Imus has been fired!

[SavageSun4x4]

Double standard?

What about freedom of speech?

Hip Hop Music does not count?

Black comedians get a pass?

JJ, Rev Al, Rosie O'Donnell, Malik Zulu Shabazz and Louie the Lip Farrakhan get a pass?

or

Imus should have been fired for what he said [not that he is just an idiot]

Bonus question: Would the outcome be any different if Imus had said: "wow, those nappy haired gals on that basketball team play some of the best basketball I have ever see" or words to the effect.

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

Freedom of speech to a point, remember he is at the work place. If i said the same thing at my workplace (excluding the auto business) I too would have been fired. There is a huge double standard when racial comments are made (by caucasions) and society needs to get over it as I already have.


Jason

[weasel_ugs]

Arent the black comedians at work when they talk that way??:confused: . Don

[lancetkenyon]

Who cares.......

[AZG23]

Who cares.......


werd :rolleyes:

[FlexyXJ]

What I want to know is how it was termed "racist". Hell, If I call a WHITE girl with dread locks a "Nappy haired ho" Its true. Was he a dumb ***** for saying it?? Yes. Is it being way blown out of the circus??? YES. Let the white man keep his job.


Joe

[jeeper05]

Who cares.......

dont take it wrong Lance but I think you do didnt you leave this site to join the same site I am a part of for the same basic reason

[UGROWUP]

Stupidity is running rampent these days. As I have seen (and I've seen it a lot here in the past 2 months) You're only racist if your white. Everyone else feels that "their people" have been oppressed so it's ok for them to say it. I work in the largest corperation to field so many different races and enthnic peopel in one place. (show me something bigger then the military to do this). I see everyday blacks with a black pride sticker or a philipino with an asian pride sticker or something to that effect. And I know for a fact that if I even utter something to the effect of white pride I would be shot for being a part of the KKK or something stupid like that. The true idea of free speach died a long time ago. Right beside him was a good friend of mine, Common Sense and his baby sister, Decency. May they all rest in peace!

[lancetkenyon]

dont take it wrong Lance but I think you do didnt you leave this site to join the same site I am a part of for the same basic reason

HUH???:confused:

[JamesT]

I am waiting for the entire cast of charectors from this board that always piss and moan about "free speech" when their posts got edited or deleted. So far none of them have shown up.

As for me: I don't like the Imus, but what they are doing to him is wrong. He ought to sue CBS, NBC and Time Warner for decrimination. It seems they have no problem letting others use the airwaves for this type of language, oh that's right, the others using the language are black. Sounds like decrimination to me.

So JohnP, Eric, .... where is your outrage? I mean these were public airwaves Imus was using and the companies letting him use them have other people on these air waves that say the same things, if not worse.

[Kiwi]

Basicly, it's a work place, and his employer can fire him at will. That said, though, it is a double standard. Minorities, in particular, african-americans, are off-limits for even the slightest bit of humor directed at them - by whites, at least.

What's next? Fat people are the brunt of virtualy every joke and stereo type out there. Or blond girls. Or old people. Or chineese drivers. You make fun of one class of people, it's racist. Another, it's just poking fun.

We're just to damn PC, and the likes of Sharpton and Jackson have way too much power, and way too much time on thier hands. They need to be focusing on thier own black rap and comedian community first.

[Cave Gimp]

I agree with most of you that this is crap, and he shouldn't be fired. His show like other radio shows is popular because he is shocking. The statement he made was in keeping with this style. Could it have been offensive, sure. Did he maybe hurt the feelings of the players, sure. Was he saying something so racist as to spark national debate and have him removed? NO!

I can understand CBS firing him if all of his sponsors backed out. Its a business and they must have advisers to afford to pay him and produce the show. No money, no show, its not a free speech issue, its a money issue.

Suing CBS wouldn't work since they made a sound business decision. He should sue Al Sharpton for defamation of character causing him to be fired, and the others who have gone out a destroyed him causing the sponsors to pull their money. It would be a fun trial to watch, but Imus wouldn't win.

