I'm shocked no one has been discussing the Imus issue around here. What does everyone think about it?
I realize that it was an ignorant and insensitive racist comment that he made, but where is the ACLU when it comes to protecting his right to free speech? And does what he said amount to an offense that should warrant his firing?
Why is he not allowed to make ignorant, racist comments on air? Why is it okay for Rosie O'Donnell to spew 9/11 TROOF garbage on air, accusing fellow citizens of killing thousands on 9/11 and she goes unnoticed?
I think it's amazing how the usual intelligencia who argue for free speech at any cost are noticably silent on the issue...
I am finding it difficult to make the leap between plain old racist remarks and tin foil hat remarks.
Both are ignorant and hurtful. Imus' comments were insensitive and hurtful to the black community at large, just as Rosie's were hurtful to the familes of victims of 9/11 and specifically to the NYFD families for insinuating that 9/11 was partially orchestrated by brave, dead firefighters.
OH! This is about Imus! I thought it may be an apology or your biography! Ha ha! LOL! Just kidding!
They are as silent as they were when a 'pro-lifer' like yourself thought that pic of Anna Nicole at eight months pregnant and high on drugs was so damn funny you used it as an insult.
They are as silent as when Onan expressed how funny he thought the picture of the homosexuals being executed was.
I thought it was interesting that the WFAN site edited the most outrageous bits out of the interview.
Supposedly, FCC rules allow for some pretty crazy stuff, but don't allow someone to use public airwaves to spew racism. From what I've heard the comments by Imus are quite possibly illegal.
anyone has the right to say whatever dumbass thought happens to appear in their head.
some of us just have larger audiences.
that being said, who really gives a &$*# what Don Imus, Micheal Richards or Rosie O'Donnell says. are people that easily swayed?
Rosie O'Donnell said 9/11 is a conspiracy...I never thought of it that way. My whole value & belief system is now changed. Thank you Rosie for providing me with much needed clarity and perspective on this issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9BjB7Bzr0
I havent commented because he is just a talking head. What he says or thinks has little effect on me and I dont watch/listen to him. I just dont really care.
That said, I dont think his comment was meant to be racist. I think he was trying to point out that the girls from Rutgers did not appear professional. The girls from Tennessee were also black and he complimented their appearance. So clearly race was not the differentiating factor.
He was probably trying (poorly) to use 'cool' lingo in his commentary. I'm not sure how 'nappy headed ho' serves as an effective description but I dont think he was TRYING to be racist with that remark. Clearly it was a poor try and in poor taste.
Also, I didnt know "nappy hair" referred to the natural dense curl of African's hair. I simply didnt realize that is what it meant. For some reason I thought it was synonymous with snarled or matted hair. Perhaps he is as naive as I and was trying to say messy hair?
I dont know, like I said, I dont really know much about the guy nor do I apparently understand the connotation to nappy. SO my opinion probably isnt worth much.
---
side note:
NPR had an interview on yesterday with a black woman who couldnt decide who to vote for Clinton because she was a woman or Obama because he was black.
What if a white man was interview and stated "I cant figure out who to vote for. I'm democrat but Hillary is a woman and Obama is black." Or, I cant figure out who to vote for McCain or Guiliani. At least they are both white males."
Instead of being touted as a historic moment and what a tough choice, the man would be called a racist prick, a bigot, and certainly wouldnt get his own little quip on NPR. I dont care who this woman wants to vote for nor what her criteria are, but the double standard in race can be stark.
I just find it ironic that one of America's biggest racists, Al Sharpton took him to task over it.
Personally, I find Imus to be quite droll and irrelevant.
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelC
Supposedly, FCC rules allow for some pretty crazy stuff, but don't allow someone to use public airwaves to spew racism. From what I've heard the comments by Imus are quite possibly illegal.
Illegal. Are you kidding me? Howard Stern got by with far worse when he was on public air.
Should we make racist commentary illegal?
quote:
They are as silent as they were when a 'pro-lifer' like yourself thought that pic of Anna Nicole at eight months pregnant and high on drugs was so damn funny you used it as an insult.
What the hell are you talking about Troll?
My brother listens to Imus every day and says he is a funny guy, but every time I listen to him he sounds like an idiot.
I say throw him off the air for any excuse you can.
Here is my take on the whole thing. I don't mind when people say stuff about other races in a comedy routine. Look at Carlo Mencia. The guys is funnier then many other comics and some (most) of time it is at the expense of either other Hispanics or other races. But he does not have a public radio show to report news and other such stories. He has a comic show. This was in very poor taste by Imus. But what makes it worse are his statements that follow his apologies. "I am a nice guy, I bet I have slept in a house with more black people that you, those people, etc.." He made these statements yesterday and this morning on the Today show. I look forward to him meeting the girls that he hurt. I personally do not listen to him anyway because he has a history of saying things that are not appropriate for public radio. But that is JMO and that is why I don't listen to him.
As for the punishment, I would have rather it been a month, because two weeks IMO does not seem like much. But I am glad that they networks did something rather then nothing.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
I just find it ironic that one of America's biggest racists, Al Sharpton took him to task over it.
I would have rather he did not do the interview with Al Sharpton either. He is about a good a representative is for the black community as Carlos Mencia would be for the Hispanics.
I respect Imus for going there to do the interview, but still think he should have done the interview with someone else.
Imus has been saying nasty stuff for years. What turned me off permanently was when it was said on his show that Jill Carroll, the American reporter who was kidnapped in Iraq and freed months later, was "carrying al-Zarqawi's baby" or some other foolishness. I swear, it was like fifth-graders had taken over the microphone.
With Imus, when you sow bad seeds, don't be surprised if they take over your yard.
