ChasingBlueSky 0 #51 April 13, 2007 http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html Imus isn’t the real bad guy Instead of wasting time on irrelevant shock jock, black leaders need to be fighting a growing gangster culture. By JASON WHITLOCK Columnist Thank you, Don Imus. You’ve given us (black people) an excuse to avoid our real problem. You’ve given Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson another opportunity to pretend that the old fight, which is now the safe and lucrative fight, is still the most important fight in our push for true economic and social equality. You’ve given Vivian Stringer and Rutgers the chance to hold a nationally televised recruiting celebration expertly disguised as a news conference to respond to your poor attempt at humor. Thank you, Don Imus. You extended Black History Month to April, and we can once again wallow in victimhood, protest like it’s 1965 and delude ourselves into believing that fixing your hatred is more necessary than eradicating our self-hatred. The bigots win again. While we’re fixated on a bad joke cracked by an irrelevant, bad shock jock, I’m sure at least one of the marvelous young women on the Rutgers basketball team is somewhere snapping her fingers to the beat of 50 Cent’s or Snoop Dogg’s or Young Jeezy’s latest ode glorifying nappy-headed pimps and hos. I ain’t saying Jesse, Al and Vivian are gold-diggas, but they don’t have the heart to mount a legitimate campaign against the real black-folk killas. It is us. At this time, we are our own worst enemies. We have allowed our youths to buy into a culture (hip hop) that has been perverted, corrupted and overtaken by prison culture. The music, attitude and behavior expressed in this culture is anti-black, anti-education, demeaning, self-destructive, pro-drug dealing and violent. Rather than confront this heinous enemy from within, we sit back and wait for someone like Imus to have a slip of the tongue and make the mistake of repeating the things we say about ourselves. It’s embarrassing. Dave Chappelle was offered $50 million to make racially insensitive jokes about black and white people on TV. He was hailed as a genius. Black comedians routinely crack jokes about white and black people, and we all laugh out loud. I’m no Don Imus apologist. He and his tiny companion Mike Lupica blasted me after I fell out with ESPN. Imus is a hack. But, in my view, he didn’t do anything outside the norm for shock jocks and comedians. He also offered an apology. That should’ve been the end of this whole affair. Instead, it’s only the beginning. It’s an opportunity for Stringer, Jackson and Sharpton to step on victim platforms and elevate themselves and their agenda$. I watched the Rutgers news conference and was ashamed. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke for eight minutes in 1963 at the March on Washington. At the time, black people could be lynched and denied fundamental rights with little thought. With the comments of a talk-show host most of her players had never heard of before last week serving as her excuse, Vivian Stringer rambled on for 30 minutes about the amazing season her team had. Somehow, we’re supposed to believe that the comments of a man with virtually no connection to the sports world ruined Rutgers’ wonderful season. Had a broadcaster with credibility and a platform in the sports world uttered the words Imus did, I could understand a level of outrage. But an hourlong press conference over a man who has already apologized, already been suspended and is already insignificant is just plain intellectually dishonest. This is opportunism. This is a distraction. In the grand scheme, Don Imus is no threat to us in general and no threat to black women in particular. If his words are so powerful and so destructive and must be rebuked so forcefully, then what should we do about the idiot rappers on BET, MTV and every black-owned radio station in the country who use words much more powerful and much more destructive? I don’t listen or watch Imus’ show regularly. Has he at any point glorified selling crack cocaine to black women? Has he celebrated black men shooting each other randomly? Has he suggested in any way that it’s cool to be a baby-daddy rather than a husband and a parent? Does he tell his listeners that they’re suckers for pursuing education and that they’re selling out their race if they do? When Imus does any of that, call me and I’ll get upset. Until then, he is what he is — a washed-up shock jock who is very easy to ignore when you’re not looking to be made a victim. No. We all know where the real battleground is. We know that the gangsta rappers and their followers in the athletic world have far bigger platforms to negatively define us than some old white man with a bad radio show. There’s no money and lots of danger in that battle, so Jesse and Al are going to sit it out._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #52 April 13, 2007 Meanwhile.... http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/340375,CST-NWS-Deep13.article_________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #53 April 13, 2007 An interesting bit of history: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/frenzy/jackson.htm Jesse Jackson's 'Hymietown' Remark – 1984 Rev. Jesse Jackson referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in January 1984 during a conversation with a black Washington Post reporter, Milton Coleman. Jackson had assumed the references would not be printed because of his racial bond with Coleman, but several weeks later Coleman permitted the slurs to be included far down in an article by another Post reporter on Jackson's rocky relations with American Jews. A storm of protest erupted, and Jackson