OK, we've all sobbed with the Rutgers women and raged at the skies about bigotry...

[Skidmore]

Now what are you going to do about it? When you walk down the street, are you going to meet and greet with only those who look like you? Will you insist that people you associate include the person not like you in the conversation? What type of language will you insist upon from people with whom you converse? What jokes will you think are funny? Will you go to a community meeting where nobody else looks like you and not slink in and out of the door? Will you participate in a community of people who do not look like you? What will you demand of the media in your locality and nationally? What behavior will you engage in and insist upon in the workplace, your place of worship, your school, and your neighborhood? Will you teach your children that they are no better or worse than the color of the skin they inhabit?

[WindRavenX]

1. I'm going to do what I always do

Tell people to read up on the concepts of privileged in society and then think that a privileged white male can use disparaging racial and sexist slurs as a "joke".

[Skidmore]

3. There are many in this world who will never "read up" on anything,

let alone a concept, for any reason. How we live our lives speaks volumes.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Skidmore]

9. There are many modalities in which teaching can occur,

they don't have to all be booklearning. My point is that you sometimes need to crawl before you walk. Like it or not, there are people in this modern society who never pick up books. And this is not about a telling a joke, it is about living differently. In some ways, it is not even about Imus. It is about you, and me, and him, and her, and us, and them. Right now. Here and now we are making history.

[WindRavenX]

11. And that's part of the problem

Of course there are other ways, but you're letting people off the hook awfully easy, imo.

[Skidmore]

16. It is part of the problem, but the net needs to be cast widely and

in shallow waters as well.

[DURHAM D]

2. Frankly, you have come to the wrong location to challenge

people on these issues. Many here have dealt with and pushed back against racism and sexism for 30, 40, 50 years. This is a progressive/liberal site - go elsewhere with your challenge - you are preaching to the choir.

[Skidmore]

4. Sometimes the choir needs to sing louder and on key.

And this is one of those times.

[peacetalksforall]

12. Sorry Durham, you have not read enough of the threads - DUers

are calling for the burying of this issue and weirdely replying only with the point that this goes on at other networks.

Their turn at racism this time is a gift. Instead of just throwing out racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks in general - they targeted specific females.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY to DO SOMETHING.

THis program is brought to us by the Repbublican Party. It is part news and interview. Supposedly, it is part serious. It is also 20 hours of opportunity to smear minorities - just as they stole the votes of minorities.

This has been allowed by GE Microsoft NBC stockholders and a Board of Directors. They have allowed this racism and sexism.

And tons of Duers want to brush it off.

We should thank Al Sharpton for kicking this off.

Those who listened to the press conference, will learn that Rutgers was stunned and overly occupied and perhaps they would have led this if Sharpton hadn't stepped in.

Those who listened will learn from the conference that many in the rest of this country are taking this seriously, as well.

I cannot believe the DUers want to brush this away.

The press conference was a milestone in the history of this country.

[xultar]

22. Have you seen some of the crap posted. Liberals can be racist too.

I think that is what some people need to remember.

[dogday]

5. Sometimes I think, be careful what you ask for

The changes need to come from within, and I don't know how that will happen when everyone is challenging everyone else on each other's words....

My mom used to say Sticks n stones will break your bones, but words can never hurt you....

[jobycom]

7. No one ever learns anything unless they are challenged on their assumptions.

It's the challenges that break the mind out of its cobweb enclosure. What a person does once their mind has been freed is up to them.

Your mom was partly right. Words by themselves will never hurt you. But when a king orders your execution, the words he has spoken can lead to a painful hurt. It isn't the words, it's the power behind the words, and that power can hurt worse than any sticks or stones. So the question is not only what words are being spoken, but is there power behind those words to make them something more than ripples in the air.