This isn't a free-speech issue. Imus does have the right to say what he says. That doesn't mean that his employer or his listeners or general public has to tolerate it. Free speech is a two-way street, as Imus is finding out right now. In the free flow of ideas, the creator of questionable material can be subject to painful rebuttals.
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Imus has been saying nasty stuff for years. What turned me off permanently was when it was said on his show that Jill Carroll, the American reporter who was kidnapped in Iraq and freed months later, was "carrying al-Zarqawi's baby" or some other foolishness. I swear, it was like fifth-graders had taken over the microphone.
With Imus, when you sow bad seeds, don't be surprised if they take over your yard.
This isn't a free-speech issue. Imus does have the right to say what he says. That doesn't mean that his employer or his listeners or general public has to tolerate it. Free speech is a two-way street, as Imus is finding out right now. In the free flow of ideas, the creator of questionable material can be subject to painful rebuttals.
I agree. Also, why hasn't anyone pointed out that he's BORING as hell. I've never heard someone who seems more like they're about to slip into a narcoleptic coma at any moment.
What makes me sick is the immediate calls by Sharpton et. al to have him fired. Let the free market run its course; let the listeners punish him, but for god's sake don't make it criminal conduct.
I don't think the airwaves would be any poorer without him. I could care less if he's suspended for two weeks or jack-booted for life. Won't change my world.
I think Imus said that stuff originally not to be racist, but because basketball players in general--white, black, male or female--have been getting more and more loose in their personal appearance.
Look at the NBA now. Lots of tatoos and piercings, some of those guys are getting close to looking like Mike Tyson.
He thought the Rutgers girls looked "nappy,' and he took it too far. No big deal, I say.
I also saw some of the Rutgers press conference, and thought it was rather overblown at times. One girl said she would be scarred for life! Wow, what a weak-minded, insecure individual, I thought. Then I realized they are just trying to get Imus fired.
I don't care if he does, sportscaster's are generally annoying people, but IMO, this issue is over-hyped.
Imus lost two large sponsors over it, and ultimately it will come down to how the station is effected financially. I don't think this is the worst thing ever to go over the airwaves but he has been mouthing off like this for years. His producer (who started the commentary) should also get some sort of consequences.
Rev. Al was all over the airwaves last night. Glenn Beck took him to task the best.
He accused the Rev. of being selective in his outrage. Imus has made epithets toward Arabs, Indians, and other groups. He also took him to task for the rap and hip-hop music culture comprised largely of black males which has helped make words like "ho" part of our common vernacular.
Still no justification for Imus being tasteless in his comments. However, I think Al Sharpton primarily has used the opportunity for more face time for himself, not really to defend the girls on the basketball team.
At first I thought how could he ever say that. I would never dream of saying anything along those lines about anyone.
But the more I thought about it, I pondered the following points:
1. Where did the terms comes from (nappy hair and ho)? If I understand correctly, they originated in the black community (If I'm incorrect, someone please correct me).
2. When a rapper uses those same exact phases is in song, is that okay? Yet when Imus uses it in his radio show, that is somehow not okay? Can someone please explain the difference?
3. I have grown to enjoy Sharpton in the last couple years. I don't usually agree with his politics, but I'm impressed he will talk with just about anyone (including O"Reilly and Beck) and presents his views well. But where was he when these terms were used in the past by members of his own race?
I'm not saying it is okay to use those terms based on the above points. I'm just saying those are things to think about when people jump all over Imus.
And I appreciated the comments from the girls' coach. It's not about black and white. It's about green. How true!
Speaking of green, I would imagine there will be a donation forthcoming to the Rutgers athletic program, and to one of Sharpton's coffers either from Imus, his production company, or his broadcast networks.
Last night, Sharpton claimed to have gone after the record labels 18 months ago about the language being used in rap and hip-hop. Personally, I think blacks denegrating themselves is worse than other race's characterizations of them.
Not to add injury to insult, but didn't the coaches comments remind you of attorney Jackie Childs from Seinfeld?
...deplorable, despicable and unconscionable...
I hope we don't base what is in good taste by what comes out of a rapper's mouth. Talk about lowering the bar.
I think the difference is to the audience in which you are presenting the information. Most people expect rappers to be offensive, and they normally deliver. But they do speak to their audience.
And no one is saying it's criminal conduct, free market is playing it's course. Imus had his say, and now the public is having their say and the sponsors are responding to their concern. That sounds pretty free market to me.
Definitely not an Imus fan here, but had a few insights.
Imus, IMO, was originally _complementing_ the team, in a back-handed way. He was saying they were 'scrappy' fighters in a competative way. That that was the reason a team who the public at large would not expect to be in the finals was there, and a contender.
Apparently, there are at least two vernaculars for the term "ho" as well. I've always taken it to refer to the female gender, as opposed to Sharpton's 'whore' connotation.
While I would never condone the use of this term in either sense, it was in fact born and populated by the black community.
So, the only crime here, to me, is a white guy used it. And, _that_ IS racist, in a reversed way.
Tacky, sure. But, Imus is tacky almost all the time.
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw
Not to add injury to insult, but didn't the coaches comments remind you of attorney Jackie Childs from Seinfeld?
...deplorable, despicable and unconscionable...
"Oh, and by the way, they ARE real and they are SPEC-TAC-ULAR!"
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
While I would never condone the use of this term in either sense, it was in fact born and populated by the black community.
So, the only crime here, to me, is a white guy used it. And, _that_ IS racist, in a reversed way.
Uh, not gonna go there since a couple of overly-sensitive white people on this forum have illogically labeled me as a racist. [B)] I do stand by my comments though that Al Sharpton is one of the most divisive racists in our country.
quote:
Originally posted by okiebybirth
I hope we don't base what is in good taste by what comes out of a rapper's mouth. Talk about lowering the bar.
