[mzdagrl]

So I have been following the IMUS thread. Though I do think he is mildly racist, I do also think that he is a social satirist, and does a good job poking fun at everything our country does. Personally, I don't like listening to him. I also think he is a sexist (yes this can go the other way too...), but most people are one way or the other. (notice I said most, not all). But, going back to racism. This is probably really dangerous seeing how our community is mostly all-white males, but I want to see what people think.

Originally Posted by bigred875

wanna hear racism...tune to hot 97 in ny or the russ parr(?) syndicated morning show or any black owned station...

There is obviously still racism in the world, against all races. But, why is it okay to sling racial slurs against whites (frequently: cracker, whitebread, etc) but not other races? How come white comedians have to censor themselves while black comedians can say whatever they want about any race, black white asian hispanic etc, and not get called out for it. Blacks can be racist against blacks, use the n-word, refer to whatever stereotypical differences there may be and it is fine, but if a white guy/girl does it, he/she is racist? This is one thing I don't understand, and I never will. If it is racist for me to call a black person a n**ger, then it should be equally racist for them to call us crackers.

[ssg]

Because 'they' (meaning anyone inside your target) are the "minorities" , applied literally it means there is less of them, and more of us...so they are at a severe disadvantage, and we shouldn't throw them down the stairs with our racial epitaphs anymore then we already do with our attempt at leading a sin free life.

When they do it, it is only in the name of equality.

[highsider]

I'm not racist. I hate everyone equally.

[KillBill]

Something that will ALWAYS haunt the white citizens of this country was that of slavery. I know that is was a very long time ago, but in relation to most historical events it wasn't that long ago. It was an extremely damaging and detrimental time in our history, not just for blacks but for ALL of humanity. Much like that of the Holocaust. People do not forget, and they shouldn't.

The comment that Imus made was ignorant. I do think that he is being made a spectacle out of because he fits that perfect stereotypical image of a white "cracker" hatin on those black folk.

If you are tired of hearing about the story just prepare yourself for more to come. Because it's not going to let up. There will always be an "Imus" no matter what color they are. There will always be a majority and a minority, white, black, purple, or yellow.

[l3uddha]

Originally Posted by mzdagrl

There is obviously still racism in the world, against all races. But, why is it okay to sling racial slurs against whites (frequently: cracker, whitebread, etc) but not other races? How come white comedians have to censor themselves while black comedians can say whatever they want about any race, black white asian hispanic etc, and not get called out for it. Blacks can be racist against blacks, use the n-word, refer to whatever stereotypical differences there may be and it is fine, but if a white guy/girl does it, he/she is racist? This is one thing I don't understand, and I never will. If it is racist for me to call a black person a n**ger, then it should be equally racist for them to call us crackers.

I think you're dead on w/ that respect. I'm not really a fan of Imus either, but what's so suprising (and completly hypocritical) is that they're making such an example of him. I saw on the news today that most of his sponsors are backing out, he's lost his TV broadcasting, etc...

what's completly fucked is if a black man goes & says something similar, noone gives a rats ass. I'm not racist, but I cant stand double-standards; especially when they end up destroying this guys 30+ year radio/TV career.

What gets me is everyone loves watching a black comedian stand up on stage or broadcast on TV, and make completly racist ramarks. When Imus says something stupid, it ruins his career. You have to admit, it's been an issue that's been floating around now for years. White people dont seem to give a fuck when they're at the tail-end of a racist joke, but say it about a plack person & risk getting ruined.

I watched Chapelle show & liked it. Some stuff was completly overboard & racist, but whatever. I'm not losing any sleep over it. These fucking nappy-headed hoes need to relax...

[chr|s sedition]

Imus is being made an example of. There is no dispute over that. People have said far worse and had less fall out.

But everytime something like this happens, there is always the question about double-standards as it applied to whites / blacks, men / women, straights / gays, etc. While in some cases this may *not* be true, I often think the double-standard argument is misguided and wholly misses the complexity of socio-political history.

