Don Imus Suspensions Not Enough
This was by no means the first time talk show host Don Imus had made racist remarks, and in that context his two week-suspension ordered by CBS and MSNBC is not sufficient. I'm not in agreement with civil rights leaders who say Imus should be relieved permanently, but I believe the suspension should be a matter of months, not weeks.
It may be also that advertisers will choose not to buy time on the Imus shows, and that some participants will cancel out, as I read that baseball "iron man" Cal Ripkin has already today.
Those who appear regularly on television or, for that matter, in newspaper or magazine reporting, must be held to a high standard when it comes to making prejudiced remarks. We live at a time when bad behavior toward other ethnic groups has led to a spiraling bloodbath in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. We have to take very strong steps to be sure it does not occur here.
And these racist remarks against the outstanding Rutgers basketball team, which gallantly fought its way through memorable upsets to the No. 2 showing in the NCAA Women's basketball tournament just concluded, come at a time when. for the first time, the U.S. has a black presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, who has a real chance to be elected. We have to be extra careful not to let this period be marked by racist incidents in any form.
Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, pointed out on NBC this morning that MSNBC and many other news outlets these days have no black moderators or anchors. One of the few of these, Soledad O'Brien, is being removed this month as a morning anchor of CNN. Jackson's point about a need for diversity on news, and even comedy, outlets is well taken.
All of us have to be sensitive as Americans to anything that may stir ethnic or racial discord in this country. So to me, it seems that a two-week suspension of Imus, despite all his apologies, is not sufficient by any means.
Imus has received high ratings. Still, these cannot be allowed to be used as a reason to inadequately discipline him for racist remarks.
It may be also that advertisers will choose not to buy time on the Imus shows, and that some participants will cancel out, as I read that baseball "iron man" Cal Ripkin has already today.
Those who appear regularly on television or, for that matter, in newspaper or magazine reporting, must be held to a high standard when it comes to making prejudiced remarks. We live at a time when bad behavior toward other ethnic groups has led to a spiraling bloodbath in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. We have to take very strong steps to be sure it does not occur here.
And these racist remarks against the outstanding Rutgers basketball team, which gallantly fought its way through memorable upsets to the No. 2 showing in the NCAA Women's basketball tournament just concluded, come at a time when. for the first time, the U.S. has a black presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, who has a real chance to be elected. We have to be extra careful not to let this period be marked by racist incidents in any form.
Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, pointed out on NBC this morning that MSNBC and many other news outlets these days have no black moderators or anchors. One of the few of these, Soledad O'Brien, is being removed this month as a morning anchor of CNN. Jackson's point about a need for diversity on news, and even comedy, outlets is well taken.
All of us have to be sensitive as Americans to anything that may stir ethnic or racial discord in this country. So to me, it seems that a two-week suspension of Imus, despite all his apologies, is not sufficient by any means.
Imus has received high ratings. Still, these cannot be allowed to be used as a reason to inadequately discipline him for racist remarks.
Labels: Reporters' Opinions
posted by Ken Reich at 8:25 AM
3 Comments:
If anyone cares to read it, One of our writers on Highbrid Nation actually worked wit Imus over the last few years at WFAN and had some really interesting things to say about the whole situation with Imus and he also has some inside info that the media hasn't mentioned about the whole story.
oh please. After all the hate language you have used to describe people of color in the Arab world--"barbaric" and "bloodthirsty,"etc.--while calling for their annihilation--I find it more than hypocritical that you of all people would call for Imus' suspension to exceed two weeks for his racist remarks about the Rutgers women. At least Imus was joking and used a word common in the hip hop culture in jest, not malevolence. It was stupid and offensive, but he said he was sorry, and he probably was more sincere than I believe you are in this matter.
Mullah Cimoc say do this womens having the tattoo and look like whore? Is truth still defense in usa? ameriki society not free now. this like a stalinism. tv show make woman the power position and beat down the man him so stupid.
this for punish ameriki for iraq war. ameriki woman to boss the man, lesbian control government, this destroy all ameriki for not having the baby but kill abortion all the child.
now the govt force him girl child take the shot for destroy reprodution system. make mandatory law. this only for beneift pharmacutical company.
so sad ameriki destroyed complete for be obedient slave of zionist masters in tel aviv.
stop1984now@yahoo.com
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