I think the difference is to the audience in which you are presenting the information. Most people expect rappers to be offensive, and they normally deliver. But they do speak to their audience.
You're missing the point. It's about hypocrisy. I can assure you that the "music" that these girls listened to on their Ipods on the way home from that game was far more offensive and degrading than anything Mr. Imus has ever said, yet they choose to turn a blind eye to it.
Interesting point, iplaw, except that rappers generally don't targeting anyone *in particular*, while Imus did. That's an important distinction.
But the larger point I'm going to make is that it's presumptuous to suggest the Rutgers women listen to rap on their iPods. I've followed the music industry for decades, and rap is on a severe slide. It's to the point where prominent rappers are declaring that "hip-hop is dead." There wasn't a single rap / hip-hop album that finished in the top 10 in sales in 2006.
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Interesting point, iplaw, except that rappers generally don't targeting anyone *in particular*, while Imus did. That's an important distinction.
But the larger point I'm going to make is that it's presumptuous to suggest the Rutgers women listen to rap on their iPods. I've followed the music industry for decades, and rap is on a severe slide. It's to the point where prominent rappers are declaring that "hip-hop is dead." There wasn't a single rap / hip-hop album that finished in the top 10 in sales in 2006.
Good initial point, and I agree, but you've been locked in a closet if you think rap and hip-hop are on the decline.
Do yourself a favor and turn on MTV for a couple of hours tonight and tell me what you see. I would venture to say that 80% of the shows on that station have hosts that are rappers, participants that are rappers and so on. Check out billboard's top 100 this week and look at who #1 is if you don't believe me, and 11 of the top 25 are rap/hip-hop artists...
And call me clarvoiant, but I don't see a team made up of maily african american youth listening to rock and roll or adult top 40.
Can we differentiate between street culture and public discourse? If a person chooses to listen to rap, then they will expect to hear things which are offensive in many people's minds. But that doesn't mean it should carry over into public discourse, which I think where Imus lies (not that he has a large following or much credibility). People who are the audience of the stations in which he resides normally don't expect rap culture to break out on the set.
And rwarn makes a good point in that this was a directed comment, unlike the comments made in rap songs. If Imus wants to make these remarks, he needs to appeal to the audience that buys the rap material and work for Def Jam.
I'm still not anywhere close to absolving Imus. Nor do I think Sharpton should walk away with a double-standard. What Sharpton was saying on Beck last night was that Imus was using FCC regulated airwaves to say "Nappy-headed hos".
Rappers use the same FCC-regulated airwaves to say basically the same thing and worse, like advocating drug use, killing cops, and other humans. The term "ho" emerged from hip-hop culture, and the spelling came from how many African-Americans pronounce the word "whore" which by all accounts has always been a degrading term directed at women.
As a parent, it's not something I care for my daughters to hear if they are listening to the radio. But I believe they have less of a respect for the hip-hop culture because of it's self-portrayal. It's offensive and shows a disdain toward women and society in general. It's a disdain which appears to be a staple in the hip-hop community. But that doesn't appear to upset Rev. Al too terribly much when it is people of his own race who are denegrating it.
quote:
Can we differentiate between street culture and public discourse?
Not when the garbage like Ludacris is played on public radio stations where we all can hear it. Imus is just like 105.3 here in town, and if you don't like it change it.
quote:
If a person chooses to listen to rap, then they will expect to hear things which are offensive in many people's minds. But that doesn't mean it should carry over into public discourse, which I think where Imus lies (not that he has a large following or much credibility). People who are the audience of the stations in which he resides normally don't expect rap culture to break out on the set.
The public airwaves that play Ludacris are the same that carry Imus, you can't have it both ways. What's good for 105.3 or 106.9 is good for KRMG.
quote:
And rwarn makes a good point in that this was a directed comment, unlike the comments made in rap songs.
So it's okay if we generically refer to black women as *****es or ho's, but not if it's personal?
It's really been takin out of context...What Imus said...It was in more of a humurous tone than anything....Anyone can be nappy headed and a hoe....
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner
It's really been takin out of context...What Imus said...It was in more of a humurous tone than anything....Anyone can be nappy headed and a hoe....
I think the spelling is ho, not hoe, which is a garden tool, get your ebonics straight.
Sorry everyone for a chronic mis-spelling error, Sharpton in Rev. Al's case is spelled $harpton.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
Sorry everyone for a chronic mis-spelling error, Sharpton in Rev. Al's case is spelled $harpton.
Hehe...Glenn did work him over last night. I know the two have a good relationship, but $harpton's feigned "offense" is just too much.
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner
It's really been takin out of context...What Imus said...It was in more of a humurous tone than anything....Anyone can be nappy headed and a hoe....
I think the spelling is ho, not hoe, which is a garden tool, get your ebonics straight.
I apologize to all gardeners on the board.....
iplaw wrote:
Do yourself a favor and turn on MTV for a couple of hours tonight and tell me what you see.
<end clip>
Shoot ... I thought MTV, to no small amount of irony, quit playing music videos years ago.
A problem is that hip-hop culture is exciting and different, with catchy phrases and funny phraseology. I feel sorry for the hip-hoppers, constantly having to come up with new tricks and what not to stay ahead of suburban culture ripping it off. You fizzle me?
MSNBC drops Imass. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17999196/
Sidenote: Man, you wingers watch a lot of cr*p.
Conan wrote:
Nor do I think Sharpton should walk away with a double-standard. What Sharpton was saying on Beck last night was that Imus was using FCC regulated airwaves to say "Nappy-headed hos".