The great thing about this country is not necessarily free speech, but choice. If you don't like what Imus says, choose another station. If you don't like the lyrics in Hip Hop, choose to listen to other music. Too bad it is more profitable to bash people, than to choose not to listen.

[jeff krause]

It's a double standard my friends....... plain and simple.... ever watch "the White Rappershow" on MTV ??? Stupid show but helps to illustrate a point. WHite guys rapping getting bagged on by black rappers.

Cosby show placed intelligence and repest in black family life... Most black comedys show a difference look. Martin, Dave Chepelle, Pimp my Ride , the list can go on and on.....

Was Imus right ???? no...... are there are white girls on the Rutgers girls BB team ?????? was the Nappy haired comment directed at them as well.... If so he didn't offend any group of people ......

[SavageSun4x4]

Fat people are the brunt of virtualy every joke and stereo type out there.

Rosie O'Donnell gives fat people a bad name:D

I don't think Imus should be fired. The crime should fit the punishment.

IF somehow we can construe the phrase "nappy haired" to be racial and that is a stretch that only JJ and the Rev Al can make, but for this paragraphs sake I will concede it. That said, ANYBODY who gets offended by ANYTHING Imus sez needs to rethink thier emotional sensitivity meter. I also WONDER how many of the girls on the basketball team LISTEN to or even know who Imus is?????

I am far from being any-kind of an expert on much, especially human genes. But I think a trait of most black folks is "kinky" or as Imus said, "nappy haired". That said, I have known a LOT of black folks and most of them run the color gamut from black-black to near white or "tanned-white". Most all of them have natural "kinky" or "nappy hair". So if you called one nappy haired is that any different than calling someone blue eyed?

I remember one time I was asked to give a description of some perps of a crime I had seen. The police asked me what did they look like? In the description I gave, I said I believed them to be black. He asked "could they have been hispanic?" I said I didn't think so as they had "kinky black hair." Was that a racial slur?

I have said several times that I do find the term "ho" offensive in its use of describing women. I had never heard that term until I was around blacks and heard them use it. A term that I first heard back in the mid-70's. I suspect that Imus picked up the term from the common and public use of the term "ho" as it is being thrown around today by black comedians and Rappers. While we are discussing racial slurs, how about picking ANY one of the current top 10 Rap songs on the charts today...just listen! Double standard????

Go here: http://www.newblackpanther.com/10pnt.html and every where you see the word "black" insert the word white. Publish it on your website and hang it on your wall at work and if you are a DJ read it aloud on the radio or just read it aloud on the street corner. Wonder what JJ and Rev Al would do? How long would you have your job?

[jpotts]

Freedom of speech has nothing to do with this issue. Freedom of speech has to do with government censorship. Fortunately, the government has not censored Imus. Agree with the outcome or not, I believe that this case demonstrates everything that is good with this country. Some people were bothered by an issue and made their issues known using their free ability to express themselves. We don't need to agree with Al Sharpton or any of the other guys. But if Al Sharpton feels that Imus made a racist statement, I support his right to say so. Furthermore, companies like American Express agreed with Al Sharpton, and exercised their right to pull their advertising support from the Imus show. This is exactly how a market economy should work.

We shouldn't have to rely on government to make all of our moral decisions for us. In fact, I wish the government would stay the heck out of most moral debates and decisions where that individuals morals doesn't directly impinge on another free American's rights.

It doesn't matter if any of us finds Imus's remarks offensive. Some people, including Sharpton, were offended or grandstanding, or whatever. The free market decided that it would rather sacrifice Imus than have the negative publicity associated with keeping him. I think that some people are a little overly sensitive, but as a white man I don't think it is possible for me to see it perfectly as if I were black. I believe that this type of thing is exactly what America stands for, and I support it.

Jamie

[jeeper05]

you are all mislead what he said was not takin lightly by some people and he was suspended but when the money pulled out as in mcdonalds and other comercials (spelin sux I know)then the man got fired thats totally wrong where are the principals of these people wwhere are our principals did you have a big mac today I didnt and I wont just like I wont buy anything but GAS from a Gas station for chargin me this crazy fee for gas no beer no smokes no snickers bars nothin but gas kisss my....ok Im done flame away

[BamBam]

This whole issue is a joke. Look at all the power this one person (IMUS) has over the entire black community. No one in the black community even knew who he was, they are not his audience and yet his stupid comment said in jest and bad taste can make a whole community let alone a group of talented athletes upset.

