Imus and Hip-Hop

I do not agree with what Mr. Imus said about those women it was very degrading and rude. I am a woman of color I do not listen to rap. I refuse to let my children listen to rap it is degrading to women of any race, I think it is just wrong. We need to take control of our families and teach them right from wrong and how to respect each other. My boys are not allowed to listen to hip hop, will they listen to it when I am not around maybe I can’t say, but they better not bring into my home. (Stop stereotyping) I don’t believe hip hop is an American Culture I am an American and I do not purchase any hip hop music. I think it is wrong to use the n-word b-word or H-word regardless of race or gender. Lets stop and teach our future generation, remembers learning starts at home, that’s where we all need to start I don’t care how much money someone has, that doesn’t make disrespecting a person ok.

Don Imus was used to making racial remarks about Blacks. And to say that he can say those words just because rappers say them is not excuse. Since when did he drop down to the level of a rapper? When he can make a rhythm to music and bop to the beat in time with the music and wear a grill on his teeth, then he can then be considered on the level of a rapper. Also, if he calls those black college girls “Hos”, what does he call the little black girls with cancer who come to his ranch. Does he call them little black “Hos”?

Terry,
Quick: publish links to all of the stories you did before this one, where you call out the scumbags in the rap industry (the rich Jewish owners, the corporate media companies, the pimp labels, and the slimy rappers) for their misogyny, racism, pornography, and all around cultural sickness.
(cue crickets … )

The market did work itself out. If you believe Imus was fired because of the statement he made you’re an idealistic leftist. Imus was fired because of the advertisers who bailed on the show. He was no longer worth the contract CBS was paying so they took the opportunity to cut their losses. He’ll resurface on satelitte radio within 1-2 years.

I had no idea Walt Goggins, who plays Det. Shane Vendrell on “The Shield” on FX writes a blog for ABC news.

Revolution indeed. This is the loudest outcry I’ve heard from philosophically conservative people on the internet. It’s interesting, but predictable, that he refrains from endorsing Imus’ firing. He certainly implies it.
An interesting view into the mindset of a mainstream journalist. Certainly not suprising, everyone knows they are required to view the world through these lenses.
Calling for Moran’s firing would be grossly hypocritical, for me anyhow. Probably a fine chap, if not a little misguided.

Mr Moran, I wasn’t quite sure what to think about the issue but by the end of your post I was convinced by your arguments.

Your beloved Grandpa Walton would see you for the bigot and race-baiter that you so clearly are.

I would like someone to explain to myself and others who might be wondering the same thing. Why can the entertainers, lets say those that are on Comedy Central, can say far greater racist type remarks, an thats ok. Yet Mr Imus, whose show was part comedy, an the remark came as a result of it, he is fired an condemend. My opinion is that no racist remarks, no matter what venue, should be allowed. Maybe if the Democrats would stop trying to waste money an time on a fishing expedition trying to find something on Karl Rove, who they are obsessed with, an do something about difining what is free speech an who can say what.

Free Speech now has a whole set of clauses that don’t belong.
If white people can’t say the N word OK blacks can’t say cracker or whitey.
The rules need to be the same if Imus gets fired because he offended a basketball team than anytime someone is offended they should lose their jobs.
I do many anyone by anyone.
I think we need to get over ourselves.
I do believe for a second the girls basketball team is scared for life because someone said 3 words on the radio.
If so those girls need to grow a spine and thicker skin.

Try and backpeddle all you want, Terry. From now on, you will be known as “The Rich White Boy” reporter, and I use the word ‘reporter’ very, very loosely. Hope you enjoyed whatever reputation you used to have, because you’re garbage from now on. The “Dukies” are now your legacy.

There IS a double standard! Why can Rosie O Donnel say, ching chong on national television, plus all of the other “objectionable” stuff she says on The View, and keep her job? Why can a back woman FALSELY accuse three white boys of rape and Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson quickly chastize them? Why do my children continually tell me about the videos they watch on MTV: this ho, that ho, that b****, and the grinding of the women in a very sexual manner. And Don Imus gets fired? There is an extreme injustice in American television and it is making me feel ashamed that I am from the USA!

By the looks of this topic and repsonses and the responses to Terry Moron’s other idiotic rant aginst the Duke lacrosse players and white people in general, It seems as though a) ABC should fire Terry Moran, b) no apology or expression of regret can prevent this action, and c) Americans should boycott ABC.