<snip> But I believe they have less of a respect for the hip-hop culture because of it's self-portrayal. It's offensive and shows a disdain toward women and society in general. It's a disdain which appears to be a staple in the hip-hop community. But that doesn't appear to upset Rev. Al too terribly much when it is people of his own race who are denegrating it.
<end clip>
Hmm. Too bad you're wrong.
From 2005:
Al Sharpton demanded that the Federal Communications Commission ban violent rappers from radio and television, and he launched a boycott against Universal Music Group, which he accused of "peddling racist and misogynistic black stereotypes" through rap music.
Sharpton expressed special concern about white perceptions of African Americans. Rappers and their corporate supporters "make it easy for black culture to be dismissed by the majority," he said, and the large white fan base "has learned through rap images to identify black male culture with a culture of violence."
Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition signed on to the boycott, as did Princeton professor Cornel West, who issued a statement claiming that music companies and rappers made it easy for whites to "view black bodies and black souls as less moral, oversexed and less intelligent."
The link is here.
http://tinyurl.com/2d5gsk
I guess the attempt to paint Rev. Al as a hypocrite doesn't square with the facts.
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
iplaw wrote:
Do yourself a favor and turn on MTV for a couple of hours tonight and tell me what you see.
<end clip>
Shoot ... I thought MTV, to no small amount of irony, quit playing music videos years ago.
HAH! It did. It's their other crap they play on that station.
quote:
Originally posted by Chicken Little
MSNBC drops Imass. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17999196/
Sidenote: Man, you wingers watch a lot of cr*p.
Eh. I watch Glenn Beck, that's about it.
quote:
Originally posted by Chicken Little
MSNBC drops Imass. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17999196/
Sidenote: Man, you wingers watch a lot of cr*p.
Beck, Olbermann, Cooper, King, H & C, O'Reilly, and my voyeuristic guilty pleasure to check on the decline of society is Nancy "Anna took 600 peeeels" Grace.
I flip around a lot between channels 41 and 55 after 9pm. I try to stay informed on both sides of issues.
Interesting of note is that both the libs and the righties have treated Imus the same on this.
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Hmm. Too bad you're wrong.
From 2005:
Al Sharpton demanded that the Federal Communications Commission ban violent rappers from radio and television, and he launched a boycott against Universal Music Group, which he accused of "peddling racist and misogynistic black stereotypes" through rap music.
Sharpton expressed special concern about white perceptions of African Americans. Rappers and their corporate supporters "make it easy for black culture to be dismissed by the majority," he said, and the large white fan base "has learned through rap images to identify black male culture with a culture of violence."
Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition signed on to the boycott, as did Princeton professor Cornel West, who issued a statement claiming that music companies and rappers made it easy for whites to "view black bodies and black souls as less moral, oversexed and less intelligent."
The link is here.
http://tinyurl.com/2d5gsk
I guess the attempt to paint Rev. Al as a hypocrite doesn't square with the facts.
$harpton mentioned as much on Beck the other night. His efforts have been summarily dismissed as a token effort. What has it accomplished? Nothing.
Rap and Hip-Hop have been around now for over 20 years, I think he was a little late jumping on that band-wagon.
How is decrying whites and their stereotypes of black people, while at the same time ignoring what was going on amongst black rappers in the music industry for 20 years not hypocrisy?
Speaking of Rev. Jack$on, he was nowhere to be found yesterday to apologize to the three Duke LaCrosse players after tarring and feathering them in public with racially charged comments. Granted, apples and oranges vs. the circumstances of what Imus said.
I thought everyone would appreciate this quote:
My goal is to goad people into saying something that ruins their life. - Don Imus
Charles Barkley sure didn't lose his job....
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner
Charles Barkley sure didn't lose his job....
Is he still alive?
<Conan wrote:
$harpton mentioned as much on Beck the other night. His efforts have been summarily dismissed as a token effort. What has it accomplished? Nothing.
Rap and Hip-Hop have been around now for over 20 years, I think he was a little late jumping on that band-wagon.
How is decrying whites and their stereotypes of black people, while at the same time ignoring what was going on amongst black rappers in the music industry for 20 years not hypocrisy?
<end clip>
Columnist Stanley Crouch has been decrying rap music's misogyny for years, too, and doesn't have much to show for it, either. By your ever-changing standards, since it gained few results, it was meaningless.
I guess it's a good thing Dr. King didn't quit when he was younger.
First you say Sharpton didn't do anything.
Then you're confronted with an inconvenient truth.
Now you say he did something, but didn't accomplish much.
I like these attacks that keep evolving.
Maybe you ought to stop while you're ahead -- or behind, as it might be.
By the way, rap has been around for about 35 years. It was started in the Bronx in the early 1970s. And Bo Diddley was doing it even back in the 1950s.
quote:
From Drugereport.com
6:12 AM: On Imus' radio program (no longer simulcast on MSNBC) this morning, Chris Carlin, who covers sports for the program, discussed yesterday's dismissal of charges against the Duke lacrosse players.
(rough transcript)
DON IMUS: When will Al Sharpton be apologizing to them?
(LAUGHTER)
CARLIN: I'm unaware of such a press conference.
IMUS: I'll be darned...
Not that other's being asshats makes your own behavior any better, but he is one to talk. He was the head witch hunter getting the Duke students kicked out of school and calling them monsters - before charges were even filed. Where is his apology to them or his OUTRAGE at the black stripper who falsely accused them and possibly ruined their lives?
Al Sharpton is just as racist as most of the people he condemns. He does not judge on the quality of character but on the color of skin.
