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This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
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Author
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Topic: Don Imus' Radio-Thon
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Pravin Ratnam
Jedi Master Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/1417.jpg)
Posts: 844
From: Atlanta, GA,USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 04-12-2007 01:13 PM
Like I said, I would not have fired him despite my dislike for this guy. But I would not say it was an innocuous comment. The guy has been saying stuff like this on air and in private for a while now. And there is a difference when someone in your own community makes an offtaste joke using a racist term against one's own race. Context does matter. And to a smaller extent, numbers matter too. I think a black racist has more ability to do more harm to a white minority(example: ZImbabwe) with words than a black bigot can do the same with the same words to a white majority, if one is to assume words can hurt. I come from the school where if you use words on me, I will not whine, but then dont complain to the cops when I slug you in the face or complain to someone else if I insult you in a worse way. Obviously Imus is not from that school either. Also I do not think rappers language is a valid analogy.
Rappers these days indulge in a lot of crap. But we got a lot of "extreme" entertainment mostly by white guys and gals in other areas where there is a lot of derogatory stuff against women. Are we going to censor these people just because a national radio host won't be permitted to engage in similar mysogyny? THe difference is also the type of program you are pitching. And you look at Imus's guest list, no wonder he will get scrutiny. You ever wonder why Howard went to satellite and never gets this level of protests from black leaders? There is a lot of racial humor on his show too.
I think Jesse Jackson saying hymietown is a more valid point to compare this to. It's like my jewish friends will make some really bad jewish jokes, but it is different if a non jewish person made a holocaust or nazi related joke on them. I see nothing hypocritical about allowing people from one race to use a racist term on their own terms. And I do not think white people can say it is all in the past. A lot of the people who used these racist terms are still alive now.
FWIW, I was more concerned when Jimmy The Greek got fired. What he said about black slaves and breeding was a little cringeworthy, but I doubt he did it in an intentionally derogatory way. For him to lose his job over some clumsy attempt at explaining a theory was ridiculous. The guy is an old guy. And there were no other examples cites of his past behavior. And it wasn't even a racist statement. Ignorant, possibly, but not racist or even prejudiced. On any of those factors alone, it was an unjustified firing by CBS. and Based on all those factors, it was a very PC decision.
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