This is back-peddling all the way. Moran, you should be fired. I hope you are sitting in your office sh*tting your pants because you have been fingered as the next head to roll over this race debate. I am also going to boycott any advertiser who advertises on any ABC program until you are fired. I hope your booses are reading this blog You’re finished buddy.

I haven’t been following the story of Imus completely, but here is how I view it. An individual with access to the public airwaves stated an opinion that was offensive to a great number of people, including myself. Its unfortunate, its disrespectful, its hurtful to the women of Rutgers University but protected by free speech. Should Imus have been reprimanded, absolutely, but I do not believe he should have been fired. We can either support free speech or we should revise the bill of rights to allow free speech with the exception being that if what you have to say can be offensive to someone else. And, if we did that….I bet we’d have far fewer blogs out there!!

For one thing I Imus singled out the rutgers basketball players. Plus there were racism back in the day you forgot. Blacks being dragged and hanged for no reason.

While I don’t agree with shock jocks, I think it is outrageous for people like Jackson and Sharpton to nail Imus for his remarks when hip hop and rap artists are far worse. In an interview with another network Jackson wouldn’t even address the question when asked what should be done about these artists and their language. Enough of the racist card being played everytime a white person says something off color until blacks address the problem in their own culture. We could all stand to be more tolerant.

Imus has to accept responsibility for what he said and accept the consequences of what he has said.
I believe this is a perfect example of people today being De-sensitived regarding all the inappropriate language and name calling people are used to hearing from the music industry,and the acceptance of what is typically described as racial comments. How is it people of color are able to speak freely to each other, sing the lyrics about what they come back as saying offensive. I do not believe that the role models and leaders of the music industry do not understand the profound influence they instill in people of all ages and races. It does not make it acceptable in any forum. If people are offended so deeply by what is this laguage represents it does not matter the context of what is said or how it is said or where it said or when it said or by whom it is said, it needs to STOP!

Ithink thatMrImus should have been fired he was on national airwaves and made a statement that he thought was funny. Funny to who? He is a 66 yr old man and for everyone info I have never heard a rapper or a hip hop say nappy head that is so seventy. Noone I know sings about a nappy head and furthermore where did he hear this at I know he doesn’t watch BET or listen to black urban music he also used the all mighty word you people which all black people know that is how whites used to address us.But when said we automatic know what they are talking about so for me Mr Imus is a very unhappy man that gets off by name calling other people. I bet he will watch what he says from now on to me if he said it once he has said it before. pb

In a country like ours where it is unpatriotic to disagree with the government, I’m not surprise about the uproar over Imus. We are happy to give up rights just to have more people agree with us. America is too precious a word to dissect. Many have given the ultimate gift away, life, to ensure this country is the beacon to the world. Americans should know these words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”. Please also note that “Only if we agree with you” is not there.

After listening to the nightly news tonight, I decided that I had to put my two cents in. There was a comment made that the word “ho” is accepted in the black culture. This is an untruth. The word “ho” will never be accepted in my household and I am an African American woman. Imus and many of these factory made rappers (corporation made) should all be fired for their comments. I used to be a lover of rap back in the 80′s and around the 90′s is when rap began to change and the videos turned to soft porn. The “n” word will never be accepted in my household regardless of their nationality. Yes, there is a double standard and that is not fair. It is about time that someone regulate the airwaves. The music and videos are very degrading to women. I do not watch BET or MTV for this reason. There are many corporations and artists who pockets are getting rich by degrading women and it appears as though no one cares or pretend as though this is not happening. The only defense that can be given is this is “freedom of speech”. There are some good rap artists such as Common who has not sold out his soul to obtain finances. For this reason, he is not as popular as the Ying Yang Twins.