Of all people a sports writer really nailed this issue on the head. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton (the so called black leadership) are irrelevant and have done nothing to improve race relations nor helped black people take advantage of the rights they have won. They wait for a media outlet to get some airtime and then just fade away. A very good read and a good illustration of my viewpoint.
http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/time-for-jackson-sharpton-to-step-down/20070411111509990001
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
<Conan wrote:
$harpton mentioned as much on Beck the other night. His efforts have been summarily dismissed as a token effort. What has it accomplished? Nothing.
Rap and Hip-Hop have been around now for over 20 years, I think he was a little late jumping on that band-wagon.
How is decrying whites and their stereotypes of black people, while at the same time ignoring what was going on amongst black rappers in the music industry for 20 years not hypocrisy?
<end clip>
Columnist Stanley Crouch has been decrying rap music's misogyny for years, too, and doesn't have much to show for it, either. By your ever-changing standards, since it gained few results, it was meaningless.
I guess it's a good thing Dr. King didn't quit when he was younger.
First you say Sharpton didn't do anything.
Then you're confronted with an inconvenient truth.
Now you say he did something, but didn't accomplish much.
I like these attacks that keep evolving.
Maybe you ought to stop while you're ahead -- or behind, as it might be.
By the way, rap has been around for about 35 years. It was started in the Bronx in the early 1970s. And Bo Diddley was doing it even back in the 1950s.
I'm not trying to move the goal post. Sorry for not mentioning that I was well aware of his token effort in 2005. Also, for not being clearer on my point that he sat idle and did nothing about gangsta rap for 20 years, until there was a scuffle between rival rappers and what he did do has accomplished nothing. Nor did I mention his very long track record of well-documented double-standards which help taint my opinion on this particular issue.
Here's what he said at the time:
'"We put the i-n-g in your bling-bling," said $harpton. "All of us have children who listen to your music. Some of us listen ourselves. But we don't want to feel like we're investing in the demise of our community."'
Let's see, we don't like what you are saying, but we listen anyhow.
That 2005 episode vanished like a fart in the wind until earlier this month when another scuffle arose between rival rappers. He threatened to boycott UMC. Hmmm, what happened to that big boycott of UMC in 2005? Al Sharpton has never demanded that rappers be fired from their contracts, and has done nothing that I'm aware of to get the FCC to police gangsta rap since 2005. Now he's saying that the firing of Imus is just the tip of the iceberg, implying that other white talk show hosts will be heavily monitored, and castigated. That's where I define him as a hypocrite.
Bo Diddley never advocated drugs, killing cops, glorified violence, nor sang about hos in his music that I'm aware of.
Point is, $harpton has a short attention span for the last issue when the next headline opportunity comes along. What exactly has he done other than to fire off his mouth and make threats when it's convenient to pick up another headline?
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
<Conan wrote:
$harpton mentioned as much on Beck the other night. His efforts have been summarily dismissed as a token effort. What has it accomplished? Nothing.
Rap and Hip-Hop have been around now for over 20 years, I think he was a little late jumping on that band-wagon.
How is decrying whites and their stereotypes of black people, while at the same time ignoring what was going on amongst black rappers in the music industry for 20 years not hypocrisy?
<end clip>
Columnist Stanley Crouch has been decrying rap music's misogyny for years, too, and doesn't have much to show for it, either. By your ever-changing standards, since it gained few results, it was meaningless.
I guess it's a good thing Dr. King didn't quit when he was younger.
First you say Sharpton didn't do anything.
Then you're confronted with an inconvenient truth.
Now you say he did something, but didn't accomplish much.
I like these attacks that keep evolving.
Maybe you ought to stop while you're ahead -- or behind, as it might be.
By the way, rap has been around for about 35 years. It was started in the Bronx in the early 1970s. And Bo Diddley was doing it even back in the 1950s.
Are you actually comparing Martin Luther King Jr. with Al Sharpton?
Al Sharpton is a joke. Anyone remember the Tawana Brawley Controversy? The only thing that has changed with Al is his taste in clothing. (I personally, liked him better in jump-suits.)
Oh boy. The hipocrisy train just keeps a rollin' on. Obama met today with one of the filthiest rappers on the planet to talk about "the youth."
Real good call there Obama, considering the current discussion over the appropriateness of rap music in view of Imus.
He calls for Imus' firing one day and meets with this smut merchant the next. Bravo!
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2006-11-30_D8LNFUCO2&show_article=1&cat=ent
quote:
Originally posted by MH2010
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
<Conan wrote:
$harpton mentioned as much on Beck the other night. His efforts have been summarily dismissed as a token effort. What has it accomplished? Nothing.
Rap and Hip-Hop have been around now for over 20 years, I think he was a little late jumping on that band-wagon.
How is decrying whites and their stereotypes of black people, while at the same time ignoring what was going on amongst black rappers in the music industry for 20 years not hypocrisy?
<end clip>
Columnist Stanley Crouch has been decrying rap music's misogyny for years, too, and doesn't have much to show for it, either. By your ever-changing standards, since it gained few results, it was meaningless.
I guess it's a good thing Dr. King didn't quit when he was younger.
First you say Sharpton didn't do anything.
Then you're confronted with an inconvenient truth.
Now you say he did something, but didn't accomplish much.
I like these attacks that keep evolving.
Maybe you ought to stop while you're ahead -- or behind, as it might be.
By the way, rap has been around for about 35 years. It was started in the Bronx in the early 1970s. And Bo Diddley was doing it even back in the 1950s.
Are you actually comparing Martin Luther King Jr. with Al Sharpton?
Al Sharpton is a joke. Anyone remember the Tawana Brawley Controversy? The only thing that has changed with Al is his taste in clothing. (I personally, liked him better in jump-suits.)
