Imus says a lot of things that some people might be offended by. He makes fun of virtually every religious and ethnic group and many individuals in a similar manner. Part of the entertainment value of the show requires that you know and understand that he will be pushing the envelop in that area. Most of his listeners are intelligent enough to "get it". It's understood that it's all a joke.
I don't think the kind of reaction he is getting is appropriate. In fact, I think people like Sharpton, Jackson and some others on the left that are trying to destroy him right now are monumentally more dangerous to society than a guy that tells off color and offensive jokes.
I'm all for those guys expressing their point of view on the show and any other issue that comes up on public radio or TV. Then we can all decide for ourselves by agreeing and changing the station/channel or not.
The difference is that if I or anyone else thinks Jessie and Rev Al are unprincipled shake down artists that are more concerned about advancing their own self interests than they are the interests of those that they supposedly represent, I can't destroy them (though believe me I wish someone could or would).
They, on the other hand, now have limited control over the free speech and entertainment choices of others because it appears that most of corporate America and most US politicians are a bunch of pussies!! They are all afraid to just come out and say it may have been in very bad taste, but IT WAS A JOKE and did not represent his view/the station's view on the girls or anything else.
The new tactic (especially from the left, but the right is no bargain either) is to create a socially acceptable and politically correct point of view on an issue and then destroy anyone that disagrees. We see it when it comes to humor, global warming, and other areas of politics and social issues. Personally, I like to hear everything from everyone no matter how extreme the point of view and no matter how offensive it might be.
Never in my life have I agreed with Rosie O'Donnell on anything, but she's right about this one. |
