NationStates Jolt Archive

You don't have it. What Don Imus said was stupid and not said with malice. This is a man who has done more for people of color than idiots like Al Sharpton ever will. Look into the Revs life and he's not a great guy like many think. Not only should Imus not be fired he should not be suspended. This is clearly a free speech issue as people wish to deny Imus the right to life, liberty, and property as is his right as an American. What he said was stupid, but not illegal or reason for him to lose his livelyhood. Hell, he quoted a line from a Spike Lee movie. Did anyone boycott Spike for that? Everyone needs to stop being so mothertrucking sensitive. The kicker is that they let him stay on the air to finish his charity work and then made him take the suspension. Look at what these men have done. The Rev could only wish to do as much as Imus does. And I don't even listen to Imus, but this shit is just nonsense.

What did he say?

Wait... I don't have the right not to be offended? As in I must always take offense to something, or that at some point I will be told something meant to be offensive and there is no legal protection against it?

so do you think that this is getting so much play because its a slow news cycle and the anna nicole baby daddy mystery has been solved or because no one wants to end up on al sharptons shit list by ignoring it?

No one has a right to be televised or broadcast by a major media outlet. No one's trying to censor Imus's opinion, but when you're part of a major media enterprise, there's PR to think about.

Actually, I suppose we all have a right to be broadcast when we obtain a HAM radio license or when broadcasting under supervision of someone with one.. but there's limits on commercial and political speech even then. :p

Free speech doesn't mean you can say anything you want with no consequences.

The first amendment means only that the government shall make no law abridging your free speech.

Ones employer may place whatever limits he or she wishes on what his/her employee may do during the hours of his employment, within the bounds of the employment agreement.

Whether we agree or not, disagree or not, Imus' employer may restrict what his employee says during the course of his employment, and take measures if he says something his employer doesn't like.

Nobody's rights have been violated. Regardless of what we think of what he said, his employer is within his rights.

What did he say?

he called the female athletes on the Rutgers Basketball team "nappy headed whores".

he called the female athletes on the Rutgers Basketball team "nappy headed whores".

Maybe it is just me, but I have no idea what a "nappy headed" person is..

Maybe it is just me, but I have no idea what a "nappy headed" person is..

Nappyhead refers to the hair of black people, AFAIK.

he called the female athletes on the Rutgers Basketball team "nappy headed whores".

"Hoes," actually. Though that's probably just "whore" with a black accent, but that's neither here nor there. It's used the same way, I believe.

Maybe it is just me, but I have no idea what a "nappy headed" person is..

Just an obnoxious way to describe African-type hair. Pretty rude in any context.

Nappyhead refers to the hair of black people, AFAIK.

Not entirely. "Nappy" is generally not used to refer to the hair of all black people. When I've heard it used, it's referred to especially messy, frizzy hair.

Free speech doesn't mean you can say anything you want with no consequences.

The first amendment means only that the government shall make no law abridging your free speech.

Ones employer may place whatever limits he or she wishes on what his/her employee may do during the hours of his employment, within the bounds of the employment agreement.

Whether we agree or not, disagree or not, Imus' employer may restrict what his employee says during the course of his employment, and take measures if he says something his employer doesn't like.

Nobody's rights have been violated. Regardless of what we think of what he said, his employer is within his rights.
I wrote out a response to the OP and realized it really was this with more "fucks" in it.

What are they teaching kids in schools these days that they think free speech means I can't criticize what other people say? Or are people just sleeping through class?

Not entirely. "Nappy" is generally not used to refer to the hair of all black people. When I've heard it used, it's referred to especially messy, frizzy hair.

That's probably accurate, you know, if you're going to split hairs.. :D

Not entirely. "Nappy" is generally not used to refer to the hair of all black people. When I've heard it used, it's referred to especially messy, frizzy hair.

i saw the teams press conference. there wasnt a nappy headed one in the bunch.

All I know is Don Imus has apologized about a billion times now and Sharpton still hasn't forgivien him. Does anybody think he is really a racist? Sharpton should just let it go already and stop milking it for attention. And for the record, the basketball team in question is a bunch of nappy-headed hoes.

you don't have the right to be not offended.

Would interfere with the right of free speech :)

Yes, no one has the right to not be offended, but the sponsors and employers of radio stations do have the right to choose who they employ and people do have the right to say, boycott radio stations and sponsors who employ the sorts of people who make comments they don't approve of.

You don't have it.

I may not have a right to not be offended, but we each have a duty to avoid giving offense without good cause to do so, and I support fulfilling that duty as seriously and conscientously as we should be exercising our right to free speech.

I may not have a right to not be offended, but we each have a duty to avoid giving offense without good cause to do so, and I support fulfilling that duty as seriously and conscientously as we should be exercising our right to free speech.

A duty? How on earth is a such a duty as that created? It's not nice to go around offending people, I suppose, but you certainly have no duty to not be offensive. I don't, at least. Don't know anyone else who does, either. Maybe your idea of what constitutes a duty differs from mine. Greatly.

As for Imus, yeah, he said something stupid. If you see him say it, rather than just reading it, there was no malice in his words. If anything, it seemed like a strangely-worded compliment, sort of akin to saying they were hardcore. Really bad choice of words, but I seriously doubt his intent to hurt or offend.

The suspension is a good thing, but not because Al Sharpton said so. Just like The View's ratings going up because of the stuff Rosie says, Imus's show will go up in the ratings when he returns. The station knew that. They don't fear the wrath of Sharpton, they just want the ratings spike. And when he's back on the air, I bet they get it.

When someone passes a law that bans racist and sexist jokes on radio, fine - come complaining.

Until then, no one's free speech rights are being violated by people refusing to sponsor, or protesting against, racist and sexist speech.

Nappyhead refers to the hair of black people, AFAIK.

Not always true, my cousin and I used to call each other nappy headed. I remember one insult in particular "Your hair is so nappy, even moses couldn't part it"

i saw the teams press conference. there wasnt a nappy headed one in the bunch.

And did ya notice there were at least 2 white chicks on the team? Yet, I don't see white rights(erm...yeah) groups up in arms!

The only people he needs to apologize too, and sincerely, is the Rutgers Women basketball players. A group of student athletes like them don't deserve that kind of verbal nastiness. As for Al Sharpton, he's the only real ho in this story. :p

The only people he needs to apologize too, and sincerely, is the Rutgers Women basketball players. A group of student athletes like them don't deserve that kind of verbal nastiness. As for Al Sharpton, he's the only real ho in this story. :p

Yes he is a big ho, and Jesse Jackson is his pimp.

and shouldn't you be asleep in the mud, dreaming about tacos right now??? :p

I am offended by this thread and demand it be deleted.

Yes he is a big ho, and Jesse Jackson is his pimp.

and shouldn't you be asleep in the mud, dreaming about tacos right now??? :p

I don't sleep much, but come to think of it, I was considering a quick nap. :)