They had said these artist are singing from life experiences. I had also heard some people call this the crack baby generation. But my personal belief that television, movies, removal of corporal punishment from schools has lead way to this.

If this has opened a dialogue between races and sexes then Imus might become an icon of the year 2007. But like so many other hot topics it is sure to pass from the headlines until another white person stumbles. Because we are the only race held to these higher standards.

J. Bozeman… as long as those late night typos arent “l6wdksjyng,” it’s ok. lol… good point in bringing up free market. I wish someone would write about: Can we really have free market and free expression re any radio/ tv hosts/jocks/talkies/newsreaders, if corporations are the ones who decide who will and who wont be on the air, and what bent of talk they will put their money behind…. I dont know if its the real spirit of free market if people only get to choose amongst what the primary choosers give them to choose from.The gatekeepers to radio and TV seem to keep pretty narrow gates, perhaps in part, because outfits like Clear Channel, or Rupert M and just a very few others, own most everything.

Just culturally, I find it interesting that two groups are especially concerned about free expression presently, groups that in some way seem at opposite ends of a spectrum: people who want all expression in, say, tv, radio, music, etc… and those from the religious right who also want all expression of their philosophies in the same media.

The commentary about this matter has so far focussed on Don Imus.

Can we talk a little bit about CBS Radio? CBS has paid Imus generously for thirty years, and this is a very long way from the first time he’s stepped in something brown and sticky playing the “shock jock” game. (The very nature of that game involves walking along the edge of a very high cliff. Nobody in that game should be surprised at what happens if they have a lapse of judgment and step a little too far.) I suspect that CBS Radio would like us all to conveniently forget this.

The broadcasting license holder is responsible — legally and morally — for what goes out over the airwaves from its transmitter. And those who make the executive decisions — including hiring, retention, termination, standards and practices, marketing, and content — are responsible for those decisions. I suspect that CBS Radio would like us all to conveniently forget this as well.

Should CBS Radio not be pressed for answers on what is going to change to ensure that we don’t wind up with another, younger “shock jock”, pushing buttons until something goes boom? I don’t expect CBS Radio to turn itself into NPR overnight — one NPR is enough — but without specific and publicly-announced policy changes on content, it’s only a matter of time before we’re back here again, because pushing buttons is what shock jocks do.

But you bring up an interesting point: censorship by corporations. I hope someone will write deeply about this subject, investigativly rather than as an opinion piece. That would be really valuable. Myself, I tend to think more about how corporations might censor a priori, by not seeking nor allowing divergent and diverse voices any access to speak on radio/tv/etc., to begin with.
dr.e

As Americans, we really have to stand against censorship, not just by the government, but by corporations as well. Today they banned Imus, tomorrow rap, and the next thing you know, someone will censor “I shot a man in Reno / Just watch him die.” We have to stand up for free speech, regardless of its content.

Sharon Stephens… “second hand smoke” … very thoughtful metaphor for the effect of indirect effects

Kim Moon…Thank you Kim Moon, what a great name. I put the transcript in the article so readers here could weigh each of the four men’s remarks, see the cadence

Mathew…”Where are you when Jackson/ Sharpton reveal their hidden racist/anti-semitic sides every few years?” Puzzled, like a lot of people. I have many questions. I hope to read more thoughtful opinions on how different parts of the black community view all their second generation leaders (since Martin). Your questions are ones many wonder about.

Willie Smith “taunting to not be tolerated early” Your point is well taken… I think many people do not realize the culture is shifting dramatically toward not inhibiting free speech, but drawing boundaries about where certain kinds of speech will be contained. I find it interesting that Howard Stern by going onto satellite appears to have been one of the first to do just that. I have to think more about it, but there may be quite a few examples of other persons who are moving in that direction too.

Dana Chapin… Your idea of a book telling us all, Latinos, Blacks, Anglos, Asians, Indians, Everyone what/how to call each other is a great and potentially humorous/ serious idea, lol. In Diplomacy and International Studies, there really are books to teach how to get along and not insult people in other countries where one is doing business.

But, there is one rule I find true and stable across all cultures: so much of how people take what one has to say depends on the relationship between the caller of names and the called. Most people say to me that others from any group can call them anything they want, as long as they know for absolutely certain that that other person has their back. In terms of hard-wired human nature, this makes sense to me. The relationship, or lack of it, greatly influences the secondary reaction.

And Chris, you are right; “it was a time” that is no more. I sense that the world moves so fast today, that perhaps even last week become ‘a time that is no more,’ unless you are wired in at every level and change and grow with velocity.