at first denied the remarks, then accused Jews of conspiring to defeat him. The Nation of Islam's radical leader Louis Farrakhan, an aggressive anti-Semite and old Jackson ally, made a difficult situation worse by threatening Coleman in a radio broadcast and issuing a public warning to Jews, made in Jackson's presence: "If you harm this brother [Jackson], it will be the last one you harm." Finally, Jackson doused the fires in late February with an emotional speech admitting guilt and seeking atonement before national Jewish leaders in a Manchester, New Hampshire synagogue. Yet Jackson refused to denounce Farrakhan, and lingering, deeply rooted suspicions have led to an enduring split between Jackson and many Jews. The frenzy also heightened tensions between Jackson and the mostly white establishment press._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #54 April 13, 2007 That's it ship them all back to africa and haitiDivot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #55 April 13, 2007 QuoteThat's it ship them all back to africa and haiti My point is that I hate hypocrites...and the media are all a bunch of fucking mindless puppets looking for a headline at the cost of someone's professional and social life. Then that little thing about freedom of speech....but thank god we had Imus to crucify so we could avoid talking about the real issues in this country for a week._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #56 April 13, 2007 QuoteBut it seems that if Limbaugh and Stern can find advertisers, so could Imus. Maybe ... or maybe the pool of advertisers for that sort of risky account has been tapped. Or maybe that pool of advertisers isn't interested in a one-off splurge. If imus were to continue, this would blow over eventually. Notice that limbaugh's advertisers have been with him for many years. Short radio campaigns during a controversy are probably worth approximately one small bucket of warm spit. No, any way I slice this, it looks like a money loser for the network. Of course the network is WAY more sophisticated than you or I are and they seem to agree. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #57 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteBut it seems that if Limbaugh and Stern can find advertisers, so could Imus. Maybe ... or maybe the pool of advertisers for that sort of risky account has been tapped. Or maybe that pool of advertisers isn't interested in a one-off splurge. If imus were to continue, this would blow over eventually. Notice that limbaugh's advertisers have been with him for many years. Short radio campaigns during a controversy are probably worth approximately one small bucket of warm spit. The advertisers are there and there are plenty to go around for all. They are just reacting to the latest headlines....and when the dust settles they will go back to doing what they were before. Thankfully the public has ADD and won't remember this in a few weeks, nor care. Meanwhile quite a few people lose their jobs (Imus has a full staff of people working for him) and a bunch of time was wasted on a non-story._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #58 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteThat's it ship them all back to africa and haiti My point is that I hate hypocrites...and the media are all a bunch of fucking mindless puppets looking for a headline at the cost of someone's professional and social life. Then that little thing about freedom of speech....but thank god we had Imus to crucify so we could avoid talking about the real issues in this country for a week. True true... I think one of tho blogspot blogs that were linked actually had some newsworthy stuff on it, but no oner looks at it, because it is all about the raitngs. If americans really want to know what is going on outside our bubble tune in the BBC world newsDivot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #59 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteQuoteThat's it ship them all back to africa and haiti My point is that I hate hypocrites...and the media are all a bunch of fucking mindless puppets looking for a headline at the cost of someone's professional and social life. Then that little thing about freedom of speech....but thank god we had Imus to crucify so we could avoid talking about the real issues in this country for a week. True true... I think one of tho blogspot blogs that were linked actually had some newsworthy stuff on it, but no oner looks at it, because it is all about the raitngs. If americans really want to know what is going on outside our bubble tune in the BBC world news Media is Media is the same no matter where you go if there is money to be made. Then the public access media is usually people that have a soapbox they want to preach from. The rest if gov't controled and has their slant. There is no neutral media....there is media packaged a bit better to make you feel better for believing what they sell you._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zipp0 1 #60 April 13, 2007 The biggest factor in all this might be that Imus sucks. -------------------------- Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #61 April 13, 2007 QuoteThe biggest factor in all this might be that Imus sucks. The biggest factor here is how much people react to sensationalized media. They told you how to feel and many banged the drums for him to be fired...even if they never once heard Imus on the air during his entire career. I've never been an Imus fan (boring and lacking content), but he didn't deserve to lose his job. The ironic part is that Jackson did the same thing in 1984 yet no one remembers that. He has an agenda but his own actions show how hollow and transparent his motives are._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #62 April 13, 2007 QuoteThe advertisers are there and there are plenty to go around for all. Fascinating speculation. Do you have experience in advertising? A lot of people are good at spouting confident bullshit about things they know nothing about. Must come from watching TV sitcoms about advertising agencies or something. