Do we have "double standards" in the US (think: Imus...) and, if so, what is wrong with that?

Question

After I have some answers, I'll tell you where I stand.

I think that life is rife with "double standards". And, I'm not sure I would change this. Can't your friends say things to you that others can not? Can I call myself "fat", but be hurt or angered if someone else does? Can women talk about things together that they would never say in mixed company? Can a Black man refer to others Black men as "my ******", and be upset if a white man says it? (Well, of course! If a white man says it, it has racist overtones, based on hundreds of years of history.) Can I say things in the company of my mixed race family that I should not be allowed to say in public?

I guess what I'm really asking, is why would a white person WANT to make a remark that has racist overtones no matter WHO else is "allowed" to say it?

And, when it comes to Imus, he was really out of line! In an age when young women have a terrible time accepting themselves, valuing themselves, for what they are, how can anyone dare to mess with that tenative self-esteem?

On the other hand, I think that Jackson and Sharpton are NOT the ones to have yammered on about this in public. Neither of them is above reproach in their "name calling" and "false accusations". The young women of the Rutgers team did a marvelous job of standing up for themselves.

One last comment. My Black daughter said to me today, "It has taken me years to learn to love my 'naps'. I don't want some white guy putting me down because of them." Make sense? I think so!

Answer 1

I do think there are double-standards, and I do think they can be damaging, with that said...I feel people should try to treat their fellow citizens with respect and dignity. The problem with double-standards, even things such as affirmative action is that it places people in "us and them" categories as opposed to looking at ourselves as a whole. Deep down, we all have very similiar wants, needs and requirements. I actually think that those in power like to have us "underlings" separated because it divides a potentially VERY strong base. Imagine how our government and business leaders would have to respond if we spoke in a unified voice as opposed to the fractured and divided voice that we now speak in. "I'm gay, I need this"..."I'm black, I need this"..."I'm a woman, I need this"....instead, consider in unison..."We are humans and we DEMAND this."

Ehhh...will never happen though. :o)

On a sidenote, Barack Obama seems to understand this concept...have you seen his "Audacity of Hope" speech at the DNC in 2004? It was powerful.

Answer 2

Yes. I don't disagree that it was worse for Imus, but I believe that its still bad if African Americans said it. I know some African Americans are mad at Rapper popularizing the word. It reduces the outrage when others use it.

As to other double standard. I am against. It seems to be worse if a caucasian is racist. If the damage is the same, the outrage of the racist act should be the same. I seen some of these doulbe standards applied in the immigration section here. I laughed, as well as became horrified when one of the individual suggested that we look at the website ihategringos.com They claim it was an organization to protect Mexicans from racism. I tried looking for it but it was removed evidently.

edit:

I just want to say that I am upset with the frequent use of the word Racist in Y!A. I've used it but I don't take its use lightly.
I believe that we should be free to discuss culturally issues with out fear. Everytime someone tries to do so, someone types Racist or make an implication. I felt that if we are to solve racism we need to understand other culture. THis kind of bullying prevents that.

Edit. I went and double check and didn't realize he used another ethnic word. I guess thats what happens when I get my source from Y!A and we all decide that it was wrong to type that word. Most of what I said still stands though.

Answer 3

Yes, there is something wrong with it. The first thought that came to my mind, was that the slaves wanted freedom. They wanted to be treated fairly, and equally to Whites. But they're not are they? Don't they have more rights than whites, with Affirmative Action, and this ridiculous episode with Don Imus? They have the right to call him racist, when in fact, he is not at all. He was making a comment to be humorous. He is a shock jock, after all. Don Imus was one of few radio personalities to get FEMA's butt on the move, to help the black community in New Orleans, after Katrina. On his radio show, he stuck up for the victims of Katrina who were predominately black. His words were, "Why is the government not doing more for the people of New Orleans? Because they have black faces." This was a catalyst, to getting the ball rolling for the help Katrina's victims needed.
If blacks want the same as whites, they had best work for it, and be chosen for college and for jobs, that they have earned by studying, and working hard, not taking free-bies off the government, because they think it's owed to them. It isn't. Why should a person who is black get the job, when their test scores are lower, than a white person's, because they are black? Do they want equality, or more than equality? They all have libraries, free education up to the 12th grade, like everybody else. They need to use those opportunities. A Library card costs nothing.
If Don Imus was a black man, there would be no discussion about this. So yes, there is a double-standard.

Answer 4

It's time you get off the internet. All you seem to do is WHINE, you are a big *** cry baby who thinks you've worked so hard and have gotten nothing in return. You are the type that bring this country down. Stop whinning you old hag. You probably hate just about everyone around you. You have lame degrees and can't figure out why you're not a millionaire. Here's an idea, get off the computer, quit crying and find a REAL job. You need a slap to be woken up. Of course you'll probably die soon from high blood pressure so what's the point. GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

In reality I think there are some double standards that are acceptable
(i.e. Why should I open a door for a woman when she can just as well open the door for me? Or why should I tell my wife I'm sorry after an argument when I was right in the first place? I'm not saying I agree with it)

But there are Double Standards that you cannot afford to have.

Imus was wrong..but Al Sharpton needs to be just as critical to those in his own community for the same language. To me that is logical.

Answer 6

The Inquisition was once one of the vital motive that the Protestant church broke clear of the Catholic church. As Protestants, we have now admitted that the ones movements had been incorrect and broke clear of the organization dependable for them. As any individual who isn't devout, have you ever admitted that the entire crimes dedicated via Red China, the USSR, Cuba and different non-religous companies are your fault and that you just had been incorrect? (And sure, this is a dumb argument, however it's the one you're looking to make...) Finally, Christians do NOT feel that we're dependable for the sins of Adam and Eve. We feel that we're suffering from the sins of Adam and Eve. Similar to the way in which the ones folks within the US are suffering from what the Founding Father did again in 1776 once they broke from England to type their possess country. We in my view didn't do this, however we're suffering from their movements.

Answer 7

There are double standards everywhere:
Women do the same jobs and get paid less than men.
Women have sex with underage boys and they get lesser punishments than men.
It's generally acceptable for a man to be promiscuous, but if a woman wants to be, she's considered a sl ut.
We make special exceptions for convicted felons to serve their country in the military, but they can't bear arms at home.

I don't get what you meant by think Imus. He insulted a female baskeball team, he didn't insult an entire race.

Answer 8

You can find a double standard in anything. The comment was crude, rude, and dumb but heck it's no where near malicious with the most harsh and offensive racial slurs, infact nappy and ho even when combined aren't a racial slur. A sincere apology should be enough. I could've yelled the same thing from the stands, or said it to a news reporter covering the game and still be as non-famous as I am now. Grow a thicker skin people!!

Answer 9

Thinking Imus: Al Sharpton took a stand against his bigotry and hate speech on the Today show yesterday.

Theres a double standard if I ever saw one.

Was that what you were thinking?

Answer 10

There are double standards because the rich and famous tend to be favored in the administration of justice just like OJ Simpson.