Art is Art no matter how vulger; like beauty it is in the eye of the beholder, if one dislikes don’t look or listen, or participate in the mediam, a supposedly gauranteed right of the U.S. Constitution. In stark contrast the publicly sanctioned air-waves and broadcasting media neither are nor free accessible, none has a right to a radio show or to have a TV spot. The comparison being made here is a whimsical diversion, a ninny minded distraction from the truth tantamount to making Venus by Canova porno. The problem here is not Mr.Imus, Mr.Fifty, or Ms. Brat, it is the nuckle-headed white only execs making the decision in the various media board rooms. Just like other U.S. industries the media, including all its varying factions and related sub-industries such as advertising, broadcasting etc. is stymied by the overwhleming and limiting dominace of a single race controlling to of the thought process and innovations, truth is lost to the exploits of self respect, (thus the revenge factor in this debate), a true melting pot relies on all parts to contribute. Soon just like the phenominon of the dying U.S. Auto industry so too will we be relying on imported media,(i.e. Brithish invasion of Rock, “American Hockey”, “American Baseball”) Get a grip racism and art are not the same. The board rooms is where the racisim is. Imus was just a tool. So is the Rap they “think” people will buy. You know what you are dead wrong.

Racial tensions have been with us a long long time and aren’t ging away until we get to the core of the problem.
Unless people (of all skin tones) begin to see as, and act as one people, we’re going to have the differences magnified.
I am not racist at all yet I am so sick and tired of racial tensions that I’m ready to move away, yet, there’s no where to move to! So why not make it work here ? How?
As I said, I’m not racist, yet the tone of racial attention will not go away as long as we have what is called “Celebration” of the black color.
If there were to be “Red Miss America” contests, or “White History Month” or any celebrations of ethnicity that shut out one another of a different etnicity, we ARE going to have tensions and problems arising from such ideas.
If we were to have ‘White only’ colleges, or ‘Yellow entertainment T V’ stations, there would be lawsuits flying about like bats in a dark cave. Perhaps that’s where we are today, walking in darkness, living in caves of separatism, so the ‘Parent-land’ we stem from can be held on to instead of upholding THIS country and it’s diversity of people and nationalities, blended together in appreciation of one another.
I was born in the ghetto. All my neighbors where so thoroughly blended in color that we ALL loved each other, respected each other, helped each other, and saw each other very simply as My Neighbor and My Friend.
Bottom line is this: If continue with celebrations of ‘Color’ , we will continue to exasperate the problem by holding it in from of each others faces more as a Threat and a Challenge or a Brag, than what it claims to be.
Anything that irritates someone else becomes a problem, and anyone outside of the color of the days and/or weeks of celbration that I mentioned before will continue to keep the rub raw to many people of a different etnicity.
Is it worth at least trying to let those days go by for a couple of years to see if it helps?
“Black History Month – Black Miss U S A, Black Miss America, Black Entertainment Television, Black Colleges, Black Holidays”, all are days or weeks that promote racial tension instead of appeasing it. There are more days given to celbrating “Color Differences” than there are celbrating the men who founded this country.
Isn’t it time we celebrate ‘Where we live”, and “Why we have the freedom to live there” instead of those other celbrations that tend to stir and agitate tensions that we “say” we are tryin so hard to control and extinquish?
Isn’t it worth trying?

Stop writing. People are not going to take anything you say seriously after your DUKE column. I have a feeling that it will come to haunt you. We’ll see.

a few months back i was involved in a debate over racist terms…as a hispanic woman raising a daughter who’s father is black, i weighed in my thoughts…here was what i wrote back then and what i stand by now:
“i try to imagine what an african slave felt when a white man beat him and used the word nigger…my horror and disgust is just a minute sliver of the horror and absolute disrespect that slave tolerated…out of respect for these souls from the past, i won’t allow the word in my house, from the mouth of my child or her friends…no where around me…i am not african american, my child is…i can only venture a guess into the experience of black people in this country…i struggle with what shames me about this country’s past and with what to do or feel about the consequences that exist today due to that past…
my thoughts are this…here is a culture whose very identity was attacked…whose very sense of self was torn from them, an attempt at spiritual and cultural genocide was waged on these beautiful human beings, simply because the white european feared him/her and coveted what he/she possessed…the descendents of the slaves on whose backs this country was built must be encouraged NOT to make positive a word that was nothing but trash talked by racist pigs…they must be encouraged to find their own beautiful words and use them instead…there’s nothing positive about the word nigger…even if you replace the last two letters with an a…that word is shit…throw it out…
my two cents, for whatever it is worth…i sit here and feel so sad…every culture is so rich in it’s potential beauty and God given worth…i ask that we delve deeper into ourselves…let go of that which was used to bind and destroy both in the physical and spiritual sense…this word was/is like the whip used to beat down the black man…throw it out… “