An orange one I bet.....heh
RW-
Before you come to the aid of Rev. $harpton any further or dispute my contentions of hypocrisy, anti-semitism, and hate for anything white, consider the following:
An appearance on H & C in 2005:
"HANNITY: You know what bothers me? You know, I guess there's a lot of ways in life that you can make money, Reverend Al. There's a lot of ways you can make money, but when you do it on human misery this way, it's just like some of the more violent rap lyrics that degrade women, degrade, you know, humanity the way they do. Refer to women the way they do. It's amazing to me that — why do people patronize, you know...
SHARPTON: I think the issue is patronage. I mean, I've said that I'm against rewarding people for violent acts. But people have the right to say what they want or do what they want. We also have the right to boycott it. The First Amendment also means you can..."
Only if you are a black rapper, I guess, not a white man who looks like a werewolf.
Here's more fun stuff from his past as well.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=3484
The title of this one would be funnier if it weren't so true:
Al $harpton, The Democrat's David Duke
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=2411
Plenty of horrible epithets hurled at Jews, as well as inciting violence in Crown Heights directed at the "diamond merchants" as he calls them.
http://www.hscca.org/articles/alsharpton.html
quote:
Originally posted by teddy jack eddy
Imus is just mirroring society. It's full of hate for each other, and I'm tired of all the hate in America.
It seems to have gotten much, much, worse since Bush was elected.
I believe most "charismatics" and "evangelicals" thought George Bush's election was an endorsement of the religious right's view.
I think a lot of the hate originates with Karl Rove and the evangelical wing of the Republican party.
I hope it improves when Bush is gone.
[}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]
I love it!
What isn't W's fault?
Tornados...W's fault
Rotten cheese in my fridge...W's fault
Soup's too cold....W's fault
You people are hillarious.
CNN Reporting:
quote:
CBS cancels Don Imus' radio show, effective immediately, after uproar over his racist and sexist comments about Rutgers women's basketball team.
Imus would've kept his radio show if he hadn't remained so arrogant after being confronted with his ugly comments. What a dope.
We have free speech, but sometimes there are consequences if you're reckless with that free speech.
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw
quote:
Originally posted by teddy jack eddy
Imus is just mirroring society. It's full of hate for each other, and I'm tired of all the hate in America.
It seems to have gotten much, much, worse since Bush was elected.
I believe most "charismatics" and "evangelicals" thought George Bush's election was an endorsement of the religious right's view.
I think a lot of the hate originates with Karl Rove and the evangelical wing of the Republican party.
I hope it improves when Bush is gone.
[}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]
I love it!
What isn't W's fault?
Tornados...W's fault
Rotten cheese in my fridge...W's fault
Soup's too cold....W's fault
You people are hillarious.
Don't forget Storm Surge....
quote:
Originally posted by teddy jack eddy
Imus is just mirroring society. It's full of hate for each other, and I'm tired of all the hate in America.
It seems to have gotten much, much, worse since Bush was elected.
I believe most "charismatics" and "evangelicals" thought George Bush's election was an endorsement of the religious right's view.
I think a lot of the hate originates with Karl Rove and the evangelical wing of the Republican party.
I hope it improves when Bush is gone.
I'm tired of the hate as well, blaming it on Bush is sophomoric. I think we all need to quit taking ourselves so friggin' seriously. Political correctness is slowly eroding our right to a sense of humor.
Imus tried to make a funny and fell flat on his donkey. What Imus said was in incredibly poor taste on a nationally-syndicated program. If he and his producer wanted to have that banter on a commercial break, more power to him. But he didn't and for now he is jobless until he winds up on satellite somewhere.
Without knowing the man personally, I can't say he's a racist or not. Some of his friends have spoken up and characterized him as charitable to people of all races. As I said, I don't know him, that's not my call.
Do you find it ironic though, that Imus' biggest critic is a liberal pentocostal preacher, and former presidential candidate who preaches a gospel of hate and intollerance, nothing like the teachings of Jesus:
'..."The world will tell us he was killed by accident. Yes, it was a social accident. It's an accident to allow an apartheid ambulance service in the middle of Crown Heights. It is an accident to think that we will keep crying and never stand up and call for justice. What type of city do we have that would lie on our children and allow politics to rise above the blood of innocent babies? Have we lost all our moral fiber? Talk about how Oppenheimer in South Africa sends diamonds straight to Tel Aviv and deals with the diamond merchants right here in Crown Heights." '
"Sharpton organized crowds of protestors, screaming about "bloodsucking Jews" and "Jew bastards" and threatening to "burn the building down." Finally, Roland James Smith, Jr., got Sharpton's message. On Friday, December 8, at 10:12 a.m., Smith walked into Freddy's Fashion Mart, pulled out a gun, ordered all the black customers to leave, spilled paint thinner on several bins of clothing and set them on fire, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including himself. Isn't it wonderful, how Al the racist Sharpton, can throw around words like "white interloper" and "bloodsucking Jews" in public, and the "elite" media conveniently misses it again! But I don't miss it. I see Sharpton for the kind of guy he really is: a low life liberal and racist who hates Jews."
So now he goes on XM or Sirius...
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw
quote:
Originally posted by teddy jack eddy
Imus is just mirroring society. It's full of hate for each other, and I'm tired of all the hate in America.
It seems to have gotten much, much, worse since Bush was elected.
I believe most "charismatics" and "evangelicals" thought George Bush's election was an endorsement of the religious right's view.
I think a lot of the hate originates with Karl Rove and the evangelical wing of the Republican party.
I hope it improves when Bush is gone.
[}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]
I love it!
What isn't W's fault?
