On Imus Situation
Clearly Imus is a huge jerk. He always has been from what I can tell. That is his schtick. It apparently sells. But I can’t understand what the market liked about him in the first place. And why market forces didn’t put him out of business before now. Or Howard Stern for that matter.
Also why didn’t Sharpton and Jackson attempt to take advantage of this predicament before now by pressuring long time advertisers and network execs of this exact same format to pull out of this and other shows? Politically correct hype of the day is the answer, in silent conspiracy with the press - pundits sensationalizing the issues and attempting to make themselves heroes of the black community. The press is just selling ad space. They could give a crap about what is fair, racist, or truly politically correct. One fall guy and lots of ad sales and book sales is what comes from the whole event.
I think Imus should be able to say whatever he wants. Jesse Jackson isn’t totally credible himself. And Sharpton is a horrible scum bag. The biggest racist one could imagine and a caught cocaine dealer. (See Sharpton and Jackson references in my blog entries below, with special emphasis on Twana Brawley)
I think Jackson and Sharpton and Imus should say whatever they want whenever they want, but I don’t know why anyone would listen to them, other than Jackson on occasion.
In any case how come the racist musicians don’t get booted from their labels for selling their lame art? Because in America we have freedom of speech. Save your indignation or use it in all venues. Identifying with the outrage of the week, while ignoring grander long term social problems and racism is folly.
In the Imus event there are some true heroes. The main one is the coach of the Rutgers basketball team, Vivian Stringer, who very clearly expressed what the issues are, why it is evil to engage in such speech, how great those athletes really are, how society can heal, and last but not least she led the team to forgive Imus. Proving that the team and the coach are real winners; the goal of every team. The clear idiots are Imus, Jackson, Sharpton, the TV and radio execs, the press, and anyone who bought this act hook, line, and sinker.
Let’s wipe out racist, sexist idiots from the marketplace by not listening to it or watching it, and by expressing our outrage every day in their faces and those of their advertisers. Let’s not facilitate any of the bad characters in making self serving press events when it’s easy for them.
When we look back 50 years from now, most of the press activities and a lot of the music we are listening to today will be considered moronic and deceptive, with this Imus period of time as an excellent example.