The zeitgeist, the spirit of the times, changes, even though many people sort of live in apparently ‘sticky parallel worlds’ “back there.” That’s one of the things I admire about bloggers and those who comment here: I see an evolution of thought, not just what I call ‘a splat’ of opinions. (ok, well, sometimes a splat or two,… ‘a splat’ being what we called in the backwoods where I grew up, a mark dropped by a large bird taking a bathroom break while flying. lol

But in seriousness now, I’m reminded by the thoughts of everyone here, that the zeitgeist is not the only thing that moves. Some of its best people move with it, in fact are often out ahead of it conjuring it. May it be good.

I own a piano bar that is primarily patronized by blacks. I hear nigger this and nigger that all night. I do not believe that this gives me the license to use the word but it has been known to slip outa my mouth during some debates but of course I used the more acceptable pronunciation of nigga. Its all ages 21 to 60+ using it and from all walks of life. I did however get sharply corrected one evening by a local council person when I yelled to waitress to bring this boy a drink. I didn’t mean anything by it as I refer to many younger men of all races as boy. When I discusse it later with the younger patrons they told me it wasn’t offensive to them.

I guess what I am getting at is there was a day and time when alot of things were acceptable and now they are not. Some things meant to be deragatory years ago have been forgotten. The younger black people had forgotten or never knew that “boy” was an offensive word use by white people to black men. But maybe it was because they are still young. maybe if Everyone would quit using the word then maybe it would be forgotten. Back to Imus. We can’t take away his life experiences. As a society we rely on live entertainers to use life experience to entertain us in radio/comedy timing is everything. An occasional slip is bound to happen. If we all were judged on every word that came from our mouth we would all be in trouble.

Is everyone insulted by these remarks happy now that these guys are out of a job? Now what about the “culture” that taught those bozos that language and I’m not talking about “white” culture here. “Nappy-headed hos” is black slang for black people and plenty of black recording artists and comics have used it in my recollection.

I hear far worse from what I can make out of the revolting lyrics from rap and hip-hop songs that are all over the radio. Should we be surprised that radio shock jocks listen to the radio and feel free to parrot what they hear? I overhear far worse from the mouths of black teenagers addressing each other in my Harlem neighborhood.

When black people disrespect their own so much and so publically then how can they turn around and cry foul when people whose careers are predicated on provoking commments feel comfortable enough with the language to thoughtlessly do the same? Black “artists” are the true source of these words, not the racism of an old white blowhard who is paid for edgy talk.

Characterizing top athletes and college girls as “hos” is bad enough but, as the shock jocks pointed out – those girls are tough, and I’m sure they’ve heard worse and equally sure that most of them are headed for success anyway. They deserve recognition for their achievements, not for being insulted on the airwaves. What I really can’t bear in this whole thing in Al “Tawanna” Sharpton feeling free to monitor anyone’s speech. Sharpton’s entire career is built on libel. I’ll never forgive Imus and Company for inflicting that particular parasite on us again.

So maybe there should be a handbook for whites on what words are verboten for us to use but part of common discourse among blacks. But didn’t we do away with that “whites only” thing about forty years ago and how far is this speak restriction supposed to go and am I still in America?

I want to thank you. There is commentary on Imus’ remarks all over the Web, up and down, hither, thither, and yon … but until I found your piece I could not for the life of me find a transcript of them that included the words in context. That’s a sad commentary on the snap-response nature of our Internet discourse, and I praise you to the skies for taking the time and showing your readers the respect and honour of providing that vital information.

Amidst all the media coverage this conversation received, very little seemed to delve into the history and usage of the racist words that were spoken.

You, however, help to shed some light on on where these words come from.

I amazed how little people understand that it is not was the speaker meant to say – but how the subject of the speech – and others who also heard these words – interpret their meaning.

Racist language is like second hand smoke. It hurts its target and endangers others who hear it.

I have been watching Imus for about eight years. I haven’t watched every day, but watched at least part of the program on most days, and I will miss him greatly.

Anyone who watched the show regularly knows that Imus is not a bigot. I don’t know why the program often projected such an image, but he was an equal opportunity offender. It was a rather “boys will be boys” locker room mentality, and the humor sometimes made me laugh, but often made me cringe.

He strongly supported former (black) Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. in his bid for the Senate from Tennessee.

His cattle ranch for kids with cancer accepts kids of all races, living under the same roof with him and his family. His support of the Fallen Heroes Fund raised money for a rehabilitation center in San Antonio for our wounded returning veterans, and, of course, all races are helped there.

I learned much about what was going on in Washington, D.C. and the world in an easy and entertaining way from Imus in the Morning, and I will really miss the program. Politics will not be as interesting without him.

I do believe that racial relations would have benefited by keeping him on the air. Once he had “seen the light,” seen how his careless words had impacted these young women, I believe he would have been a force for change — a powerful force. Now, the opportunity is lost. There will be a short dialog, and things will go back to the way they were, minus Imus.

I’m sad about it.