I'm guessing everyone already knows that Don Imus has been dropped by MSNBC and CBS radio, by now, for calling the Rutgers women's basketball team a bunch of "nappy headed hos."
Nothing about this feels right.
Now, before I go on, let me say that I don't mind being flamed. I just don't want to be flamed for A) defending Don Imus or what he said, B) ignoring the effect of his words on the innocent victims, the young women who nearly won the national championship, C) "knee-jerk" reacting to "defend a liberal" (Imus is not a liberal, but it makes no difference, anyway, the media is calling him one), D) "insensitive" to racism, E) ignoring an ongoing pattern of "hate speech" by Imus, F) I don't acknowledge the advertiser's right to stop spending their money to advertise on his show or, G) I somehow "support" "hate radio."
I'm not doing any of those things.
It's just that I've always believed in this: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." I still believe in that.
So, let's agree on something. What Imus said was wrong. Even he admits it. He was fired, anyway. (Part of what bothers me is that this seems to reinforce the Bushie/RW MO of "never admit you're wrong, make them prove it." Bush hasn't been fired.)
People make mistakes. It's when they won't acknowledge that what they did was wrong that I get bent out of shape.
Pat Robertson asks his listeners to pray for the deaths of SCOTUS judges. He's never apologized. He's still on the air, presumably because he owns the station. Do we live in a country where owning the station allows you to say anything you want, but being an employee means your words are under the owner's control?
Ann Coulter called John Edwards a "faggot" at a "conservative" convention. She lost some advertisers, but she's still spewing her hatred, particularly on her website, which she presumably pays for. Ann's never apologized. The "conservatives" still buy her books, and I'd be shocked if she doesn't show up at another one of their conventions.
Rush Limbaugh's list of offenses is long, from calling Donovan McNabb a "token negro" (not Rush's words, but his meaning was clear enough, although I guess he got fired for that one) to calling Chelsea Clinton a dog, to making fun of Michael J. Fox, to...it's a long damned list and I'm not going to go through it all here. Rush has never apologized, and he's still on the air. Presumably because he controls "the EIB network."
"Never admit you did something wrong" prevails.
Alright, so that's three, and there are plenty more: Howard Stern's a "shock jock." John Stewart and Bill Maher sure don't hold back their contempt for "certain people." Glenn Beck's always spouting off about muslims, and he's mild compared to Bill Orally. Remember Jerry Falwell blaming gays and abortion for the attacks of 911? Hell, that's nothing. We're actually holding elections to legalize bigotry against gays. (Disclaimer: I am not gay, but bigotry, including Imus' bigotry, pisses me off.) And if you think gays have it bad, listen to what wing-nut radio has to say about muslims, here in the land of "freedom of religion." Better yet, read Michelle Malkin, some time. Now there's a freaky chick. (Yeah, I know, I'm fired for being a misogynist. I'll get over it, since I don't get paid a damned dime for posting.)
The list of people who say things that someone, somewhere might find objectionable just goes on and on. There's "fat jokes", and "dee dee dee" jokes and midget jokes and "blonde jokes" and...ask the mother of a "mentally challenged" child if she thinks "retard" jokes are funny.
If this seems disjointed, or like it's not driving toward any point, reread the second sentence. "Nothing about this feels right." I don't know what the hell is going on, here, but I can't help but ask myself, "where does 'freedom of speech' end?", when did "my right to change the channel" get replaced by "my right to get someone fired", and "who's next?"
Michael Wienersavage got fired for this.
http://www.timbuk3.com/WeinersFireLine.movBill Orally? He can do shit like this, shouting down the son of a WTC victim, and Fox just keeps him on "because he brings in the ratings."
http://www.timbuk3.com/glick.mp3Will someone be fired for making a joke about bald guys? What if it's a guest on their show that makes the joke, and they don't "severely chastise" them quickly enough? Do some people have "more free speech" than others?
I dunno. I can't wrap this post up because I don't get it. The "liberals" who have been calling for Imus' head sound too much like the "pro-capital punishment" crowd from my perspective, saying no matter how much he apologizes, how sincere he is, some "crimes" just can't be forgiven.
I'm not defending Imus. I could care less about him, personally. Give him a bottle of water, he looks all dried up, to me. (Oh, shit, can I get fired for that?) But then there's this: "sticks and stones may break my bones, but I have 3 fucking remotes next to my easy chair and I can change the channel when someone pisses me off with their stupidity." (Oh, shit, can I get fired for saying "fucking"? I already know I'd get a big fine if I show too much skin.)
I'd love it if Rush and Ann would just shut the fuck up. It's just that I've never thought it was my "right" to "make them."
I'm afraid this could have a chilling effect on who can say what on the air. Or maybe it's that it might have a temporary "chilling" effect on public racism, but not really anything else, and after it all blows over we'll go back to "business as usual", which means hate speech of practically any kind is perfectly acceptable, as long as it's not aimed at "nappy headed hos".
Let the flaming begin, I suppose, but if anyone understood what I just said (I'm not even sure I did, so goodonya) I'd appreciate some constructive criticism, too.
Believe me, I'm not "taking a stand", I'm trying to decide if "we" just "won", or "lost". Since I'm not perfect, I'm sure I pissed someone off.