There are tears in these eyes tonight

[madokie]

I think this imus thing will snowball into some serious outrage about the other foul mouthed bigoted people on the air waves like the biggest gas bag of all, russ limbaaugh who I want to see gone first over any of the other lying no good sob's whether male female black white yellow brown I don't care, I'm just sick of hearing them or reading about their, to me, treasonous asses, spouting off their trash talk. If we take that one thing, hate radio, out of our every day life we wouldn't have to worry about ever having any more sorry politicians like we have today, and I might add we have many on both side of the isle. Yes theres tears in these old eyes, tears for hoping that American's are finally waking up to what is happening in our world, to our children and grand children's future. I guess it can be said these are tears of joy, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Horse with no Name]

1. Amen my friend.

Btw..OT...how are you these days?

[madokie]

35. Loving life. we just had our first grand daughter last week so we are busy spoiling

both our grand daughter and her mother. I just won't have it any other way

[MadBadger]

2. Im sorry but...

I dont think this will change anything at all. It is sad, but I think just like Michael Richards, this will blow over, be forgotten about and that is a shame.

[peacetalksforall]

12. There is no comparison to Richards - Richards didn't have a show.

Richards became unended independently of corporations sponsoring him and paying. Correct me if I'm wrong. I understood he was just living his personal life and went off.

This is the start for those who are bringing a salary and who have sponsors.

It's time for the next move to get them to stop with the racism-sexism. Especially when it is targeted at non-politicians. Supposedly, politicians are fair game. Maybe it doesn't have to be, either.

[MadBadger]

14. I understand what you are saying

but I think this will just be forgotten.

[frogcycle]

27. it may not be a 180 degree turn, but

it WILL have an effect.

remember when Howard Kosell got canned from MNF for his (probably) innocent remark about a running back?

A lot of people pulled back a bit in what they were willing to say, and it stuck. Perhaps it is only "political correctness", but I think sensitivity did increase a tad.


that is, the assholes started holding back because they thought they had to, and the rest of us did some soul-searching and said "gee, I guess I COULD inadvertently offend - I should think"

[frogcycle]

29. so last night

faux was rambling on (o'rally) about how nbc sells hate, that they are enablers of it. Tonight they are slamming nbc for canning imus, saying "where will it end? I want my free speech"

[MadMaddie]

3. Amen, Amen, Amen...

And don't forget the possible down stream impacts...

If the WH does not have it's unofficial treasonous propaganda mouthpieces in place.....they lose their ability to spread their lies and propaganda.

[bdamomma]

21. right on, and you know these RW hacks just spew up everything

the * regime wants them to say. remember that time, when bush met with the RW radio hosts in WH. you know they are doing the dirty work for this wicked administration.

[Birthmark]

4. I think it will have the opposite effect...

...if it has any effect at all. Imus was a poor choice of target and his infraction relatively small. I expect that there will be some backlash toward the overly-sensitive.

[MadMaddie]

18. I guess if you are talking about all of the mothers, fathers

who have daughters in college who may be athletes, or the girls playing highschool sports, or the little girls playing pee wee soccer....

I don't know...maybe you are right maybe the families are being overly sensitive. :sarcasm:

It's not just a an issue about black women...it's about American women in general.

[Birthmark]

20. Nah, the real issue is political correctness

This has given those that complain the loudest about "PC" some powerful ammunition. Their line of attack will be that Don Imus, who has raised tens of millions of dollars to charitable causes and has a ranch for sick children (with a good many of them from minorities) was run off the air and painted as a racist over a joke gone awry. Run off the air by the same people that had no problem with John Kerry's joke gone awry. That line of attack will probably be successful with a good segment of the American populace.

That's my opinion. But those who want to believe that this is the start of some Golden Age are free to hold that opinion.

