Imus show suspended due to racial comments

[foodstampchamp 3]

Oh well! There are MORE than two black people that wanted him FIRED!! He should not have said it point blank it does not matter how much "good" he has done! So long sucker!:heh:

There are alot of black people who didn't want him fired either. So who is right?

[foodstampchamp 3]

Oh well! There are MORE than two black people that wanted him FIRED!! He should not have said it point blank it does not matter how much "good" he has done! So long sucker!:heh:

I don't know this for fact but I think Barbara was talking about the one or two people Ie: Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton being the people that wanted him fired. I agree that there are thousands times more black people that wanted him fired. Same goes with thousands more black people that dont' want him fired. I go back to the free speech/protected speech issue. I know some of you don't think this should fall under protected speech but this is the apitome of protected speech. If somone went on the air and said something 100% of the people enjoyed, why would that speech need protected? Free speech was made for this EXACT speech. Show me in the constitution where it says we are to be protected from getting our feelings hurt? I'm not saying anyone should or should not be offended. I'm just saying ya can't go around telling people what they can and can not say. Or what is right or wrong to say. It is not against the law to hurt someone's feelings. IMO you shouldn't try to hurt people's feelings, but you have the right to.

[sheilamj1fan 2]

I believe that the hip hop music culture itself promotes racist and biggoted attitudes in general. And since it does not go out to one individual but many young people in our society it pervasively influences

core values and belief systems. It really bugs me to hear a black man

refer to a woman as a "ho" but if they don't begin to respect women &

women of color, how can we expect cultural views to change?

If you know anything about hip/hop or rap, most of the time it's about one's own struggle. If someone was discriminated against then they'll express it their music and it won't sound like a Bette Midler song. It is oblivious that racism still exists, so you'll continue to hear music that reflects such ignorance. However, there is NO excuse for entertainers to degrade women and add fuel to violence! I am totally against that.

[Persistance 0]

food stamp:

Then why the anti-descrimination law??? There is a limit on what to say or not.

[foodstampchamp 3]

If you know anything about hip/hop or rap, most of the time it's about one's own struggle. If someone was discriminated against then they'll express it their music and it won't sound like a Bette Midler song. It is oblivious that racism still exists, so you'll continue to hear music that reflects such ignorance. However, there is NO excuse for entertainers to degrade women and add fuel to violence! I am totally against that.

I don't know that I agree with "most" of the hip/hop or rap music being about one's own struggles. I believe there is just as much gangster/kill people/slap your ho/i'm a pimp/f---white people hip/hop/rap as their is personal struggles music. There is really no way to know for sure but I do think people are deciding to focus on one or the other without recognizing the other. I happened to have heard some neo-nazi music as well. There is actually a market for that (in my opinion) crap. Obviously not as big a market as hip/hop (which I personally love).

[foodstampchamp 3]

food stamp:

Then why the anti-descrimination law??? There is a limit on what to say or not.

I don't think the anti-descrimination law is what you think it is. I think the law you are talking about is a work place protection thing. I could be wrong, certainly wouldn't be the first time. I take this law to be protection of discrimination from your co-workes/boss/etc......people in your company. Yes there is a limit on what to say in the work place as their should be. We are not talking about what was said by some co-workers.

Antidiscrimination (EEO) Law Information

Personnel actions affecting any term or condition of employment may not be based on an individual's:

• Race
  
• Color
  
• National Origin
  
• Religion
  
• Sex (including pregnancy and childbirth)
  
• Age (40 years or more)
  
• Disability (physical or mental)
  
• Participation in the EEO process
  
• Opposition to employment discrimination

Hostile Work Environment Discrimination (Harassment) is Prohibited

Employees may not be subjected to unwelcome conduct in the course of employment because of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability.

Employees may not be subjected to unwelcome conduct in the course of employment because they have participated in the EEO process or expressed their opposition to employment discrimination.

Retaliation is Prohibited

Participation in the EEO process, and opposition to discrimination are protected activities, therefore employees subjected to harm in the form of adverse employment practices or decisions or harassment have the right to file complaints of discrimination.