The context in which a comment is made is its most relevent componet. That context includes socio-political history of the speaker and the target. Words have meaning, and and that meaning is mostlly proscribed by the context in which the word it used. However, it is not limited to just that. Some words, and some contexts in which those words are used, also have significant historical residue. To ignore this is to ignore history and the world in which we actually live. To claim history is no longer binding on the present is like trying to unring a bell. However, some people may be standing very from the bell, some might be right next to it. Hence, some are going to be far more offended than others about the use of such words.

The context that most matters is social power, and how that power is being excercised, along with who is bearing the brunt of it. White people have far more social power than blacks do in this country. Thus, when white people speak, and speak negativlly of minorites, it has more power behind it, than when power-minorities speak about the power-majority. It propogates the power-majorites social position to subjagate others. It invokes the history of what has been done in the past. It offends people. if anything, the fact that black people can call whites "crackers" and get away with it is not evidnece of a double-standard, it is evdience that white people dont take black people seriouslly. It is evidnce that white people dont think the words of black people have any social power. Moreover, whites also fail to give the words og blacks any social power by reacting against it. If whites did feel blacks had significant social power to do harm, then the reaction to such statements would be much more acute. Instead, we just seem to think it is comedy.

Moreover, there is something really skewered about white people telling black people that (other) white people are not racist. Most white people in this country hardly even know what race means, or how it effects their own lives. They don't have to think about it on daily basis. So for white people to state that something is or is not racist to other groups is sort of dumb. The perception that some acts are racist is should be enough to give pause, rather than go into defensive mode. It's normally better to attempt to remedy a situation, than to tell the other person that they are just over-reacting or accuse them of a double-standard. Hostility breeds hostility.

Imus is an idiot. He should not have said what he said. But whether or not he is a racist, or even said somethat was racist, is not the real issue in this situation. The real issue is just how tenous race-realtions in this country actually are. Imus, unfortnally for him, just served as peephole to the unrest that is outside everyone's door.

And I wont even get into the media fanfare over this, becuase it really isn't worth anyone's time....

[richw]

70 percent of black children are born to single parent homes

60 percent drop out rate from high school. and thats tailored schools that normal 5th graders could get out of.

The hispanics are becoming the #1 minority so the demorats will bail on them.

The goof was that IMUS was saying they had a tough looking team.

All sports are stupid, college sports are stupider, and a womens basketball team is another step stupider (title 9) and a team comprised of all black women at Rutgers is beyond stupid. I would guess that black females make up 2% of Rutgers undergraduate class (unsubstantiated). If these young black women have their lives ruined because IMUS calls them nappy headed ho's then they will never make it in society.

FREE RIDE I am entitled to my free rid.

The problem is that stereo types are usually factual but it is unfair to apply them to any one individual.

[WildBill]

Imus has always been a dickhead. He has said alot worse than this in the past. What gets me is the so called Leaders, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson on their higher than thou soapbox calling for his firing. They have been lost from the limelight so they needed something or someone to get them back in the News and of course we all know they have never said anything condescending or racist about a particular group in their lives.

People really want to stamp out freedom of speech? Who's next?

If you don't like what someone says turn the channel.

[chr|s sedition]

Originally Posted by richw

70 percent of black children are born to single parent homes

60 percent drop out rate from high school. and thats tailored schools that normal 5th graders could get out of.

The hispanics are becoming the #1 minority so the demorats will bail on them.

please cite those facts.

[chr|s sedition]

Originally Posted by WildBill

People really want to stamp out freedom of speech?

No one wants to stamp out freedom of speach, they just want to stamp out the endorsment and support of certain commericalspeach. There is a significant difference.

[bigred875]

double standards and white guilt fueled by the likes of sharpton and jackson.

The fight they are fighting is popular and lucrative(get whitey). Going after their own would be a lot harder less popular and will not pay....

who will pay for their $6k suits and private jets?