People need to take responsibility for themselves and quit being victims. What should of happened is the peopled offended should of expressed themselves and even better just turned the dial and not listen to that old fool.

DCMP







Imus is a old has been jerk, who listens to him anyway?

[jeeper05]

This whole issue is a joke. Look at all the power this one person (IMUS) has over the entire black community. No one in the black community even knew who he was, they are not his audience and yet his stupid comment said in jest and bad taste can make a whole community let alone a group of talented athletes upset.

People need to take responsibility for themselves and quit being victims. What should of happened is the peopled offended should of expressed themselves and even better just turned the dial and not listen to that old fool.
DCMP





Imus is a old has been jerk, who listens to him anyway?

THERE YOU GO THANKS BAMBAM

[Renob]

If Imus was going to be fired, it should have been for being a boring twit and not for making an unpopular comment.

[Kiwi]

I suppose, biggest mistake he made was actualy apologizing. He's a comdeian (in therory)

You know what they say - Joke 'em if they can't take a F*ck!

[SavageSun4x4]

But if Al Sharpton feels that Imus made a racist statement, I support his right to say so.

Furthermore, companies like American Express agreed with Al Sharpton, and exercised their right to pull their advertising support from the Imus show. This is exactly how a market economy should work.


Sure I support his right to say so even if he is lying out his teeth.


Did the companies pull out??

I thought so, until a dirty fact leaked out. Seems JJ and Rev Al, met with the board of CBS and DEMANDED that Imus be fired and they threatened a boycott. [Remember Imus was given a 2 week suspension]. That is call extortion. [Extortion: Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.]

Where do you think JJ and Rev Al get their funding/income?

Since when do we let JJ and Rev Al make policy in the US???

Ooops,, somebody said my Jeep was ugly and it just offended me, think I will go down and see their boss and DEMAND they be fired for this.

I have no truck at all with Imus and as far as I am concerned its just one less useless talking head on rado/TV, BUT: In our country there is an attempt on the law books and in the courtromm of making the punishment fit the crime. Does Imus deserve to lose his job/career over this? Be VERY careful how you answer, YOUR job/career might be on the line.


Scenario: You are walking home one eve. You are attacked and harassed by several teenage black kids. Its not a robbery, but just some black teens jerking around a guy, knocking the drink out of your hands and throw a few punches. One kid kicks you in the groin and you get busted in the mouth knocking out some teeth. NOW you get mad and scream out some racial slurs, the N word and threaten to beat the crap out of them. They see your mad and run off.

Sitting on the porch watching and listening is a person smoking a cig in the eve air. Its more dark than light and albeit they cannot see exactly what is going on they do HEAR and they hear you. You keep on heading down the street and after a bit the black kids come back as it turns out they live in the same apartment complex as the guy outside who heard it. He notices the bright yellow shirt he saw and asked if the WHITE guy was trying to give you kids some trouble. The teens say yea. You tell them you HEARD what he called you and you were going to do something about it as you see that guy walk past every eve about this time.

Turns out, his 1st cousin is the Rev Al, he calls him, tells him about the white guy harassing the black kids on his block. The next day the police are waiting for you.

You get charged with a hate crime because the witness hears but does not see very well due to conditions. But he can see some kind of fight is happening.

You lose your job, career and have to move out of town....Unbelievable, believe it its the hate crime law.

[jpotts]

Sure I support his right to say so even if he is lying out his teeth.


Did the companies pull out??

I thought so, until a dirty fact leaked out. Seems JJ and Rev Al, met with the board of CBS and DEMANDED that Imus be fired and they threatened a boycott. [Remember Imus was given a 2 week suspension]. That is call extortion. [Extortion: Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.]

Where do you think JJ and Rev Al get their funding/income?

Since when do we let JJ and Rev Al make policy in the US???

American Express, GM, Proctor & Gamble and Staples all pulled their advertising from MSNBC because of this issue.

