Free Speech, Ignorance and Racism

[iplaw]

I'm shocked no one has been discussing the Imus issue around here.  What does everyone think about it?  

I realize that it was an ignorant and insensitive racist comment that he made, but where is the ACLU when it comes to protecting his right to free speech?  And does what he said amount to an offense that should warrant his firing?

Why is he not allowed to make ignorant, racist comments on air?  Why is it okay for Rosie O'Donnell to spew 9/11 TROOF garbage on air, accusing fellow citizens of killing thousands on 9/11 and she goes unnoticed?

I think it's amazing how the usual intelligencia who argue for free speech at any cost are noticably silent on the issue...

[NellieBly]

I am finding it difficult to make the leap between plain old racist remarks and tin foil hat remarks.

[iplaw]

Both are ignorant and hurtful.  Imus' comments were insensitive and hurtful to the black community at large, just as Rosie's were hurtful to the familes of victims of 9/11 and specifically to the NYFD families for insinuating that 9/11 was partially orchestrated by brave, dead firefighters.

[tim huntzinger]

OH! This is about Imus! I thought it may be an apology or your biography!  Ha ha! LOL! Just kidding!

They are as silent as they were when a 'pro-lifer' like yourself thought that pic of Anna Nicole at eight months pregnant and high on drugs was so damn funny you used it as an insult.

They are as silent as when Onan expressed how funny he thought the picture of the homosexuals being executed was.

I thought it was interesting that the WFAN site edited the most outrageous bits out of the interview.

[MichaelC]

Supposedly, FCC rules allow for some pretty crazy stuff, but don't allow someone to use public airwaves to spew racism.  From what I've heard the comments by Imus are quite possibly illegal.

[grahambino]

anyone has the right to say whatever dumbass thought happens to appear in their head.
some of us just have larger audiences.

that being said, who really gives a &$*# what Don Imus, Micheal Richards or Rosie O'Donnell says.  are people that easily swayed?
 
Rosie O'Donnell said 9/11 is a conspiracy...I never thought of it that way. My whole value & belief system is now changed.  Thank you Rosie for providing me with much needed clarity and perspective on this issue.  

[cannon_fodder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9BjB7Bzr0

I havent commented because he is just a talking head.  What he says or thinks has little effect on me and I dont watch/listen to him.    I just dont really care.

That said, I dont think his comment was meant to be racist.  I think he was trying to point out that the girls from Rutgers did not appear professional.  The girls from Tennessee were also black and he complimented their appearance.  So clearly race was not the differentiating factor.

He was probably trying (poorly) to use 'cool' lingo in his commentary.  I'm not sure how 'nappy headed ho' serves as an effective description but I dont think he was TRYING to be racist with that remark.  Clearly it was a poor try and in poor taste.

Also, I didnt know "nappy hair" referred to the natural dense curl of African's hair.  I simply didnt realize that is what it meant.  For some reason I thought it was synonymous with snarled or matted hair. Perhaps he is as naive as I and was trying to say messy hair?

I dont know, like I said, I dont really know much about the guy nor do I apparently understand the connotation to nappy.  SO my opinion probably isnt worth much.

---
side note:

NPR had an interview on yesterday with a black woman who couldnt decide who to vote for Clinton because she was a woman or Obama because he was black.

What if a white man was interview and stated "I cant figure out who to vote for.  I'm democrat but Hillary is a woman and Obama is black."   Or, I cant figure out who to vote for McCain or Guiliani.  At least they are both white males."

Instead of being touted as a historic moment and what a tough choice, the man would be called a racist prick, a bigot, and certainly wouldnt get his own little quip on NPR.  I dont care who this woman wants to vote for nor what her criteria are, but the double standard in race can be stark.

[Conan71]

I just find it ironic that one of America's biggest racists, Al Sharpton took him to task over it.

Personally, I find Imus to be quite droll and irrelevant.

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

Supposedly, FCC rules allow for some pretty crazy stuff, but don't allow someone to use public airwaves to spew racism.  From what I've heard the comments by Imus are quite possibly illegal.

Illegal.  Are you kidding me?  Howard Stern got by with far worse when he was on public air.

Should we make racist commentary illegal?

[iplaw]

quote:They are as silent as they were when a 'pro-lifer' like yourself thought that pic of Anna Nicole at eight months pregnant and high on drugs was so damn funny you used it as an insult.

What the hell are you talking about Troll?

[RecycleMichael]

My brother listens to Imus every day and says he is a funny guy, but every time I listen to him he sounds like an idiot.

I say throw him off the air for any excuse you can.

[DM]

Here is my take on the whole thing. I don't mind when people say stuff about other races in a comedy routine. Look at Carlo Mencia. The guys is funnier then many other comics and some (most) of time it is at the expense of either other Hispanics or other races. But he does not have a public radio show to report news and other such stories. He has a comic show. This was in very poor taste by Imus. But what makes it worse are his statements that follow his apologies. "I am a nice guy, I bet I have slept in a house with more black people that you, those people, etc.." He made these statements yesterday and this morning on the Today show. I look forward to him meeting the girls that he hurt. I personally do not listen to him anyway because he has a history of saying things that are not appropriate for public radio. But that is JMO and that is why I don't listen to him.

As for the punishment, I would have rather it been a month, because two weeks IMO does not seem like much. But I am glad that they networks did something rather then nothing.

[DM]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

I just find it ironic that one of America's biggest racists, Al Sharpton took him to task over it.

I would have rather he did not do the interview with Al Sharpton either. He is about a good a representative is for the black community as Carlos Mencia would be for the Hispanics.

I respect Imus for going there to do the interview, but still think he should have done the interview with someone else.

[rwarn17588]

Imus has been saying nasty stuff for years. What turned me off permanently was when it was said on his show that Jill Carroll, the American reporter who was kidnapped in Iraq and freed months later, was "carrying al-Zarqawi's baby" or some other foolishness. I swear, it was like fifth-graders had taken over the microphone.

With Imus, when you sow bad seeds, don't be surprised if they take over your yard.

This isn't a free-speech issue. Imus does have the right to say what he says. That doesn't mean that his employer or his listeners or general public has to tolerate it. Free speech is a two-way street, as Imus is finding out right now. In the free flow of ideas, the creator of questionable material can be subject to painful rebuttals.

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Imus has been saying nasty stuff for years. What turned me off permanently was when it was said on his show that Jill Carroll, the American reporter who was kidnapped in Iraq and freed months later, was "carrying al-Zarqawi's baby" or some other foolishness. I swear, it was like fifth-graders had taken over the microphone.

With Imus, when you sow bad seeds, don't be surprised if they take over your yard.

This isn't a free-speech issue. Imus does have the right to say what he says. That doesn't mean that his employer or his listeners or general public has to tolerate it. Free speech is a two-way street, as Imus is finding out right now. In the free flow of ideas, the creator of questionable material can be subject to painful rebuttals.

I agree.  Also, why hasn't anyone pointed out that he's BORING as hell.  I've never heard someone who seems more like they're about to slip into a narcoleptic coma at any moment.

What makes me sick is the immediate calls by Sharpton et. al to have him fired.  Let the free market run its course; let the listeners punish him, but for god's sake don't make it criminal conduct.