Tuesday, April 10, 2007

DON IMUS SHOULD BE SHAMED AND HECKLED.... BUT NOT SILENCED

So shock-jock Don Imus is in the hot seat for referring to a women's collegiate b-ball team as a bunch of "nappy headed hos." And some in the black community have lined up to take their cues from the likes of Jesse Jackson and (insert heavy sigh and eye-roll here) Al Sharpton to demand Imus be fired and never be allowed to broadcast again. But that would be a mistake.
As dimwitted and racist as Imus' comments may have been, he has a right to speak his opinion. He has a right to spark debate. And for a few equally dim self-appointed activists to demand he be silenced is unAmerican and only serves to build an argument that their illconceived diatribes be silenced also. That's the way it is in America, guys... we all have a constitutional right to say what's on our minds. .... It's right there in the First Amendment. And let's understand that the purpose of that right to not to protect those who utter words that everyone wants to hear, rather, it is to protect those who utter words that are disturbing and unpopular - even if they are considered racist or sacrilegious or foment political and social dissent. In effect, the same law that protected Martin Luther King, Jr. and allowed him to speak out against racism and poverty and unequal protection of the law in cities like Montgomery, Selma and Atlanta is the same one that should protect the words spoken by Don Imus..... Granted, comparing Imus' words to King's is akin to comparing Bugs Bunny to Winston Churchill, but it's not the message that has value here, it's the right to convey the message, no matter how unpopular it may be. For it is from unpopular ideas that social and political revolutions are born.... King's words were wildly unpopular with the ruling class in Selma, Montgomery and everywhere else, yet the truth he spoke and the debate he sparked could not be ignored.... If Imus is silenced and anyone else whose words offend us or make us uncomfortable is silenced, then where can such a policy end except in universal censorship and an end to the freedom of fresh ideas.

10 comments:

jcinsby said...

Bravo. I couldn't have said it better. I think everyone is a little too sensitive these days. If everyone could learn to laugh at themselves, it would be a much nicer place.

Historical Wit said...

Uh Richy, they infact are not hos. Some are pre-med students, some are sociologist, all are student athletes with atleast a 2.75 GPA. And tats designate a person as a thug? what about all those bad 90's tats of roses and sunshine? Do those make those people thigs? Of cousrse not. Corn rows make you a criminal? Dude of all people who have been sterotyped, you should know better. How did it feel before you lost weight and people used to discriminate against you because of your weight? Say what you like about Sharpton, he is a public figure and can take it, but these girls accomplished one of the greatest cinderella stories ever and it was ruined by this moment. Then people like you seem to want to hang an image on these girls that you dont know. Stop judging a book by it cover.

And rappers are entertainers, they are open to critism about what they say in lyrics, these girls never solictied this, they never acted anything less than gracious, even in defeat to Tenn. They are student athletes, not rappers trying to say inflammatory things to sell records. They have nothing in common.

RAT said...

Wow, Richard. Are you sure you went to university, I mean, even for two years? The reason I ask is your response to Wit's comments... they betray both an ignorance of sociology and a racism that some might say marks you as one of those dumbass sheet-wearing motherfuckers from up in Cecil County..... Nevertheless, it's a free country and if you want to hold yourself out as being more stupid than you picture already makes you look, well, that's your right.

Historical Wit said...

Hey dipshit, they are not hos. as much as you want them to be so your shitty argument can make some sense, they are students and student althlets on scholarships at that. That alone says they have enough brains not to be whores working a street corner. WTF? Do you think this about EVERY black or white girl you meet with a tat or corn rows? What a waste of sperm you were.

RAT said...

Calm down, Wit.

Anonymous said...
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RAT said...

Richard;
I don't believe I've ever before met anyone as resolutely stupid as you appear to me. ...and your head is looking mighty nappy too.... as to your lame-ass attempts at logic... well, I can see why you flunked out of school. And that means those 'nappy-headed hos' to which you refer are still better than you.... you can call them names because of their hairstyles and the fact they may give away free pussy, but I think the real problem is that they ain't giving any of it to you.

Anonymous said...

Hey Turd,

I think I may be getting booted from Duvafiles. My comment was not posted, yet.

If I am so disgraced, I will have to announce my decision, as I did at Albero's blog, to no longer post comments at Duvafiles.

This will most likely come as a relief to many people.

I'm just trying to do some analysis here, Turd. Good grief!

Turd, do you really think I have nappy hair? It is somewhat even and centered, isn't it?

RAT said...

Richard:
nothing about you is "centered and even."

Anonymous said...

DogTurdInThePark,

I almost didn't see it, but the right honorable Joseph Albero put a post up concerning my exodus from Duvafiles.

Folks, I was just about to announce on the "Integrity Matters Only Sometimes" blog that I would no longer post comments on Duvafiles, but Albero BEAT ME TO IT!

You see, Duva didn't even have the integrity to post the following comment as a follow up to an, apparently, offensive comment which he also chose not to post:

"Henceforth, let it be known throughout the Wicomico Wasteland and beyond!

It is with some regret that Outraged Richard shall no longer post comments on the website known generally as "duvafiles".

Some will swoon, some will sigh, others will go on a holy roll of thankfulness.

It matters not. The Outraged One will continue on despite his numerous setbacks!

Farewell, dear friends and detractors!"

I was intending to post the above comment here on Turd's blog as a matter of public record(and so I have), since it is a widely read blog of local circulation.

ROTFLMAO!

At least Albero allowed me to post a farewell comment to his blog on his blog many moons ago, and therefore he is to be commended.

For that, and his recent posting, Albero is a right honorable gentleman and someone I could have a beer with.

But Duvall! Oh, Duvall! You are a classless gentleman you diapered, insolent, old hag.

Keep putting that pic up, Albero, of Duvall at his finest: a broken, confused, lump of a man!

ROTFLMAO!