Other Personnel Practices Prohibited by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. § 2302) and Executive Order 11478

In addition to the prohibitions contained in Antidiscrimination (EEO) and Whistleblower Protection Laws, under Merit System Principles, no personnel action in the federal government may be based on an individual's:

• Marital Status
  
• Political Affiliation
  
• Sexual Orientation
  
• Conduct not adversely affecting job performance

Reasonable Accommodation for Disability and for Religion

SEC provides reasonable accommodation for employees or applicants with physical or mental disabilities who request it to perform the duties of a position or to participate in the application process.

SEC also provides reasonable accommodation for the religious practices and beliefs of employees and applicants.

Federal Antidiscrimination Laws and Executive Orders

• Civil Rights Act of 1964, §717, as amended
  42 United States Code 2000e -16
  
• Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended by:
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967,
    29 United States Code 631,633a
    
  • Equal Pay Act of 1963,
    29 United States Code 206(d)

  [*]Rehabilitation Act of 1973, § 501

  29 United States Code 791

  [*]Civil Service Reform Act of 1978,

  5 United States Code 2302: Prohibited Personnel Practices

  [*]Executive Order 11478, as amended

[skyeblu79 0]

No, no, YOU have got to be kidding me. Have you seen admission demographics for major universities, heard of affirmative action, read the newspaper, or stepped out of your shelter in the last, oh, 5 or 6 years compared to 15-20 years ago? Didn't think so.

Your nieve optimism is appreciated, but sorely mistaken.

Nope, I sure haven't...I am just going to common sense and the posibilities of that are zelch!! If you find the facts and statistics, please post them. And I am talking about real facts, I don't want any garbage was some white supremacist website.

[skyeblu79 0]

You misread my earlier comments. I did say that Imus blew it when he made it when he made that comment. I also say that he is not a racist and that that wisecrack, though offensive, came from a different place. He was trying, and failing badly, to be hip and humorous. As to individuals whom you mention above, the young white males who purchase rap music, those dudes are Imus's target audience. An examination of his idiotic remark displays that he was talking to dudes: he was commenting on the results of a b-ball game and he used the term ho.

As to how well I know Don Imus, well, I used to listen to Howard Stern's show for a couple of years and I read one of his books. Through studying Stern I gathered that Imus, his only rival, dealt in the same kind of tasteless yet sometimes wildly funny schtick. You see, I do have a frat boy's sense of humour and happen to detest soft rock, middle of the road music.

I didn't misread your comment. I am just disagreeing with you. I think some of yal would have been more offended had he called the young women fat hos...I have listened to Howard Stern before, but I chose not to waste my time on that senselessness.

Not sure how you are relating "the results of a b-ball game" to the term ho. Care to elaborate.

I wouldn't even insult frat boys like this..Most of the ones I know have more sense than to do something like this. People know what's offensive, mean, hateful and what's not. I am sure we have all been offended. If some frat boys walked over and called me a fat whore I would be offended. I am human and have feelings.

[TommyO 5]

Who ever said the reason there is stereotypes is because they are often true, I just want to say as a person of Irish decent I find your statement appalling and disgusting. Coming from a culture that is incorrectly stereotyped as drunks I take offence to any such refference.

To the person who called the co-worker Half Breed, are you simple? Please don't tell me that because you were joking and said you were sorry it's okay. It's even more amazing that you implied that the person you insulted was in the wrong because they remained upset even after your apology.

Oh I'm sorry if you are upset that I called you simple, just kidding

[skyeblu79 0]

Al Sharpton is a racist. Imus is only a guy who made a very foolish mistake.

How is Al Sharpton a racist? He may be prejudice, but I don't see how it's possible for a black male in America to be racist. Define racism. I think you are confused. Not saying I am a Sharpton fan by an means.

People need to understand that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson don't speak for all black America. Al Sharpton didn't make Imus say that crap. Why can't they both be wrong?