I am surrounded everyday by people who dream of having the “most pimped out Cadillac Escalade eva” and idolizing rappers for their music. The former I have no problem with, it’s the latter that bugs me. I’ve heard what filth is put on the radio and I’m quite frankly sick of hearing people just idolizing a man in a recording studio encouraging America’s youth to repeat the filth coming out of their mouths. These rappers are sending messages of praise through songs like “Cocaine Dreams” (by 50 Cent) in which the first verse has eleven lines and only two lines which is “50 Cent, you heard me” don’t include any sort of profanity. This isn’t even the sadest part. Out of the whole song which is about 40 lines long, only about 10 (if that many) are printable on this site. that leaves at least 30 lines using words such as the “N word” and the “F word” like they are perfectly acceptable words in normal conversation. People are getting paid to produce songs that are immoral in more than one way. And the worst part is that America’s youth are making these people their role models. If you just skimmed over this let me sum up my message: People are getting paid to corrupt our youth with violent and immoral images every day. Something must be done. Now.
Here is a link to an example of what rappers put in their music: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Cocaine-Dreams-lyrics-50-Cent/32428D588472C2C948257156002B54C0

I agree Imus should not have made derogatory remarks about the young female basketball players. He doesn’t know if any of them are “hos”.
It’s common to hear blacks call each other “ho”, “nigga”, “nappy hair” on national television talk shows with not so much as an eyebrow is raised. NOW a caucasion says “nappy haired ho” & it’s a national scandal. Hip hoppers & rappers use the same dialogue – no problem. Caucasions would NEVER be allowed to use those same words in the lyrics to their songs. Gimme a break. This is just another example of reverse discrimination.
Imus will be back on the air soon as if this whole ridiculous double-standard incident had never occurred.

I don’t see why many or most of these hip-hop, rap or whatever the musical style is, videos and songs are not considered pornography. What is the redeeming social value of promoting violence, drug use/abuse, prostitution and generally degrading women? Oh, they don’t actually show uncovered titties, dicks or buns. So they comply with the letter of the law but surely not the spirit of it.
I don’t listen to rap-hop (my new term for this so called “music”). I think it is terrible as music. There might be an occasional song that is ok but most of it is braggadocio from some urban thug, the majority of whom seem to be black (African, negros or whatever word I’m supposed to use – how about “niggers”). In fact, my impression of all rappers is that they are “niggers”. It doesn’t matter if they are black, latino, white (m&m, k-fed, etc). They all put out trash and claim to be artists.
In my opinion, from what I see and hear of “rap-hop”, it is nothing more than inciting violence and criminal behavior. It is creating a homegrown urban insurgency in America, just like they have in Iraq. Street gangs are flourishing in big cities and many smaller cities and even rural areas. What is the inspiration? I think it is rap-hop. Even if many of these street gang types are not in the more well known and larger gangs, they are wannabe’s and go out and do crimes to prove and make themselves. Ever hear the term “street cred”? I’ve been arrested, therefore I’m cool. This isn’t cool. Anyone who aspires to having “street cred” is an idiot.
Maybe I should start a new musical form that glamorizes being a child molester. Or maybe something that glamorizes torture. I know, lets glamourize buring down black churches. Or killing cops. “Yo, yo, if you really want to be man and get lots of hos, go burn down a black church…..” Or “I woke this morning with a hard on for the 4 year old boy next door…. This make me a real man that all the hos will want. Make my tool big and hard….” Etc. Oh, and for a pedophile, being attracted to children is their reality. They would just be singing about something that they experience. Just like the rap-hoppers blowing about their so-called reality in de ‘hood.
By the way, if you want to call me racist – let me say thank you, I’m proud of that.

According to all the press reporting, the only racists and people who make racist comments belong to the white race. Black people can make whatever comments they want against their own race or anyone else’s and everyone shrugs it off. But lets hang the guy who did make a offensive comment and was suspended for it. Please check out some of Malcom X’s comments from the past or Al Sharptons’currently. They were and are more racist than any of the people I know of including Don Imus. Lets start publizising some of the most visible black politicians and artists and lets see who is really the most racist in this country.