[bigred875]

Originally Posted by chr|s sedition

No one wants to stamp out freedom of speach, they just want to stamp out the endorsment and support of certain commericalspeach. There is a significant difference.

thats not true....people are actively trying to get the word (omgnottheNword!) banned in this country

[chr|s sedition]

Originally Posted by bigred875

thats not true....people are actively trying to get the word (omgnottheNword!) banned in this country

Oh right, I forgot, people are trying to ban burning the flag, too.

[KillBill]

Originally Posted by chr|s sedition

please cite those facts.

+1

A stereotype is a type of assumption, much like what you just did in your post. I can tell you that being an urban, New Jersey college there are well more than a 2% black african-american population, but that is not my point. Education is the best way to enhance people's awareness of these false stereotypes. The problem: People are lazy and think that their belief is the sole belief

[chr|s sedition]

CBS just gave him the boot.

[KillBill]

Originally Posted by chr|s sedition

CBS just gave him the boot.

Well, if everyone else pulls their advertising it makes CBS look like a supporter of a "racist". So typical, everyone follows suit.

[bigred875]

pathetic

[KillBill]

Originally Posted by bigred875

pathetic

+1

None of these company's have any ballz. They should seriously grow a pair

[union]

Its pretty sad that someone loses their job over something as trivial as this. What he said was definately stupid but its not something to lose a job over. He was getting paid to say controversial stuff so people would listen. The problem is people are so eager to appease the whinners because they are insisting their social rights are being taken away from them and inturn are taking away the rights of everyone. Apparently the right to free speech doesnt exist anymore. No one was forcing these people to listen to his show. Id be willing to bet Al Sharpten or however you spell it never listened to Imus once until all this happened.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by WildBill

Imus has always been a dickhead. He has said alot worse than this in the past. What gets me is the so called Leaders, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson on their higher than thou soapbox calling for his firing. They have been lost from the limelight so they needed something or someone to get them back in the News and of course we all know they have never said anything condescending or racist about a particular group in their lives.

People really want to stamp out freedom of speech? Who's next?

If you don't like what someone says turn the channel.

I agree completely and I think hell just froze over

And where are those cocksuckers Sharpton and Jackson when it comes to apologising to the students form Duke who were railroaded by those two in particular and have now been cleared
Their silence speaks volumes about their hypocrisy. Fuck them and the horse they rode in on

[l3uddha]

Originally Posted by zombie

I agree completely and I think hell just froze over

from what I had seen before, regarding certain black comedians for example, I thought this country was beginning to ease up on the race issue through humor.... apparently not. Now it seems a slight misuse of words will start a fucking wildfire & ruin you.


yea, this is only the beginning.... I've got a funny feeling that some people are gonna be milking this sort of reaction for all it's worth...

[highsider]

Originally Posted by WildBill

Imus has always been a dickhead. He has said alot worse than this in the past. What gets me is the so called Leaders, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson on their higher than thou soapbox calling for his firing. They have been lost from the limelight so they needed something or someone to get them back in the News and of course we all know they have never said anything condescending or racist about a particular group in their lives.

People really want to stamp out freedom of speech? Who's next?

If you don't like what someone says turn the channel.

+2, and I also think hell may have frozen over.

Especially the "If you dont like what someone says turn the channel" part.

On the bright side, I have never liked Imus, so his being out of a job is somewhat amusing.

[jimdixon]

He's Toast.

[MVOUS]

lol...check out this crack head........o wait..i cant say that.....check out this fine piece of freedom of speech

Break.com - Funny Pics, Hot Chicks, & Cool Flicks

[richw]

Freedom or speech only protects from Government sanctions and laws

It does not protect you from consequences of using free speech.

MY GUESS was that black females would only constitute 2% of Rutgers. I said it was unsubstantiated. The other numbers are parroted from news reports. White births are near 30 percent to single parent homes.


Tell your children that if someone calls you a name it should not influence your opinion of yourself.

I bet IMUS will surface on satellite radio freed from the shackles of wimp corporations. He will be replaced on the broadcast radio by a safe individual who's balls have already been removed.

Speak no evil see no evil hear no evil....Yep everything is fine now