[skyeblu79 0]

FAITHMD:

Ridiculous to fire the man????

Let's say he did this while working at a doctor's office or at any other "less public" work place then , Would it be ok to fire him?

If your own daughter was part of this team, would you feel the same way?

Why excuse this kind of behavior? Why not support decency,respect and tolerance?

Yes, we all say stupid things because we all are humans.I know that if I say something like this I will get fired. YOU would get fired too.

The sad part is that we "get used to" vulgarity, racism and hate.

Please, as women we need to support each other, white, black, asian, hispanic.... darn it, as women we have enough to worry about: family,periods,cancer,work,ageing, weight and so on....

Exactly!! That's exactly why we can't get anywhere as a human race b/c we don't support each other.

I just got a flash back of A Time to Kill When Mathew McCanaughey (sp) asked the jurors to imagine it was a white child....

[foodstampchamp 3]

Who ever said the reason there is stereotypes is because they are often true, I just want to say as a person of Irish decent I find your statement appalling and disgusting. Coming from a culture that is incorrectly stereotyped as drunks I take offence to any such refference.

To the person who called the co-worker Half Breed, are you simple? Please don't tell me that because you were joking and said you were sorry it's okay. It's even more amazing that you implied that the person you insulted was in the wrong because they remained upset even after your apology.

Oh I'm sorry if you are upset that I called you simple, just kidding

I am absolutely not upset that you called me simple. I think my not giving way to the possibility that he would be offended is simple. Like I said in the story, I felt awful. I do not think that the fact he remained to be upset is wrong. I think the fact that he kept coming over and getting in my face is wrong. If he hates me for the rest of his life and has me cursed on his gravestone I don't think he is wrong. I just said there is nothing else I could do about it and he shouldn't keep the argument going for hours on end. Is there something else I could have possibly done. Once I said it I couldn't take it back. All I could do is apologize. I guess I could have gone to rehab or resigned from my position or killed myself. Obviously those are rediculous suggestions. But what can I do short of not saying it again and apologizing? Trust me, I am called midget, half-breed, told I should stay home and pump out some kids like a good wife, etc........just because I laugh at bieng poked fun at doesn't mean everyone should. I absolutely never said because I was joking and apologized that it was ok. What more do YOU suggest I do? Also, have you ever said anything in your life to someone as a joke and it didn't go over well and you wished you could take it back? I don't know you, but I'm guessing the answer is yes.

[skyeblu79 0]

I can't speak about the Labour Laws in the US but in Canada that sort of statement is grounds for dismisal. If I make a sexist or racist remark at work and someone overhears me they can lodge a complaint and I can be fired. Saying sorry is not a defense even if the individual who was affected accepts my apology.

Not firing Imus could lead to further litigation, I would feel strongly that CBS and MSNBC did the due diligence required and decided that the safest course of action was termination.

Freedom of speach is protected in the US constitution, freedom from sexism and racism in the work place is also protected. Imus is unemployed because he said what he said at work.

Thank you TommyO...What would that have said about CBS and MSNBC had they not fired him? I would have taken it as they were supported this idiot.

[foodstampchamp 3]

Al Sharpton didn't make Imus say that crap. Why can't they both be wrong?

You are absolutely right about Al Sharpton not making Imus say what he said. But Al Sharpton will jump on anything he can to get his stupid face on television. And actually Al Sharpton being a race-bating media whore isn't really the issue here. Al Sharpton does not get to decide what people say. Just like we cannot decide what dip-sh-- Sharpton says. But if you had to go through the 35 years worth of Imus shows and the thousands of press conferences that Sharpton has done, who would you say is closer to inciting a race war? I for one think it is Sharpton.

[skyeblu79 0]

PS: If there are any current women's studies or African-American studies majors out there, please assist me. It's been many many years since I was called on to delve back into basic race/society studies. Thanks!

Sunta you have pretty much said everything..Good read. I have a BA in History and I took tons of African, AA, European, and Latin history. I wish I some of my stuff here from my American Minorities class. More people should open their minds.