I do not for one moment condone Imus’remarks, but on the other hand where is Mr. Sharpton and the rev Jesse Jackson when these remarks are made everyday on the radio by rappers and comedians of their same race? Is that not considered dehumanizing? Now who is racists? Whatever happened to “forgiving and forgetting”?

The only white people in America that can say anything about discrimination are poor white women. The rest of these comments come from naive opinion, no experience whatsoever. Speak about what you know, not what you think.

As a black female I find it far more offensive that many (black male) rappers refer to women in such a derogatory manner. And, while I believe that Imus’ reference was completely out of line, I am having a hard time feeling as much outrage as the many so-called black leaders are claiming to be. Is there a double standard here? I think it very hypocritical that they have not defended women of color with the same intensity when it comes to rap lyrics. How about boycotting and demonstrating against companies that promote these artists?

My name is Chris I am 16 years old and a California native. I heard the comments by Imus and wasn’t offended by It, I didn’t think much of it but he still didn’t have any business saying it. Rap is my favorite genre of music and I find it upseting when adults or news analysts speak about it like it has grown legs and killed people. Those people who speak like that are miss informed and have a misunderstanding about wat we call rap today. Rap is an art form, an expression of the artists feelings to the audience about however they’re feeling at the time or whatever may be going on in the world at the time. it can be very influential, many artists you “experts” look down upon are very prestigious, have won countless awards and most have had to come from nothing at all, the slums. So how can you take away their gift, their talent just because you feel offended. I understand when they speak about women or whatever else the uproar is about, however they’re not speaking to every woman in america, these artists know that there are hardworking women out there, some are married or were born by a woman. They’re speaking to those women who choose to be portrayed as “hoes” not to say it’s a rappers job to determine what a woman amounts to in this world but we all know some women who are a little too open or revealing. So if you take offense to those lyrics then you’re probably the one that these artists are speking about. Another thing that gets me heated is how everyone can pin point rap but seem to forget all of the other genre’s mainly those who don’t involve African-American artists, Rap seems to be the scape goat for every problem that arises in these different communities and that’s wrong whoever this Imus dude is said what he said that’s that, there’s no reason to include what rappers say and do, he needs to man up and worry about himself. stop trying to save himself by sacrificing others.
Signed,
The worlds only hope FB’s up

I have a real problem with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Not because they pushed the issue that Imus deserved to be fired. Hey, Imus has been a racist since he recorded the comedy album “This Honky’s Nuts” in the mid-70′s, and got canned for going too far.
My issue with the ministers is with their refusal to come down on other performers and artists who use words to denigrate others.
I was taught that words like n****r, ho and bitch are shameful, hateful words, and should have nothing to do with the discourse of a society. At the same time, I hear it in the music of the day and in the way many young black people greet each other. Frankly, I cringe when I hear those words.
The words are ugly, and they are not needed in our society.
I do not want to hear, “Well, it’s a black thing; you wouldn’t understand.” That’s bogus. Whether it’s someone like Imus calling the Rutgers basketball team what he did, or a rapper like Snoop Dogg refering to the women in his neighborhood as bitches and hoes is immaterial. It’s vile, hateful language, and Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson need to be more public in criticizing the use of the language. There is a double standard in this country, and it needs to stop.

Was it Sharpton or Jackson who referred to Jews as “Hymies” and NYC as “Hymie Town”? Didn’t one cause one of their own to enter a jewish shop and shoot 4 people and then burn the store down? Both of them are so full of themselves, it is sad that anyone even listens to them at all!
And, why not go after the “ho” that screamed rape against the Duke players? She has a history of this type of thing.
Anyone offended by this type of BS needs to spend time elsewhere in the world, and see what other citizens have to put up with. Anyone hear of Darfur? How about tribal violence in Africa for almost of all their history.
So many people claim to admire our troops serving in combat. Do you really think they care what color their fellow soldiers are? NO!If they have a US flag on their shoulder and a uniform on, then they trust each other with their lives.
The bleeding heart civilians need to learn priorities! We should be more concerned about our own govt manipulating our national security, health care, energy resources, and the very basis for our monetary system and lying to us the entire time.
You don’t like what is on tv or radio, turn it off! If parents would teach their children to be responsible for their own actions and to think for themselves, imagine how much better off this nation would be. Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses with toys and crap teach your kids contentment with what they have, but to have the drive to continually improve their in lives.