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #63 April 13, 2007 QuoteThe CBS decision was political, not economic. Political how? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #64 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteThe CBS decision was political, not economic. Political how? They don't want to lose the democratic listening audianceDivot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #65 April 13, 2007 QuoteThey don't want to lose the democratic listening audiance And we are back to business reasons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #66 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteThey don't want to lose the democratic listening audiance And we are back to business reasons. Which is funny because of the audiance they are worried about losing typically don't have the buying power that the rest of the audiance has... Steriotypically speakingDivot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #67 April 13, 2007 QuoteWhich is funny because of the audiance they are worried about losing typically don't have the buying power that the rest of the audiance has... Steriotypically speaking If internet quarterbacking of a sophisticated business's financial decisions brings you to a really obvious paradox like this, isn't it possible that you're just plain wrong and they know something you don't? First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #68 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteWhich is funny because of the audiance they are worried about losing typically don't have the buying power that the rest of the audiance has... Steriotypically speaking If internet quarterbacking of a sophisticated business's financial decisions brings you to a really obvious paradox like this, isn't it possible that you're just plain wrong and they know something you don't? So do you know something that I don't?Divot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #69 April 13, 2007 What bothers me most is that Imus has not been forgiven. No, I'm not talking about forgetting; rather, I'm talking about true contrition being accepted and the act forgiven. Isn't that what Christians (like Sharpton and Jackson) are supposed to do? To forgive, and give the transgressor who shows true contrition forgiveness? There isn't any, as far as I can see. Those who were offended, the Rutgers BB team, say they accept his apology; but there's not been any comment about forgiveness. There isn't any coming from the Revs. Sharpton and Jackson. Rather, those two are crowing at the trangression, and playing it up (i.e. blackmailing) for all it's worth. Pity, that. But then again, I don't expect much from those two in regards to forgiveness. They seem to have missed a truly important lesson in their ministry...and no one will even realize it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #70 April 13, 2007 QuoteSo do you know something that I don't? Read my previous posts in this thread. I don't feel like repeating myself. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zipp0 1 #71 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteWhich is funny because of the audiance they are worried about losing typically don't have the buying power that the rest of the audiance has... Steriotypically speaking If internet quarterbacking of a sophisticated business's financial decisions brings you to a really obvious paradox like this, isn't it possible that you're just plain wrong and they know something you don't? Sophisticated businesses make bone-head decisions all the time. As far as them knowing something I don't - I doubt it. CBS was not smart enough to keep Howard Stern, and they replaced him with Opie and Anthony, who had been previously fired from Infinity for a sex scandal involving St. Patrick's Cathedral in NY. I maintain that this was a political decision, not economic. -------------------------- Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #72 April 13, 2007 QuoteQuoteThe advertisers are there and there are plenty to go around for all. Fascinating speculation. Do you have experience in advertising? A lot of people are good at spouting confident bullshit about things they know nothing about. Must come from watching TV sitcoms about advertising agencies or something. Used to be in media, helped get Stern fired in Chicago by a few methods because we worked at a rival station (and he had been pulling some shit on us, so it was returned in kind). One of those methods was personally contacting his advertisers with tapes of his FCC violations. Stern later named me and a few others via our company in a law suit that was later dropped. Meanwhile advertisers left him and new ones came on at higher fees. I think that backs up my response enough._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NCclimber 0 #73 April 13, 2007 QuoteIf americans really want to know what is going on outside our bubble tune in the BBC world news Yeah. The BBC kicks ass! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2698507.stm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #74 April 13, 2007 that can't be real. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #75 April 13, 2007 QuoteI maintain that this was a political decision, not economic. Political decisions are made for economical reasons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
