How does a non-issue go from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye so much so that it is elevated to the status of national conscience issue by which we judge ourselves and our progress from the days of separate lunch counters and back-seat bus rides? How can we take the comments of a radio personality who is more about entertainment than hard news so seriously when he is actually more familiar to us in the “shock jock” genre than in serious news and talk radio?
Ok. I am among those who barely knew Don Imus existed before his unfortunate comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team, so it is easy for me to dismiss the “crisis” as “not really one” as it is easy for me to dismiss Mr. Imus as insignificant. If his {former} show was even carried in this market, I was never aware even though I am a regular listener to the talk radio that is available in this particular market. How can it be, then, that I barely know anything about Don Imus except for what is now being offered by almost every other radio and TV news personality, every political commentator, and even every wanna-be writer (myself included)?
Is this a free speech issue that some insist upon? Not exactly because even free speech has its limitations such as yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre. And besides this, Mr. Imus was employed by sponsors and news media outlets that were actually paying for the air time so if there was a violation of any kind, it was Mr. Imus who did the violating by polluting the air that was actually paid for by others.
The comment made by Mr. Imus should have cost him his job. It was crude and considering the political climate which currently exists, he could not have reasonably believed that he would be allowed to get away with it. I do not believe he had any right to say what he said because his comments were inflammatory and derogatory and were directed at a group of young women who did nothing but compete in an athletic contest. If they did or said anything that might have provoked such a comment, no one is talking about it.
Even if we grant that Mr. Imus had a right to say what he said, it must also be acknowledged that with rights come not only opportunities but also responsibility. Mr. Imus was careless and irresponsible with his comment. He is also paying a price. Give Mr. Imus a little credit, however. Even as such derogatory comments have been attributed to him in the past that he was called on to which he reportedly responded that we should “get over it”, he took the time to apologize to the young women whom he had insulted. Given his past, he really didn’t have to. It was his choice, and it was the right choice. Now, though, I have a problem with one of the young women who suggested that she may have been scarred for life. Puh-leeeeze.
But what about the “gangsta” culture that some are suggesting may have been a contributory factor to this whole mess? For pity’s sake, some rappers are being given awards for the use of such derogatory language that is in some circles considered to be artistic expression! When such comments are elevated in such a way, are we then to believe that such expressions have been legitimized? Is Mr. Imus such a fan of this culture that it has begun to influence the way he thinks?
Not even close. Even if Mr. Imus and so many others might try to suggest that the prevalence of such language grants to them certain license to use it and even if we try to suggest that we have been influenced by such a culture, we still must acknowledge that we have minds of our own and will rise or fall by our own choices regardless of how and by whom we may have been influenced. Just as such comments are, in my opinion, careless and irresponsible, so is trying to weasel out of accountability by suggesting that “the devil made me do it”.
Of course no written commentary that involves racism is complete without an obligatory acknowledgement of the contributions of certain civil rights watchdogs as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and I’ve done that by simply acknowledging that they had a hand in the uproar. Their comments and opinions, however, are irrelevant. They will each do and say whatever they choose to do and say and they certainly each have their own rights just as I have mine, but I believe that the interests they are seeking to protect are their own. Just witness their profound silence in the aftermath of the Duke University fiasco.
In the words of that great 20th century philosopher, Rodney King, can’t we just get along?
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