mgroves

First, Kramer has to do a major mea culpa on the Letterman show to apologize for his racist jokes. Now, Don Imus has been suspended for two weeks, and is issuing 1000 apologies for his “nappy-headed hos” comment.

Here it is, in cased you missed it (with a bonus unrelated “fag” comment at the end for some reason):

Racial humor is taboo, unless it’s done intraracially, or towards whites. That’s a fact. I don’t agree with it, don’t like it, but it’s true. That may change eventually, but it’s a reality right now.

That being said, I also understand that racist jokes from whites can certainly be in much poorer taste than racist jokes directed at whites, for many reasons: history, guilt, politics, fear, whatever. Also not something I agree with, but also a fact.

But here’s another fact. In the USA, the first amendment guarantees that I have the right to say whatever I want. There is no amendment that guarantees me the right not to be offended. “Offensive” speech is still protected speech.

That also being said, the first amendment does not guarantee the right to be heard. I can shout racial slurs all I want, but that doesn’t mean I won’t get fired, ostracized, ignored, bleeped out on TV or radio, etc.

So, I guess I’m somewhat conflicted here. Imus has the right to say what he wants, but CBS also has to right to say “we won’t broadcast you if you say that kind of stuff”. Al Sharpton has the right to object to Imus and call for his resignation and what not, but Imus and/or CBS have no obligation, legally, ethically, or otherwise to listen to Al or follow his suggestion.

So I guess I’m not really sure who’s in the right and who’s in the wrong in this situation. I guess it seems like everyone’s in the wrong. Imus for his dumb comment, CBS for not backing him up, Rev. Al for racially irrelevant criticism, the media’s coverage of the situation, Imus for apologizing too much, etc. So everyone is wrong.

Who is the wrongest?

3 Responses to “Nappy headed hos”