Tornados...W's fault
Rotten cheese in my fridge...W's fault
Soup's too cold....W's fault
You people are hillarious.
Just what do YOU mean by "YOU people"?
racist.
"It's not about taking Imus down," $harpton said. "It's about lifting decency up."
Yeah, right. Let the extortion begin:
(http://georgiaheritagecouncil.org/site2/images/ss-sharpton.jpg)
Read this Shaprton interview (or any other on the subject) and substitute OJ or MJ for the Duke Players:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192277,00.html
"would not have proceeded if he did not feel that he could convict. So it tells me that all of what you said is either not true or he has convincing evidence that would certainly knock that out and no one is not letting him proceed."
"SHARPTON: Well, first of all, the authorities have charged there was a crime, so they are not saying that at all. Second of all, people on any side of an argument have the ride to advocate on behalf of who they believe. Thirdly, I think that when the prosecutors went forward, they clearly have said this girl is the victim..."
And that, my friends, is called hypocrisy.
Doesn't get more direct and incontrovertable than that CF. Truly sad.
What? There's camara's on Rutgers campus? I'm so there.
- Hillary
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2007/04/hillary_is_heading_to_rutgers.html
Not sure what Hillary Clinton has to do with this Imus thing, but rumor has it she is going to meet with the team now. Go media whoring go! Who else can try to bask in the artificial limelight while it lasts?
I should've never posted that photo of $harpton, there is now coffee on my laptop screen. [}:)]
Interesting side-note to the whole controversy over decency. Viacom is the owner of CBS and MTV- and all that implies.
I wasn't particularly happy that Sharpton and Jackson were out in front pushing this event as usual. However, I do believe the right decisions were made by all, and I like the way this all played out. Probably wouldn't have been possible without Sharpton and Jackson.
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelC
I wasn't particularly happy that Sharpton and Jackson were out in front pushing this event as usual. However, I do believe the right decisions were made by all, and I like the way this all played out. Probably wouldn't have been possible without Sharpton and Jackson.
Yes. Nothing says justice like racial comments being decried by an anti-semite!
"It's a completely different scenario. (Rappers) are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about hoes that's in the 'hood that ain't doing ****, that's trying to get a nigga for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-donkey white men that sit up on MSNBC going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha****as say we are in the same league as him. Kick him off the air forever."
This is a quote from Snoop Dog in regards to the comparisons between Imus and hip-hip..
Hey..... Sharpton...........Jackson! When will you be calling on Snoop's record label to drop him. When will you be calling on people to boycot his music. When will you be calling on stores to pull his CDs off the shelf.
Old news. Sharpton already has said that he's targeting entertainment industry next.
http://www.9news.com/life/entertainment/article.aspx?storyid=68090
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Old news. Sharpton already has said that he's targeting entertainment industry next.
http://www.9news.com/life/entertainment/article.aspx?storyid=68090
Al says alot of things. It doesn't mean he will actually do anything.
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Old news. Sharpton already has said that he's targeting entertainment industry next.
http://www.9news.com/life/entertainment/article.aspx?storyid=68090
I call shenanigans. As soon as the Imus story loses its cachet and the pressure is off him, he'll return to spewing anti-semitic rhetoric and the rap industry will continue to crank out more dreck while he points fingers elsewhere.
I wish Bill Cosby would punch him in his fat, anti-semitic, mush-mouth. He's the only one who could get away with it.
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Old news. Sharpton already has said that he's targeting entertainment industry next.
http://www.9news.com/life/entertainment/article.aspx?storyid=68090
Part of the problem is the use of "public airwaves". Remember the 2 Live Crew (//%22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Live_Crew%22) controversy in Florida, where the state of Florida outright banned the sale of their music. That was eventually overturned. But then, as now, "2 Live Crew" still can't be played on "public airwaves" without being heavily edited.
Remember Howard Stern's jump to satellite. All surrounding use of public airwaves.
I've heard folks like Sharpton speak out about certain types of rap, but it ends up being a moral issue rather than a "public airwaves" issue. About all they can do is ask people to not listen, and ask recording companies to quit making it (and quit making money off of it).
I don't think Stern's move had anything to do with that. He simply didn't get enough money, the other issue was just icing on the cake for him.
After hearing the re-broadcast of Stern's show last Manday, I give Imus about a 5% chance of going to Sirius even if he wanted to. Stern HATES Imus after working with him; apparently Eyepuss called Robin the 'n' word and demanded that the chattle in the studio not look at him.
Stern also said that Bernard has been calling Stern since the move to Sirius begging for a job. It was Bernard that started the whole recent flap by starting the 'ho' affair.
quote:
Originally posted by tim huntzinger
After hearing the re-broadcast of Stern's show last Manday, I give Imus about a 5% chance of going to Sirius even if he wanted to. Stern HATES Imus after working with him; apparently Eyepuss called Robin the 'n' word and demanded that the chattle in the studio not look at him.
Stern also said that Bernard has been calling Stern since the move to Sirius begging for a job. It was Bernard that started the whole recent flap by starting the 'ho' affair.
Have you ever listened to the Stern show...look up what he says the NAACP stands for and tell me he actually worries about people using the N-word.
And with XM and Sirius merging, the chance of Imus going there is pretty slim. It could happen, but you know Stern will be needling him every chance he gets.
I lissen to Howard quite a bit and I have never heard him use the n word in relation to the NAACP. Stern adores Robin and anyone who puts her down is persona non grata. Either Stern would sell his stock or would make life hell for Imus.
quote:
Originally posted by tim huntzinger
I lissen to Howard quite a bit and I have never heard him use the n word in relation to the NAACP. Stern adores Robin and anyone who puts her down is persona non grata. Either Stern would sell his stock or would make life hell for Imus.
