Isn't the Don Imus controversy just a waste of time?

Question

Are you getting sick of this constant cycle of has-beens (or never-wases) making an outrageous comment, getting blasted by losers like Al Sharpton, receiving tons of publicity, and then making numerous apologies?

Aren't we wasting our time with this nonsense? Aren't so-called "leaders" like Sharpton and Jackson lowering the racial debate by making it about idiots like Don Imus and Michael Richards instead of the larger issues?

Our country is stuck in a dead-end war, our national reputation is as low as it's ever been, and our federal government is as corrupt as it's ever been -- and Jesse Jackson, a supposed leader and role model of his people, is mounting numerous protests against Don Imus? Because of some stupid comment he made about a basketball team on his radio show?

Don't these people have anything better to do? Bigger fish to fry? Or are they as trivial and insignificant as their complaints make them out to be?

Girl from Cleveland -- I'm so right about what? I didn't say ANYTHING about affirmative action. Please stay on topic.

American Beauty -- Just like Girl from Cleveland, you didn't actually read my post, did you? I never said Imus shouldn't be fired. I never said racism wasn't alive and well in America. All I said was the hype and protests over one person's on-the-air comments are a waste of time. Let his boss deal with it. Jackson and Sharpton are damaging race relations with their protests over such trivial matters, not helping them.

Miss Mojo -- Settle down. "These people" refers to Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and his fellow protesters. Only a race-baiter like yourself would assume I meant the entire African-American population. Stop reading racism into every single comment and actually use some critical thinking for once.

Janice -- I agree with you. Imus was totally disrespectful. I think he's an idiot and his comments prove it. I wouldn't feel sorry for him at all if he got fired over this. However, I know for a fact that the protests and the comments by Jackson, Sharpton, and even the Rutgers coach will do more harm for race relations than good. These over-reactions give cultural sensitivity a bad name, trivialize the real problems with racism in America, and distract us all from the larger issues facing our country.

Answer 1

Who the hell is that guy Imus or whatever?!?!

Answer 2

You have a point but while I don't necessarily agree with Mr. Sharpton or Mr. Jackson, if you leave racism unchecked by people like Mr. Imus then the general population gets the attitude that it's ok to be racist. I don't like all the hype and all the apologies are rediculus and there are bigger issues but its also not wrong to bring attention to racism when it occurs on FCC regulated airways.

Unless of couse your a Rap singer, singing about killing cops... then it's ok. Your just expressing yourself.

What a messed up world.

But again while you have a valid point, Imus probably does deserve to be poked with a sharp stick, metaphorically speaking of course... (I don't actually wish Mr. Imus any ill will and would like to now apologize if any of my previous statment may have been taken out of context and has offended anyone anywhere at any time and all I really meant was that Mr. Imus should in some way be punished for his horrible horrible actions... not that he deserves to be injured in anyway because of those actions...bla bla bla bla so on and so forth)...

Answer 3

I am asking the same question in Yahoo questions, I totally agree. If this was not a free country, I would understand. Therefore, I do not understand this situation. If HE can't make comments like that, why can all the black comedians - and then it's ok to laugh, is that it? Just ban the words entirely and send the person to jail that says them ever, right?
Whole thing is to make Sharpton look good in the public eye I guess, can't figure it out otherwise. What a WASTE of time.

Answer 4

If he have been the different coloration, he would desire to assert extra devoid of as lots retribution. If Dave Chappelle, Carlos Mencia, Chris Rock or all and sundry else have been white do you think of they might have careers? Now, earlier all and sundry is going and thinks i'm racist...returned off...i'm not. collectively as I dont like Imus and think of he fairly replaced into incorrect approximately his assertion regarding the girls persons's basketball group...IMHO, what he has recently stated only meant that because of the fact the guy is black he's a purpose. i'd desire to be incorrect, yet that's how I interpreted this final fiasco. the actuality that he curiously stirred a pot that necessary to be left on my own is on him yet on account that he's white, there is alot extra that he cant say than can. i replaced into going to function some movies of Mencia, Rock, Griffith however the foul language might get me a stern talkin to. yet, look for clips of their exhibits and you will see what I mean.

