The Imus firing(s) worry me. I don't like the guy, and racism is very real, but where do we draw the line?

Question

Is this going to snowball? Are people going to have to watch their mouths for fear of displeasing their big advertisers? And those big companies DO have political agendas and loyalties, big time. Where do we go from here?

As a feminist, I am also offended by having a group of strong and talented women referred to that way. I am not defending what Imus said.

But there are people with much more power who are not only racists and hypocrites, but the actually have a racist agenda. Imus was an idiot that day, and I don't like him. But he has no such agenda.

Answer 1

Let the witch hunt begin!

Say bye-bye to freedom of speech and original thought as we now it. Now you know why the youth of America do drugs and drink and do not care about getting involved. Maybe if we allowed creativity and free expression the youth would want to actually take a stand and get involved. All we teach them is if you speak your mind you risk offending someone and getting in trouble. To me this is nothing more then the Red Scare all over again, different target, new agenda. You are going to see more and more targets. Funny maybe we should go after Sharpton for the racist comments he has made in past or Jesse Jackson, both have made racist and anti-semetic comments yet they find it okay to lead the charge at Imus, HYPOCRITES! May as well flush the American belief in Freedom of Speech down the toilet. I do not agree with what Imus said but he has the right to say it. That was what made America great, open discussion, freedom to exchange ideas, guess that is a thig of the past.

Answer 2

We don't have freedom of speech here in America.

Political correctness IS censorship. Suspending children from school b/c the want to pray a grace prayer over their peanut butter and jelly sandwich IS censorship. Not providing credible opposing views in any media outlet IS censorship.

Where from here? Persecution. Maybe 10 to 20 years from now Imus would be locked up for "hate crime" and convicted of "terrorism".

No joke!

It's all nonsense of course, but as you said, those companies DO have political agendas and loyalties.

Answer 3

We are on a VERY slippery slope right now because they demanded Imus be fired.
Now that opens a whole Pandora's Box for everyone, from Hip Hop to Hannity and Combs.
They wouldn't accept an apology and forgive, allow the suspension and perhaps a fine to stand. That's where the line SHOULD of been drawn.
They kept saying consequences, consequences we want consequences.
Well now we are going to have Yep you guessed it
CONSEQUENCES.
And I don't think anyone knows where it's going to end.

Answer 4

to even hear an old man like Imus say that anyone is a nappy headed hoe is absolutely hilarious, and in my opinion his firing was absurd and cbs only did it because of public pressure and to look like some type of moral super heroes, it just goes to show that America is so overly sensitive about every little thing that happens, its wrong for Imus to call someone a nappy headed hoe as a joke but if "nappy headed hoe" was lyrics to a new 50 cent song every teenage kid would be singing it as if it were the gospel, and what about Howard Stern, look at all that he has said and done over the years and no one, not even the fcc could get rid of him and basically everything that comes out of his mouth is an insult, or slur, or is considered insensitive or demeaning to some race, creed, color, or group....it seems that anymore people thrive on things like what Imus said b'cus so many people want the chance to play victim and find a reason to throw a new cause in our face or claim there 15 mins of fame...and I'm tired of seeing Rutgers womans coach on t.v., she has talked so much it would appear that she will soon be running for office or pope.......no one just lets things slide anymore, it was a dumb comment made by an old white guy, granted he's not part of the g unit or anything, but if he were 50 cent or the gangsta rapper of the moment not a word would have been said, as a matter of fact in popular culture now a day things like what Imus said are so common no one pays attention to it, Imus's only problem is that he is white..dumb for saying it, sure, but should he have been fired and made out to be like Hitler, no way, way to go overly sensitive victimized America!!! that of course is only my opinion, please no one get me fired from yahoo questions you bunch of nappy headed computer geeks, hahaha

Answer 5

I think his comment was insensitive. I also think that he's getting the shaft, simply because the CBS is worried about their bottom line. Had they not lost advertisers, he still would be on the air.

Now, take Rosie O'Donnell. She runs her mouth, offends alot of people with her views, but is praised for bringing "a new life" to the show. Obviously, ABC is making money off her behavior. As soon as she ticks off the wrong person and advertisers start to see a decline, then suddenly she'll be the bad guy and have to go around to apologize and hold news conferences and will lose her podium on The View.

money still makes the world go around...start focusing on the real issues and stop worrying about your bottom line, then perhaps things will change. But i doubt it.

Answer 6

I somewhat agree. I hate what he said, but do we really have to have news conferences so everyone can tell us how they feel about it? Does it have to monopolize our news coverage?

On the other hand, free speech was never intended for people to publicly humiliate and offend entire groups of people or incite near riotous behavior. He misused his position as a public figure.

Answer 7

The big joke is "freedom of speech in America". What a neat way to polarize groups by censure-ship. Let the boiling begin.

Answer 8

Well I for one won't mind if they stop having such crude language. You can express any opinion in the world without resorting to that.
And believe me; pleasing or displeasing the advertisers has always been the bottom line for the media.

Answer 9

The problem is professional racism watchers to gether with the human rights industry.It's almost like George Orwells prediction come true.

Answer 10

Yes, unless you are a hip hop artist. Then you can use all the foul language you want, incl the N-word, and it's no problem, because that's 'art' (gag).