What official positions do Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton hold? And how did they illegal use those positions? Boycotts aren't illegal. They are ways to use a market economy to achieve a goal. Again, part of the core American values. They may not have used their voices in ways that you agree with, but they used them effectively.

What policy? It is not US policy at all. Once again, it is a wonderful thing that the US Government (FCC) has kept its nose out of this one.

[SavageSun4x4]

American Express, GM, Proctor & Gamble and Staples all pulled their advertising from MSNBC because of this issue.

What official positions do Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton hold? And how did they illegal use those positions? Boycotts aren't illegal. They are ways to use a market economy to achieve a goal. Again, part of the core American values. They may not have used their voices in ways that you agree with, but they used them effectively.

What policy? It is not US policy at all. Once again, it is a wonderful thing that the US Government (FCC) has kept its nose out of this one.

Let me SAY AGAIN: I too believed that they pulled their advertising, that was until is was stated on TV that JJ/Rev Al met with the board of CBS BEFORE it was announced they had pulled their advertising and demanded he be fired.

At this point we do NOT know why he was fired!

It is a known fact that JJ/Rev Al appear to have extorted monies from several corporations in the US. AT&T and Toyota come to mind. Neither of which would press charges or pursue the action further. This is how they get their money. If you chose to believe they are Fine Upstanding folks, that is your choice.

Generally speaking boycotts are not illegal and indeed can be a good way for folks to exercise their thoughts. But the process of of a few individuals, meeting with the head of an organization and "threatening" to use a boycott or to boycott unless you pay me money is illegal and is known as extortion.

JJ and the Rev Al are dirty. Ever wonder WHY the IRS has not audited their organizations in spite of many calls to do so.

Do YOU believe that these two guys represent the views of the majority of black people in the US?

[danno]

I suspect that his firing had less to do with the threat of a boycott and more to do with the opportunity for CBS or MSNBC to make a statement about where they stand in matters of racism... That and an opportunity for them to get out from under Mr. Imus' contract and get some fresh talent on the air.

If he had not been fired, then I suspect that this would have blown over after a few weeks. The firing of Imus allowed the networks to get a few more weeks of publicity.

In my opinion Sharpton and Jackson fall into the same category as Don King. They are all promoters and very good at what they do and through these types of issues they stand to make a little bit of money.

The sad part is that Sharpton and Jackson have the much more of the ears of the media than I think they really deserve.

[SavageSun4x4]

I like Don King, he is a stand up guy!

[danno]

I like Don King, he is a stand up guy!

ROFLMAO!!!

[Aaronon38s]

I think it's funny the black community doesn't want to be singled out, but in the last week, i've read articles about how people are wondering why no more black golfers are becoming the next tiger woods. and then how hank aaron's memorial isn't as special because the number of black players is decreasing in baseball. where is the issue of white players in NFL or basketball (or track).

[SavageSun4x4]

I think it's funny the black community doesn't want to be singled out, but in the last week, i've read articles about how people are wondering why no more black golfers are becoming the next tiger woods. and then how hank aaron's memorial isn't as special because the number of black players is decreasing in baseball. where is the issue of white players in NFL or basketball (or track).

Yes your correct, however it is truly our (Fed government) fault.

LISTEN very carefully to the demands of almost any black person such as JJ, Rev Al, any of the Congressional Black Caucus etc and read very carefully the 10 points of the New Black Panthers: http://www.newblackpanther.com/10pnt.html

Today the black person is under the bonds of slavery far worse than living on any plantation ever did. It has been one continuous program(s) of giving, providing and stripping the initiative and self esteem of the entire black population. Blame congress and especially the DimOkrat mentality of trading welfare for votes that has provided a cradle to grave environment.

[amber.hodge]

Who cares.......

I agree that it's not on my top 20 list of important events in my day...Freedom of speech is important, but YAY I couldn't stand that idiot and I'm glad he's not on the airwaves anymore!! (101.5 sucks anyway) I think that it is not fair that I, as a white woman, would get fired for the same comment, but if someone of another race made a racial slur about me, they would likely be tolerated.