[MadMaddie]

26. I don't think it's the start of some Golden age...I think that if you

couple the reaction to this (by the way it wasn't just Black America that was offended, and that seems to get lost in the conversation) but the Nov 06 election cycle and Congress trying to reign in the administration....There's more going on here than Imus....

[Birthmark]

28. I wish you all the luck in the world.

[fooj]

5. People have had it with hate-filled vitriol!

Rush won't be able to keep his mouth shut for long...

His days are numbered, as well.

[madokie]

33. I truly think we have turned a corner for the good

[knowbody0]

6. enlightenment is a wondrous thing

peace

[Madspirit]

7. I do think

I do think people are getting tired of the filth they spew.
Lee

[MonkeyFunk]

8. I'm glad MSNBC fired him

but part of me recognizes that this is really small potatoes, to let us THINK something's really being done about racism.

Somewhere today in America, a kid was called a nigger. Somewhere today, a woman didn't get a job interview because the name on her resume was Janicqua instead of Janice. Somewhere today, a black kid got a bad grade for writing a rap instead of a sonnet in English class.

And today, the 9th Ward in New Orleans is still in shambles.


Yeah, I'm glad this is getting addressed, but it's really so unimportant compared to the real issues.

[Morgana LaFey]

32. Are you SERIOUS???

Yeah, I'm glad this is getting addressed, but it's really so unimportant compared to the real issues.

First, thanks so very much for ignoring the SEXISM in Imus's remarks. The targeted women got it, I don't know why everyone else has such fucking difficult time recognizing the rank SEXISM of it all.

Second, what on earth do you mean -- are you suggesting that those "somewhere" examples are MORE IMPORTANT than Imus's remarks? And that we should ignor Imus's remarks in favor of trying to do something about the other racism instead?

I hope not, because it's Imus's remarks that help create, foster, promote the racism and racist acts you cite. And sexism, but that's invisible to you, of course. It's all one long, seamless fabric. The people who are racist enough to do those things, are empowered by racist talk from the likes of Imus. You CANNOT SEPARATE Imus's remarks from the examples you cite. You just can't.

[MonkeyFunk]

34. Sorry to offend you

and I certainly had no intent to disregard the sexism involved.

As I said, I'm glad MSNBC fired him for his ridiculous comments. My point, however poorly expressed, was that we shouldn't take too much satisfaction from this, thinking we've actually done something about racism.

I was trying to express my feelings about addressing surface issues of racism, and not the underlying problem.

Honestly, I don't feel that Don Imus is any more racist than most Americans. I think he said something horrible, and he's being punished for it.

But we're having a bigger discussion over THIS instance of racism than we had about the national response to Katrina, and I think that's an unfortunate situation.

[Morgana LaFey]

38. Okay, sorry I misunderstood your point

altho now you've said some OTHER things I disagree with and have to smack you about. :spank:

My point, however poorly expressed, was that we shouldn't take too much satisfaction from this, thinking we've actually done something about racism.

Well, I actually do. We've made it a HUGE national discussion. Some people will stay racist, some people will let go of some of their racism and realize , "Yeah, it was hurtful to these young women who'd done nothing but work real hard," and so forth. I think it's a GOOD thing and things like this lead to more things like this (tho not necessarily identical). And you'd better be damned sure it taught Imus a thing or three.


Honestly, I don't feel that Don Imus is any more racist than most Americans.

He's 600% more racist than I am, and I do admit to residual racism being white growing up in a thoroughly racist society. And he's about 600% more racist than any of my friends. "MOST Americans"? I have no way of knowing, but many, many Americans are less racist than Imus. And even some of the ones who aren't know better than to take their racism public.

But we're having a bigger discussion over THIS instance of racism than we had about the national response to Katrina, and I think that's an unfortunate situation.

No, I don't think that's true either. Katrina was significant enough -- and quite obviously and clearly racist enough to many Americans -- to start Bush's downfall. People were HORRIFIED by what went on with Katrina, and many were changed forever.