Just my thoughts on the matter. Your mom probably knew that, too--I'm not trying to belittle her advice. :)

[dogday]

14. You are talking about a threat or a challenge to danger...

I understand what you are saying, I am just at a loss as to how the changes will come from within... You can tell people they can't say this, but you have not changed the condition that comes from why they said it in the first place...

I think the public humiliation of Imus is good penance... He needs to learn his lesson the hard way.. I think firing him would only enforce what he and others like him think already....

[jobycom]

17. That's not what I was trying to talk about.

I got carried away with my metaphor. :)

What I mean is that when people think see everything a certain way because they are used to it, being shaken out of that mindset is what allows them to change how they see things. People who are saying Imus didn't do anything all that bad, for instance, are having to face people with a much different attitude, and after arguing about it for a while, have their preconceptions shaken up. They have to reform their attitudes. They may just close their minds more, and convince themselves they are right. Or they may completely change from one opinion to another. Neither are the most common reaction, though. Most people will keep their own opinions, but will file away a few details of the other side's POV, and that will begin to change how they see the world. Eventually this leads to a net change in attitudes and assumptions. It does good.

The part about words having power was my attempt to point out that words aren't just words when they have the force of power behind them. If these Rutgers students had been insulted in a bar, the words would sting for a while, but they'd put it behind them. The fact that a national figure like Imus said them is much more potent. Imus can spread his thoughts to millions, and influence many of them through his position. If he serves only a token punishment, his words become more acceptable, and the self-image of the Rutgers team and anyone who feels they should identify with that image becomes weaker, and the courage of those who already think the thoughts that Imus vocalized grows. We move backwards as a nation, closer to a period when those words and attitudes were publicly acceptable.

Imus ahs the power of national influence behind his words. Sticks and stones ain't got nothin' on those words.

[Karenina]

15. My mom always said

What's important is what's IN your head, not what's ON your head. (I had a nappy one).

IT WAS A LIE!

What wasn't ON my head (straight hair) ALWAYS TRUMPED what was IN my head (You're too smart for your own good. NO ONE is gonna listen to you wit yo nappy haid).

[dogday]

18. I am so sorry your mom lied to you nt

[Karenina]

19. I don't blame her

she may have believed and did so with the BEST intentions; All created equal, truth, justice, American Way, content of character and all that.
I woke up 30 years later and got the hell outta Dodge.

[hlthe2b]

8. I'm going to act by example and turn my attention to the horrors

ongoing in our name in Iraq!

Fighting racism, gender bigotry, homophobia or other intolerance is an ongoing fight,that is not at all unrelated to our efforts to address the debacle in Iraq. Religious intolerance and racism-- along with unfettered greed and political corrruption-- has fueled this war and destroyed our standing with the world community. I'd say it is time to broaden our focus--well beyond Imus and the Rutgers athletes.

[madokie]

10. I'll continue with what I always do, pretty much what you say

[Catherine Vincent]

13. What do you think this is? Freerepublic?

Duers do those things anyway. It's the democratic way. :)

[TahitiNut]

21. Some self-appointed 'evangelists' seem to think so.

Gosh, who knew that DU was such a collection of perverts, bigots, and sociopaths deserving of the attentions of enlightened souls taking on the challenge of bringing down fire and brimstone?

Having confronted so many IN REAL LIFE, I sure haven't noticed them hanging around here ... at least not for very long.

Go figure. :shrug:

[jzodda]

20. If I actually listened to Imus (I don't) and was offended I would turn the dial

Really, I am not in a position to preach to people to do anything. I'm not arrogant enough to believe that what I have to say is any more important then anybody else. I can only say what I would do with regards to this whole affair. I don't call for the guy's firing but I call people to speak with their feet. If you were a listener and are offended then stop listening to Imus. If enough people don't listen he gets fired. If people want to forgive and listen to him then thats ok too.

I don't believe in using every event in the news to demand anything out of anybody. Thats a Free Republic thing and has no place here. Re-examine your priorities when you feel the need, and if this event does it so be it but please don't preach.