This is a sad day for America. Reminds me of The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. Brian De Palma made a movie of it in 1990 starring Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis. Check it out.

Francesca, I live with myself just fine because I respect others, do not insult them for their thoughts and ideas, and know how to conduct myself in a civilized discussion.

What you are saying IS a double standard! Perfect illustration.

The most exasperrating pink elephant in all of this is the fact that if some self-righteous self-appointed nurse ratchet like Sharpton doesn’t like terms like “nappy headed hos”-gee hold black pop culture accountable!!!!! Where on earth do you think a white person would’ve heard these terms?! He was referencing Spike Lee for Christ sake-I wish someone would take the self-important Lee to task for once. But then that would be clearly logical and fair, and we couldn’t go after white liberals who are already drowning in guilt and apologies. Such are about as easy targets for vindictive sadists as Britney Spears is for Avril Lavigne.

Anyone else noticing that we’re having to throw some independent thinker to a P. C. mob out for blood every couple of months? First Gibson, then Richards, most recently Isaiah Washington and now Imus.

Why cant it be someone like Rosie O’Donnell, for once. Are we being chivalrous? For once I wouldn’t object. I never listened to Imus, but I heard he was actually kind of a hard left bully-a la Rosie O’Donnell-so maybe this is good karma, but still I don’t like where we’re heading, and these comments make me worry about how docilely we’re accepting all these thought police encroachments.

I was raised and taught that all were created equal, my parents instilled a deep belief in me about the equal rights of all humans. But lately, the continous reverse racism that is not only so prevalent but seen as a GOOD thing has started to turn my stomach. Imus is in my book not the best radio personality, but considering the thousands of hours he has been on the air.. this is a storm in a teacup. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. A white man can’t say a fraction of the racial generalisations a black man can get away with.

Unfortunately, the inequalities that exist in this country are such that there is nothing left but to pick a side. And equal rights is not an option. I can’t see myself be Anti-anything… BUT i have definately turned PRO-White… And i refuse to see why this would be any worse than being Pro-Black. Pro-Martian or anything else.

I never said anything about censorship. I do not support censorship in any form and I do not agree with Sharpton or Jesse Jackson in that regard. I do not believe Imus should have been fired for what he said. Sharpton and Jackson would have rap artists remove derogatory words from their work. I do not support this either. There is a reason for the use of those derogatory terms in rap that dates back to the rap group NWA. Country artists do not use those derogatory words because they are simply not a part of their experience. It would be dishonest for them to include such words in their art. I believe the truth is that Imus’ statement was part of his experience but he wouldn’t admit it. It is pretty simple. If you have experienced racism or if you are a racist, these words are part of your experience. If you have not, these words aren’t in your vocabulary. Thanks for the dialogue, Cindy.

There is a world of difference between what rap artsts rap about and what Imus jokes about. There just isn’t a word of difference. Rap is art (even if you don’t like it). Imus is commentary (or joking as he would have you believe). Rap is an expression of experience. Was Imus expressing his experience? Does he know the Rutgers team? Imus zeroed in on a group of women, college educated women, women who had just achieved greatness, and made it clear that in his eyes, no matter what they achieved, they would never be equal. It was a mistake that he could have recovered from. Imus could have turned this around had he been honest. He should have talked about how these racial prejudices were a part of his early years (nappy hasn’t been used since the early 60′s), how he knows it is wrong but how difficult it is to grow beyond those early stereotypes we are taught. Instead, he got defensive. That is the biggest difference between Imus and rap artists. Artists are honest and stand behind what they write. Imus has not been honest.

Why is Imus apologizing to Sharpton? He ought to be speaking to the girls on the basketball team that he offended.

I suspect that Sharpton is trying to set himself up as, “defender of Black America” at Imus’s expense. Meaning if you want the black vote you will have kiss Sharptons butt to get it. Won’t work because his mouth is just way to abrasive.

On CNN Sharpton hinted around at replacing Imus with an “all black program”. Well get the ratings then Al…..but ya can’t so it won’t happen. You could probably get a show on BET Al, but you don’t want that do ya?!

It’s a sad mess all around.