But we can disagree about these things. Thanks for your post.

[MonkeyFunk]

44. ouch!

I think the discussion was great. I have always said the response to offensive speech is more speech, not censorship. So I'm glad the discussion is taking place.

I don't know how racist Don Imus is, but he said something trying to be funny (and shocking) and failed. I'm guilty of it, too. I can't judge whether or not it reflects his true feelings. But I think it IS possible to try to use that term in a humorous sense, and fail at it, without necessarily being racist to the core. As I said, I have no way of knowing.

As to the last point, that's where we disagree. There WAS in fact a big discussion over the response to Katrina, but very little of it focused on racism per se. And as I mentioned in my earlier post, there IS a lot of racism that goes unaddressed, and undiscussed in our society. Did you read about that fascinating study where they sent resume's (sorry, I don't have easy access to accent marks on my laptop) to companies? They sent the same exact resume, but some would have names like LeCharles Brown and others would have names like Taylor Robinson. Taylor got a lot of interviews, LeCharles didn't. To me, THAT'S a much bigger issue, in real terms, than the Imus outrage. But that study got no media attention.

And thank you for your kind response.

[wisteria]

9. No, this will snowball into more resentment against Blacks and

infringe on our rights to free speech. It is also a step closer to censorship.

There are tears in my eyes too, but not because I am happy Imus was fired. It was the wrong thing to do.
Bullying people to try to get them to understand diversity and different cultures will never amount to no good.

No one else will go anywhere. The real haters, Limbaugh, Coutler and Savage will remain safe.
This is a win for Fox News who orchestrated this whole thing along with Sharpton.

This is bad news, not good news.

[partylessinOhio]

19. Very bad news. Don't be so willing to surrender any of our rights.

Imus is gone in a week for repeating words made common and every day by Black rappers. Bush who stole the presidency is protected by a fortress.

What is wrong here?

[MadMaddie]

23. Wisteria...you say this will spur more resentment against blacks.

When Katrina hit and the pictures of blacks pleading for help were ridiculed by the MSM and people across this country because, the storm victims they showed were blacks in need...that seemed to stir up resentment because the blacks were poor and were unable to get out...(it was their fault for being poor they said)

So the Rutgers womens basketball team makes it to the big dance the final two....and because they were athletic and agressive basketball players-Who by the way did absolutely nothing wrong and were ridiculed for being successful athletic women? (Apparantly that stirred resentment)

We need to face the fact that Americans- women, miniorities, non-repulicans, gays and the list goes on have been under constant attack by this administration and the Imuses, Limbaughs and Coulters of the hate monger machine. Racism is alive and well under this administration and it's propaganda mouthpieces.

There's something else, it wasn't just Black America raising their voices-it was all of America. So let the Limbaughs and Coulters continue with their rantings...America is sick of them and they will go the way of Imus....What's the saying...."You have to start somewhere"

One last thing....Bullying people to get them to undertand diverity is one thing but holding people accountable for their words and actions are something else. That's what this is about....Accountability...

:rant:

[Grandrose]

31. More resentment against Blacks????????

Excuse me, but that was what this was about. Seems to me this should have happened years ago and the real haters (as you so properly mentioned) should be next.

I want real action taken against the recording industry with regard to the rappers, they upset me even more since I am a AA woman! Reverends Jackson & Sharpton have been consistent on this matter, they were not the ones attacking the young ladies. Do not let Imus sympathizers and enablers change the subject.

Finally, it was the advertising and corporate greed that did the trick! NBC could case less about what African Americans think, else Imus would have been gone a long time ago.

This is good news whenever a racist/bigot is booted! :applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :evilgrin:

[johnaries]

10. "Hate Radio". Yes, that should be our meme.

It's not "talk readio", it's not "conservative radio", it's HATE radio - plain and simply. It's been shown time and time again, from racist remarks to making fun of Micheal J Fox's diesease.

