“nappy-headed ho’s”

Boygabriel wrote: how is he not racist though? If this event was isolated I could buy it. But what about all the stuff Wilbon reported in his column?

Since you asked......as i've said before, i think Imus crossed the line this time, and that his attempt at humor was not the least bit funny. I am not bothered when he makes fun of public figures, but a team of college athletes is a different story.

To answer your question, i suppose there are a few factors that lead me to hold the opinion that he is not racist. First of all, after 20+ hours per week for 30 years, a few rude statements seem to be balanced out by a lot of other words and more importantly a lot of other actions. Plus, though it's the standard excuse, i do think context is of some importance. For instance, i've had people complain that he played a song called "I Like Friends With White Faces", neglecting to mention that it was a parody intended to attack Rush Limbaugh. Same thing for the Gwen Ifel comment. I don't get mad at South Park characters for the tasteless things they say either. As for the N-bomb - no excuses there. it's a word i don't appreciate or tolerate from anyone of any race.

Another factor for me is that we all have different tolerances for humor and taste. (Speaking of which, imagine the look on my face when i saw a young black man driving a low rider that said "too low for fat ho's" on the windshield yesterday." My ex-wife (she's african american, i'm jewish) used to regularly play a song called "kill whitey". That didn't bother me, but i'm certain some would not appreciate it. I am not upset when South Park makes fun of Jews, Blacks, Catholics, Scientologists, Muslims, etc., but my civil rights marching mom says that these are things you don't joke about. I respect that opinion. the only opinion i question is the one that says you can't pick on one particular race or religion. (As in Isaac Hayes who thought it was fine to work on South Park all those years even when Jesus and Santa were having a karate fight, but was outraged that they made fun of *his* religion.) no - imus' comment was not funny, but i think it was an ill-fated attempt at humor and that at the time he made the off-the-cuff statement, he didn't consider how hurtful the words are.

Lastly - and certainly the hardest to explain - is just a feeling that one gets. There were plenty of people who my wife and i met who smiled in our faces, but i have no doubt that they hated her for her skin color and us for being together. As a regular listener to Imus, I never got the feeling that he is a bigot. FWIW, I don't know a single african american who listened regularly who does, though i do know some who still called for his suspension or firing. I can point out plenty of things that he did and said as counterpoint to the tasteless comments that he made.

Once again, please note that i'm not defending Imus' comment that day. I just think that the punishment was too severe and that he has unfairly been portrayed by many who dislike him. And, as i've discussed ad nauseum, i have issues with the most prominent voices speaking out against him.) I think that those who listened regularly - even those who are minorities and/or sensitive to bigotry - generally feel likewise, and that their opinions are more informed than those who caught an occasional sound bite.

Just my $.02

pitu wrote: Nah, let's break the board.
Admit you're missing the point, and that you are an obfuscatin' obfuscator obsessing on a messenger because you don't like the message.

Please add this title to your profile.

right after you admit that you're taking full advantage of that "vocabulary word of the day" desk calendar.

Compassionate Conservatism at one its best.