Answer 5

Imus was looking for attention...thanks to "ambulance chasers" like Sharpton and Jackson, he's getting tons of attention. Just for the record, I don't approve of what Imus said, it was totally disrespectful to those young ladies. I think Michael Richards was fed up with being heckled(can't blame him too much for that. The management and patrons should have thrown the heckler out!) Jackson, needs to keep his nose out of every ones business. If he really wants to "help" his people , how about going to the slums of the city and revitalizing areas for the youth...He could try setting a GOOD example for the Black youth of today, instead of being an embarrassment. In my opinion, he's a Martin Luther King, jr. "wanna be". You are right, so much grief in this world, and these people, who could make a Good change, only add to the despair.

Answer 6

Yes I agree. And I am sick of so many people playing the victim. Every day we read of how someone is offended by someone else, and I mean everyone, not just this situation, and then they demand an apology. It's like once we passed into the 21st century, everyone's skin became suddenly thinner. Yes, many of these comments are vile, offensive. insulting and just plain wrong, but people have been talking this way for centuries. It was wrong then and it's wrong now, but it seems like we didn't hear about it so much a few years ago. Now you can't open your mouth without offending someone, and I dont mean the obvious stupid racial comments made by people like Don Imus and Michael Richards. Those are blatantly wrong and offensive and those people should be ashamed. I read about one woman a couple of years ago who said someone's dog was racist. That's about as inane and silly as you can get.

Answer 7

Not for Sharpton and Jackson. Al's always looking to get his face on the tube, and Jesse will surely be calling on NBC for a "contribution" to his racial extortion organization. Read, "Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson" to learn about his MO.

Answer 8

As far as I can tell, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton never miss the opportunity to promote THEMSELVES. They do more to set back race relations than any two people I can think of. They are an embarassment.

Answer 9

You have completely missed the point. This is not about black and white; it's about a journalist using his position to dilute the accomplishments of these female atheletes, with his outragious racial slurs. These young women are over-achievers. That is, they excel in academics and sports. But all he will acknowledge is their skin color.

Whites talk about Blacks not working hard enough--not achieving, yet when these female basketball players make the grade; all you can do is call them these horrible names. It's not acceptable! Immus is a professional and as such, he must bear the responsiblity for such gross behavior. He most certainly should be fired.

Furthermore, it doesn't take a Jessie Jackson to know when something is wrong. Anyone with common sense knows this kind of racist behavior is wrong. The fact that you refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation is disheartening, because you represent the blatant racist attitude that is still alive in this country!

Answer 10

First of all...who are "these people"? Second of all, as long as people are making racial comments and slurs just like you are so indirectly tryign to here ("these people" remark), then issues of this type will always be significant. As long as skin color equates to power and control in the eyes of so many ignorant people who lead and try to run this country, this will always be significant. You can try to act like it does not exist by living with your "own kind" and all of that, but you will face it the next time some with a Hispanic last name comes along and take your job or your employer moves their company-and your job-to another country for cheap labor.

The last time I looked, WE-including YOU-are all citizens of this country that you yourself stated "is stuck in a dead-end war, our national reputation is as low as it's ever been, and our federal government is as corrupt as it's ever been". This country is run-and has always been run-by someone who is not African-American or any minority race for that matter, so I wonder where the corrupt sentiment originates from?

So tell me, how does this not affect you? Is it because this particular ordeal deals with African-American women? Or is it because it deals with American sentiment as general consensus about how racially undivided we still are as a countrybut pretend we are not? Were you concerned when Rutgers made it to the NCAA Women's Basketball National Tournament and the championship game of that tournament? Or were you not watching because it was women playing? Bet you watched the men's, though, didnt you? Florida's team was full of African-American men, you did see that didn't you? Be careful how you answer any of those because your "true" side was already revealed in your question about "these people" so anything else you state will just prove your point of ignorance as well.

Answer 11

Don Imus made a pathetic bid to follow in Rosie ODonnell's steps, and I used to admire Rosie. They are both never weres.