Jumping on the Imus Bandwagon
As much as I'm getting really worn out on all the hubbub about the remarks Don Imus made, I felt compelled to throw my 2 1/2 cents into the jar.
First of all, I'm not a fan of this guy. I'd caught his show on MSNBC a few times over the years, (which is to say that I stopped for all of about a minute while channel surfing), but that's about it. I don't really know that I'd call him very funny, although he claims his show is mostly comedy. But having said that, I don't think I'd go so far as to say he's a racist anti-Christ, either.
I'm having trouble understanding how the likes of the Rev. Al Sharpton and his minions can go on a rampage demanding that Imus be fired for a "nappy headed ho's" remark about a basketball team. Imus isn't a journalist. He's not an elected official. He's just a guy who tries to entertain his (underscore HIS) audience every day. Was the remark funny? I don't know. I don't really follow basketball and know precisely dick about the Rutgers women's team. So I'm the last person on Earth who might get humor out of that. But you know what folks, if I don't think it's funny, that doesn't exactly make him wrong for saying it. If Imus had said "Yeah, that Rutgers team is a bunch of no-talent, lazy n****rs," then he absolutely belongs in the unemployment line. Because that, my friends, would be a hateful, racist remark.
I can watch black comedians on HBO and even listen to rap music daily and hear the same, if not worse, remarks being made about African Americans - BY African Americans. I've heard some songs containing pretty derogatory remarks about women and I've heard many a comedian and rap artist throw the word "nigga" around like they're tossing a hackey sack. It's truly a double standard.
If you're going to be mad at Imus, be mad at Lil' Jon, Snoop, and all the others who use harsh and sometimes demeaning language in support of their "artistic endeavours." At the end of the day, I don't give a shit if rappers and comedians use those words as part of the act. If I'm legitimately offended by it, I just won't listen. If you don't care for a talk show host's point of view, a rapper's lyrics, a comedian's material, don't listen! It's a simple concept. But I guess it's easier to find all that's wrong in the world than it is all that's right.
I did a little looking into Mr. Imus before I sat down to write this, since I don't really know much about him. He's been in broadcasting a long time and it seems that he and his wife do a great deal of charitable work. So I don't really think he's a bad guy. And I certainly wouldn't go so far as to say he's a racist hate-monger. He just doesn't know how to make a joke. That doesn't make him a racist, it makes him a lousy entertainer. Rev. Al and his brood need to learn how to separate the innocuous from the malicious.
The rant endith. Go in peace.
First of all, I'm not a fan of this guy. I'd caught his show on MSNBC a few times over the years, (which is to say that I stopped for all of about a minute while channel surfing), but that's about it. I don't really know that I'd call him very funny, although he claims his show is mostly comedy. But having said that, I don't think I'd go so far as to say he's a racist anti-Christ, either.
I'm having trouble understanding how the likes of the Rev. Al Sharpton and his minions can go on a rampage demanding that Imus be fired for a "nappy headed ho's" remark about a basketball team. Imus isn't a journalist. He's not an elected official. He's just a guy who tries to entertain his (underscore HIS) audience every day. Was the remark funny? I don't know. I don't really follow basketball and know precisely dick about the Rutgers women's team. So I'm the last person on Earth who might get humor out of that. But you know what folks, if I don't think it's funny, that doesn't exactly make him wrong for saying it. If Imus had said "Yeah, that Rutgers team is a bunch of no-talent, lazy n****rs," then he absolutely belongs in the unemployment line. Because that, my friends, would be a hateful, racist remark.
I can watch black comedians on HBO and even listen to rap music daily and hear the same, if not worse, remarks being made about African Americans - BY African Americans. I've heard some songs containing pretty derogatory remarks about women and I've heard many a comedian and rap artist throw the word "nigga" around like they're tossing a hackey sack. It's truly a double standard.
If you're going to be mad at Imus, be mad at Lil' Jon, Snoop, and all the others who use harsh and sometimes demeaning language in support of their "artistic endeavours." At the end of the day, I don't give a shit if rappers and comedians use those words as part of the act. If I'm legitimately offended by it, I just won't listen. If you don't care for a talk show host's point of view, a rapper's lyrics, a comedian's material, don't listen! It's a simple concept. But I guess it's easier to find all that's wrong in the world than it is all that's right.
I did a little looking into Mr. Imus before I sat down to write this, since I don't really know much about him. He's been in broadcasting a long time and it seems that he and his wife do a great deal of charitable work. So I don't really think he's a bad guy. And I certainly wouldn't go so far as to say he's a racist hate-monger. He just doesn't know how to make a joke. That doesn't make him a racist, it makes him a lousy entertainer. Rev. Al and his brood need to learn how to separate the innocuous from the malicious.
The rant endith. Go in peace.
posted by P. at 2:20 PM
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