Neither did Imus use the N-word. Do yourself a favor and google Stern and racism and see what you find. He uses Robin as a shield to make off color racist commentary all the time.
Imus sure did use the n word. He called Robin it. Further, 60" rebroadcast of the Imus interview of '97 found him admitting to using it in a conversation with some exec.
I don't know what you are listening to of Stern's but racist humor is not part of the routine.
Google blocked on your computer?
http://www.west.net/~westcott/UNCFletters.html
There;s much more where that came from.
That popped up . . . but from 1997? I guess in his case it comes down to that goose and gander thang. I think there is a difference between being purposefully outrageous and being accidentally racist.
Call it what you want, but what has been done on his show makes Don Imus' show look like storybook time at the library, but Stern gets a pass because his sidekick is black. There are many more, newer statements, I just didn't link to them.
Maybe that's the new tactic if you want to be racist on the radio, just make sure your sidekick is of the ethnicity that you want to insult.
I would like to know what newer statements there are. Since I have been listening he has had Fitty Cent, P Diddy, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock and other celebs who probably would not be there if he were a racist. Stern may use racial humor but not racial epiteths as broadsides like Imus did.
quote:
Originally posted by tim huntzinger
I would like to know what newer statements there are. Since I have been listening he has had Fitty Cent, P Diddy, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock and other celebs who probably would not be there if he were a racist. Stern may use racial humor but not racial epiteths as broadsides like Imus did.
Google my friend, google. Imus' comments were allegedly made in a jocular context as well, were they not?
Okaaaaayyyyy. Nope still nothing racist within the past decade. Like I have said for the third time now I listen frequently to Stern and nothing racist goes on there. Misogyny is on parade like anything, but no race-baiting.
How about when Benji was dressing up like an old black man named N***er What...he was a frequent guest in studio for about 6 months. Is 2004 recent enough for you?
And the reason he got kicked off Clear Channel was a discussion one day with a caller over whether he would have sex with an n-word female.
And in the fall of 2003 he said the NAACP stood for Negros Are All Colored Poloks, the transcript is available from E-online, but it has to be ordered.
FEBRUARY 5, 1999 Stern: Every EXPLETIVE day I drag my lanky EXPLETIVE into this radio station to break EXPLETIVE with my n-word. Don't criticize my n-word, 'cause they's my n-word. Babbabooey's my very own lazy big EXPLETIVE n-word. I love him. I love that homo Ralph who cleans my underwear. That is one good n-word. He is a cleaning mother EXPLETIVE n-word. Radio n-word, that's what we're talking about here...the was also on the E-online version of the show.
On the December 18th 1998, Stern played and talked about a song called "N-word Claus". Among other things, he said: So black Santa Claus tried to rape his wife and steals toys instead of gives toys to the kids.
Point taken! Ouch! I reckon that is pretty recent, alright.
quote:
Originally posted by tim huntzinger
Point taken! Ouch! I reckon that is pretty recent, alright.
Again. I like Stern somewhat. I think he's funny, and he does get away with racial humor because 1) He's Jewish and 2) He's got a black sidekick.
I'm not going to stop listening to Stern, rarely that I do, just because he cracks racial jokes. Just like I won't stop watching re-runs of Chappelle's Show because there's lots of racial humor on that show.
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelC
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Old news. Sharpton already has said that he's targeting entertainment industry next.
http://www.9news.com/life/entertainment/article.aspx?storyid=68090
Part of the problem is the use of "public airwaves". Remember the 2 Live Crew (//%22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Live_Crew%22) controversy in Florida, where the state of Florida outright banned the sale of their music. That was eventually overturned. But then, as now, "2 Live Crew" still can't be played on "public airwaves" without being heavily edited.
Remember Howard Stern's jump to satellite. All surrounding use of public airwaves.
I've heard folks like Sharpton speak out about certain types of rap, but it ends up being a moral issue rather than a "public airwaves" issue. About all they can do is ask people to not listen, and ask recording companies to quit making it (and quit making money off of it).
If $harpton were really serious about getting rap off the airwaves, he'd treat the artists and recording companies the same as he has with media outlets in the past- an extortion attempt cloaked in a law suit. He knows there is no money and little face time for going after black rap artists. The media loves a good controversy. Black going after white gets far more notice by the media.
2 Live Crew was banned primarily due to the lyrics in "Me So Horney". One listen to the un-edited version of the song, and it's pretty much a no-brainer as to why it's a no-no on the public airwaves. I don't believe it was racially-charged music, just things the FCC says aren't appropriate for the gov't regulated airwaves.
How about Viacomm owning Comedy Central which was basically built by South Park which continues to have its only black reoccurring character named Token. Or said "******" something like 40 times on a recent episode. Which, by the way, is hilarious.
I understand that people are offended by language. I think its usually misplaced outrage, but I understand. But they need to understand that their criteria for when and how to be outraged is a giant mystery to the rest of the world. As one of the talking heads surmised - if the VT Massacre had happened the day after Imus mad his comments: would the media have moved on? Its doubtful that Jesse or Al would have been able to get in the spot light and would have quickly dropped the 'cause.'
Apparently it had nothing to do with race in the first place. According to a British paper, Imus was silenced because he was about to disclose 9/11 troof to the American people.
Dang. It looks like altruismsuffers got to them.
[}:)]
I would not listen to Don Imus on a bet, that said I would go to my grave defending his right to free speach. as has been mentioned here, CBS et al. have every right to dispose of this issue as they see fit... and have.
When we start filtering speech we are asking for trouble. If you don't like Don Imus, Rosie or others don't listen to or watch them. The dollar is mightier than the sword.