Imus talks a lot of smack all the time; You can go back to just about any broadcast during his career and find something offensive. That's just how it is w/ this train of thought comedy - he rambles, he keeps people amused by what he says off the top of his head, and you move on.
Did he go too far this time? Yes. No doubt.
Does anyone really think he meant to be offensive/insensitive? I don't. I don't think he put a lot of thought into that remark, and now he's being crucified for it.
Activists might say that the fact he even had that thought is disgusting enough. Yep. There's no dispute that it was an offensive comment. But is the punishment befitting of the crime? Losing his job... never to be heard from again?
I think a much better solution would be for him to do some form of community service to prove that he's not such a bad dude... and for the black community to forgive him.
It'll take a bit of backing down from the anti-Christian Reverend Al Sharpton, though. I'm not a particularly religious person at this point in my life, but I was raised Catholic, went to religion class, the whole nine yards.
What I did learn, however, is that the essential belief of Christianity is forgiveness. You sin, you repent and do your penance, then you're in the clear.
As a Christian, you should be mentally programmed to give sympathy for those suffering. Imus caused a lot of hurt and offended many. Now the tide has turned. Imus is feeling a lot of hurt. He apologized, but it's not enough - nothing short of him giving up his livelihood is enough. But when you stop punishing him for a comment he made in jest?
Looking back at the transcript, it's technically one of his cronies that's feeding him the lines and he's just repeating them.
People make mistakes... and beyond life and death circumstances, they should be given a chance to make things right. This is a great opportunity for civil rights leaders to take a leadership role and end this madness.
Posted by MattSuspect:
Hi All,
I don't post much, but something like this really gets me. I admittingly grew up listening to Imus so I am biased. That being said, isn't it absurd that we are judging this man on a throwaway line where he lamely attempted to sound "ghetto" on a comedy show. Imus has been one of the most unsung philantrhopists in the last 10 years. He raises millions of dollars for SIDS/Pediatric Cancer research, while throwing his own money behind his Ranch and donations for terminal children. As far as race relations, Imus introduced and supported Barrack Obama in 2004, being one of the first to give him a national stage (before the democratic convention), he turned many listeners on to him, and in fact if Barrack gets through in 08, it will be the first time I vote. He has also been unwavering in his support of Harold Ford Jr. It seems absurd to me that 30 years (ok probably 15 years) of good are erased by some dumb joke. And to empower a jerk like Al Sharpton even one bit just piles atop the absurdity. The media has blown this out of proportion and a man who has done more singlehandedly to better society than 99% of public figures is being crucified for it. I guess my summary is, isn't there a point where we give someone a break because of his overall affect on the greater good of society? That a bad offensive joke by a comedian shouldn't destroy him? And where does one draw the line? As an american culture we seem to be pushing back the line on things we can not say or do. Our rights are being limited every year, and this just adds to it.
(sorry for rambling)
4/12/2007 5:45 PM