Just as hate speech is not protected free speech and should not be tolerated, neither should hate radio be tolerated.

[TahitiNut]

15. I think of it as "Bigot Broadcasting" (courtesy of the GOP)

:shrug: It's more than just radio.

[johnaries]

17. That's a good one, too!

Tahiti, you're such a nut!
:hi:

[madokie]

39. its trash talk and it has infiltrated our every entertainment venue

I'm ready for a change and I believe most Americans are too. The ones calling everybody else traitors are the real traitors and we all know who they are and they know they are too, just don't have the cajones admit it.

[bdamomma]

22. yes, it is hate radio, they slander everyone, I can understand

criticism or constructive criticism, but when it turns off color, that is when a warning should be initiated. I don't know I was taught never to make fun of other people, and to respect people whatever color, religion or sex they are.

[Digit]

11. Me, too...I am tired of hate filled talk show hosts

If you give me thoughtful discourse, that is another thing.

Get rid of the likes of Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck and others.
Some of them even propose assasination. That has no place on our airwaves.

[lonestarnot]

13. Damn I wish it were true! Wipe 'em dry madokie, it was only a cruel hoax.

Keep fighting.

[madokie]

40. The fight is only now beginning

meaning I can see a light now that I couldn't see before. People are talking now so all we have to do is keep them enraged and engaged, keep feeding the fire so to say. after all it is all about the future of our country and what we're leaving the generations to come. yes the fight has only begun and we're already winning. one isn't many but its a 100 percent more than none. ;-)

[bridgit]

16. spank & then unplug right-wing hate radio, it is well past time...

[roamer65]

24. The long awaited purge may finally be happening

Hopefully this outrage starts to head the way of the pigman Rush.

[madokie]

41. Thats my hope too

pigboy has to go

[CrazyOrangeCat]

25. You speak the truth.

Bastard Limbaugh. Worst thing to ever slouch down the pike.

Why the hell won't that gasbag just have a stroke???

:grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr:

[KharmaTrain]

30. Make Having "Free Speech" Have A Price

The biggest joke is the concept of "free speech". Imus almost got away with all his bile because he was "money speech"...he made so much money for his stations he felt he could get away with anything. He knew that he was worth several million dollars on the corporate bottom line and felt bullet-proof. Rushbo operates the same way. And for good reason. He's been busted for drugs, racism and hours of sliming and slander and since he brings in money for his radio stations and can either sell books or move votes, he's considered bulletproof.

The hope here is advertisers saw how toxic hate radio has become and that there's a price to pay to their product for sponsoring this intolerance and insensitivity. To those who claim "free speech"...Imus was anything but. Few, if any of the people he attacked had the 50,000 microphone he did to rebut...few had the chance to have such a visible podium that made him both famous and rich. Our public airwaves are anything but free...they go to the highest bidder...and it's important to use this episode to shine the light on all the hypocrisies and slime that have turned our public airwaves into private banks and political machines.

[KoKo]

36. It does feel good. And, that he had so many Politico's fawning all over him on his

show makes it especially good to know he's gone along with his years of belittling, hate filled speech.

"The People" finally brought one down. Let's hope there will be others that follow and that the shockwaves send a warning. The people have had enough of this. They are speaking.

It does feel good after a couple of decades of living with this stuff.

[madokie]

42. I really feel that with the leadership that our new speaker is exuding

is and will continue to have a positive effect on people. Just listening to her yesterday talking and answering questions on her trip to the middle east was so comforting, it is a good feeling knowing we are in such capable hands and it was refreshing too.

[Erika]

37. The hate is coming to an end. Hang in there.

Thes Rutger gals may prove to have been as effective as Rosa Parks.

It has become popular to hate the nedy and the poor. Even the Evangelicals are backing off. Hang in there.

[madokie]

43. Thas exactly what I was thinking when I watched their news conference yesterday

this is much bigger than just the sum of its parts