
I don't have anything against Barack or Hil...., well against Barack anyway. Religion, as long as you have some ethical religion, it is not a problem. Barack has religion and that is fine with me. If he were radical Islamic, then I would have a problem, I don't think it's ethical to plan the demise of other religious groups. Lewis Faracon is Islamic, I don't have a problem with Faracon either. He makes a lot of sense. To paraphrase Faracon," Ask not what your country can do for you, get a life and do it yourself!"
As a nation, we need to come to grips with the humor that is America. No religious, ethnic, social, sexual or political group should exempt from humor. So let us set up the ground rules and move on. Get a grip people, Imus never should have had an audience to begin with, he was boring! That doesn't mean he should lose his job forever because he was stupidly insensitive.
Freedom of speech is a right with limits, let us set those limits and move on down the road. Imus has apologized to the Rutgers ladies b-ball team. Suspend his dumb butt for a month and let's get back on with life. Or if you like, let us suspend every insensitive a-hole out there! Say the wrong thing and you are out of there. I am starting to feel little bit sensitive myself, next time I see someone spit on an soldier returning from the Mid-East, I might just lose it, that is just or more offensive than Imus' comments. (Sorry Rutgers ladies, don't mean to slight you, but that sight should be painful for every American). Freedom of speech is a constitutional right, with limits. Be careful where you start setting those limits.
This article was submitted for non-payment. The views expressed in this article are definitely not the views of Associated Content. AC in no way endorses the views of this author.
Published by captdallas2
Florida Keys life inspires many to artistic endeavor. CaptDallas2 is no exception. Writing songs, music and articles fills his time off the water. From boating to how to wipe your butt, the politically in... View profile
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12 Comments
Post a CommentHello. I was not signed in when I typed a comment so left this story to sign in and rewrote my comment. Aargh! It was not only published but published twice. My newly reworded comment is not worth repeating. Want to add that Gary Smith was next. Article, for those who have not seen it and are interested here: Gary Smith was next: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/217838/disc_jockey_fired_for_using_imus_phrase.html
Steven Colbret is lucky he did not suddenly die of a mysterious heart attack or car accident after his humourous roast of Pres GWB. After reading an MSN article covering Imus' apology, I sincerely believe he did not know he had crossed the line between humor and offense. It sets a bad precedent to get people fired for what amounts to a horrid mistake on Imus' part. Bigots could use the same strategy to get "black" DJ's, showhosts and commedians fired. They routinely use racial slurs on the air. Double-standard must end if there is any hope of ending racism.
I've learned that free speech only applies to those who say what the media and certain people in power want you to say. That being said, Imus was an idiot for sure, but I've heard worse said by blacks about their own people. How said is that?
I think the beginning of Imus's end was several years ago, when he gave a half-hour speech referencing Bill Clinton's peccadillos when he and Hillary were on the stage with him. The looks could have killed. But as far as free speech -- who took away his right to talk? He can still talk as much as he wants, and say whatever foul thing takes his fancy. The only thing taken away from Imus was his stage and his microphone. His employers did that -- not the government. Those who cry free speech should remember that -- on all sides of the political and media fences.
Zac, that's why this is for no pay. It would get rejected as news and take too long to publish. I won't make any money off the article, but hopefully it will get people talking a little. Like Kristina said about Tony Dungy, my articles about Tim Hardaway and General Pace and other articles on AC, people have a right to speak and people have a right to speak out.
ive written two things about this and waiting to get them published. this is a joke
He said several times he was an equal opportunity offender. That should tell you something right there. While I don't agree with what he said, I don't think he should have been fired for it either. The two week suspension he was going to get would ahve been the right punishment. He said he was sorry, he apologized to the women's basketball team and they accepted. Al Sharpton had alot to do with him getting fired, In my opinion. It can't be alright to say these things in rap videos and then have people getting fired for the same thing being said.
I never liked Imus anyway, so good riddance
I think Imus should have pulled from the air long, long ago. I never took offense to his commentary - he probably jabbed at my demographic quite often. For once though - I have found in Dallas' words the true reason why I never cared about Imus' opinion: "Imus never should have had an audience to begin with, he was boring!" You rock Dallas - you've usually got all the right words for the thoughts in my head!
Kristina I agree completely. He needs punishment,but not banishment. He is an insensitive dumb butt. Being a dumbbutt is not illegal. Tony Dungy as you mentioned, Tim Hardaway, Howard Cosell, Jimmy the Greek, Rosie O'Donell the list goes on and on of dumb butts. At some point people need to say, "Dumb butt!" and move on. As far as the college girls, he needs to be punished, not killed, but punished!