I've heard two silly arguments this week.
"Why is everyone giving a free pass to Chris Rock, Jesse Jackson, and a whole bunch of rappers for their racist remarks and then coming down on Imus?"
and
"What ever happened to free speech?"
Chris Rock, Jesse Jackson and a whole bunch of rappers aren't the issue here...they're just a distraction from Imus' stupid remarks. It's the -I have no argument so I'll point to someone else - argument. It's what people do when they get a speeding ticket and complain about all the "real criminals" out there stealing and robbing widows and orphans.
"Why is everyone giving a free pass to Chris Rock, Jesse Jackson, and a whole bunch of rappers for their racist remarks and then coming down on Imus?"
and
"What ever happened to free speech?"
Chris Rock, Jesse Jackson and a whole bunch of rappers aren't the issue here...they're just a distraction from Imus' stupid remarks. It's the -I have no argument so I'll point to someone else - argument. It's what people do when they get a speeding ticket and complain about all the "real criminals" out there stealing and robbing widows and orphans.
They're not the issue here, it's your driving recklessly.
It's the press complaining about Kenneth Starr when he was brought in as an independent council - blame the guy trying to gather the facts, instead of the person committing the crime. You also heard the traffic argument with Clinton's lying under oath. They didn't talk about him not actually doing it...because he did...they talked about the far more important problems out there. That's certainly true, but he still did it.
the free speech thing just seems silly. We have the freedom to say stuff without being thrown in jail - but we don't have the freedom to say whatever we want and still keep our jobs, friends, speaking engagements, etc. It's one of those misunderstood amendments (like "seperation of church and state") that people throw out there whenever they don't like something that's been done because of something someone said.
it's just a silly argument and I can't help but point it out...it's just bugging me.
the free speech thing just seems silly. We have the freedom to say stuff without being thrown in jail - but we don't have the freedom to say whatever we want and still keep our jobs, friends, speaking engagements, etc. It's one of those misunderstood amendments (like "seperation of church and state") that people throw out there whenever they don't like something that's been done because of something someone said.
it's just a silly argument and I can't help but point it out...it's just bugging me.
I (foolishly) entered into the online “discussion” of the Don Imus incident on the Cincinnati Enquirer’s website this week.
ReplyDeleteBesides getting a strong dose of bigotry there (all anonymous, of course), I also saw the arguments that “it was just a joke!” so it’s OK, and if you don’t like something you can/should “turn your ears off.”
I had posted that demeaning a group of people, even done light-heartedly, and especially when done on public airwaves, was degrading to all of us and lowered our society another notch. I said ignoring the problem (“turn your ears off”) was not the answer. I thought the answer was saying we will not tolerate this because of the effect it has on our society, and I thanked P&G for suspending their sponsorship of the Imus show.
The knee-JERK reactions I got would be comical if they weren’t so pathetic.
P.S. Why shouldn't the producer also be fired? He initially called the team members "ho's," Imus only added "nappy headed."
yes.
ReplyDeleteand frankly, if i may, there is a big difference between Don Imus saying it and Chris Rock saying it... and people who don't get that, don't want to get that.
so there.
...and why is Cincinnati so full of crazies?
I can't stand Imus and I'm glad he's been silenced but the same "Free speech" that protected Imus is the "Free speech" that has been keeping people from silencing the goofballs at Fox Network.
ReplyDeletefirst off... good grief. anonymous, didn't you just play into exactly what sean was railing against? you just switched subjects to deal with some one else's "crime" instead of dealing with the issue at hand.
ReplyDeletei am kind of sick of this subject. it has been everywhere for way too long. the only issue i have with all of this is that he apologized. (let me say that i really dislike his show and his on-air personality. i have no idea what he is like off the air). he went on al sharpton's show and "profusely" apologized. he asked for forgiveness from the team he isulted, his listeners, anyone else offended, and the american people at large. i just have a problem that no one seems willing to forgive when some one asks for it.
Many male rappers say nasty sexist things. They talk about women's private parts in degrading and sometimes violent ways. But it's OK because it's on MTV- you have to expect that from MTV. Their sponsors keep sponsoring. America condones their actions.
ReplyDeleteMel Gibson vomits anti-semitic remarks at policemen, but that's OK because he was drunk and/or he's actually a good guy who made a really important Christian movie. His sponsors keep sponsoring. He apologizes. America forgives him.
Imus made another horrible remark on his outrageous show where he has gotten paid to offend people for many years. He apologizes. His sponsors stop sponsoring and America does not forgive him or condone his actions.
Why?
Someone (don't know who) asked a reasonable question: Why?
ReplyDeleteWhy is it OK for rappers, or Mel Gibson, to say what they say?
It's not OK.
And Imus? As you said, "Imus made another horrible remark." Followed by yet another apology.
My guess is that after a certain point his apologies lost their effectiveness.