The BoormanBlog

By now, we’ve all heard about Don Imus being suspended for two weeks for making some insensitive comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team, whom he characterized as “nappy-headed hos.” Cue the Reverend’s Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, who are calling for Imus’ ousting. I’m certainly not defending Don’s remarks, but anyone who’s ever heard his show would know that Imus is an equal opportunity offender. He pokes fun at, and insults everybody.

I’ve read a great deal from “community leaders” about how offensive Imus’ remarks were. What has been deafeningly silent, at least from my point of view, is the community. Where is the rank and file that ultimately pay Don Imus’ (and Les Moonves’) salaries? The ordinary Joe Schmoe seems to have collectively chuckled at Imus’ remark and (get this!) MOVED ON (no dot org at the end of that, by the way).

People simply turning off their radios would have a bigger impact than any protest, boycott or public hissy fit ever could. If you don’t like what Don Imus has to say, don’t listen. It’s as simple as that. But this script seems to be playing it self out like a scratched record.

1) Someone says an off-color remark

2) Sharpton/Jackson make a big stink, get themselves in the paper and on TV.

3) Lives/careers ruined, Al & Jesse move on to the next opportunity.

I can only wonder who’s interests these “leaders” are looking out for. Am I to believe Howard Stern hasn’t said something at least similar (if not worse) in the last, say 5 minutes? Why aren’t these community leaders going after him? What difference does it make if he’s on Sirius now?
Part of the price of having liberty is allowing others to have the same liberty. Part of the price of free speech is the near certainty that you’re going to hear something you don’t like.

God knows there are a ton of things on TV and the radio that I would love to see shut down. The difference is, that I understand that I don’t have the right to gather a small mob and impose my will on everyone else. If I don’t like what’s on TV, I change the channel, or I turn the damn thing off. It’s that simple. It’s time for everyone to take responsibility for their own choices, and let others make theirs.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Rants and rants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.