HOPE YOU’VE BEEN READING ALL THESE FINE COMMENTS TERRY!
YOU MORON!

I agree with you 100%, Terry. I’m a huge fan of rap music, but I would like to see it change so women like me don’t get offended (I’m 18).
BTW, I don’t know why everyone thinks you’re an idiot, Terry. The comments are supposed to be about the article, not about you. And to everyone who say sh*t about Terry, leave it to the Nightline forum, thanks. It seems that no one has a purpose for the comments feature.
And to Terry:
Disable it if it gets too bad to handle.

You may not realize the worst of black rap has been exported globally and here in New Zealand at the other end of the world my 12 year old white son sings to lyrics about the words Imus used and even the n word while brown natives down the road are fighting each other viciously calling their gangs Crips and Bloods. None of these kids have no idea of the significance of the words or the origin of the gangs. Thanks US rap artists and the corporations that profit from it. Talk about double standards.

Excellent article!!! There is certainly a double-standard in this Imus issue. I agree that these foul-mouthed rappers don’t get a free pass to use slurs just because they are black. And for them to call it their “art” or an expression of their “mind and soul” is plain ridiculous and idiotic. I think society in general has to learn the virtue of treating others with respect and stop being good-for-nothing nincompoops.

Oh, and by the way, didn’t I hear that Snoop Dog is going to be locked up again in jail? I think that is definitely good for society!

This isn’t really that deep. You make your bed, and sleep in it. Doesn’t matter if that bed involves unseen consequences of hiring a stripper (those fine upstanding pillar of society Dukies…) or making racist comments. Everyone’s responsible for what they do, and racist terms are always unacceptable – regardless of who says them.

Imus messed up, that’s for sure, but as you point out there certainly is a double standard. It’s not right for anybody to use that kind of language against any other people. It’s repugnant to see the “freedom of speech” argument raised in this regard. What happened to the *responsibility* and *accountability* we have in using that right? What has happened to common decency? The boundaries are being pushed back. It’s not good for any of us. Show me the use of vulgarities, epithets, and insults to show artistic expression, and I’ll see an “artist” who is too lazy or too inarticulate to do it the right way.

WoW!
Mr. Author: Who are you and what did you do with Terry!!
It is very difficult to believe that the Terry who signed his name to the Imus story, and the one who signed his name to the Duke story are the same men [ should I have said, person?].
I see no pandering to left, or right by the Imus Terry, while it is so obvious, that when the “Duke Terry” calls the Duke students “Dukies”, he is indeed pandering to a specific group of folks, and even advancing their agenda – there is bias in Duke Terry!
I feel for you , Terry, all of you. It is not easy reconciling being a schitzo and having to make a living as a REPORTER in Internet Age.
To quote the philosopher and deep- thinker, Forest Gump, or was it his mother who said it first? Well, no matter – the quote; “…Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get!’.
Ditto, when TERRY writes an article.
Well, maybe sometimes; depending on the subject matter we can guess which Terry’s ideas might creep in, but it makes for better reading when we toss in the Gump thing. Don’t you think so, Terry?
Sal

Stop listening to Johnny Hodges. You are not smart enough to understand his “sopistication” You listening to Johnny Hodges is insulting. Ewwww

Dave R said:
“I can’t wait to read Moran’s commentary on slave restitution.”
Given his Duke post, his far-left views, and his obvious sycophancy to Sharpton, Jackson and other black radicals, Moran will probably advocate that Jews controlled the slave trade.

The main reason the black and white issue is still maintaining a gigantic gap in American society is because Jackson and Sharpton are keeping it alive. Bringing any reasonable conclusion to the problem would not serve their interests and if they are to survive they must continue to pit black against white. This Imus thing was a perfect example of an incident that may have served in a positive way but that was not to be. Why not, because it was not to the benefit of the race baiting twins. They are two “reverends” who have no notion of kindness or forgiveness only echoes of the distant past sins of the white society. In the case of Imus, sure it was a dumb insensitive thing to say, it was not said out of malice or contempt nor was it said to degrade anyone. It was simply a thoughtless comment, can’t we move on? If the two “reverends” did half as much for the Afro American society as Imus has done for both then perhaps we wouldn’t continue this hatfield and McCoy nonsense.
Sure we have bigots and racists in the white society, we also have them in the Afro American society. Like the poor they will always be with us, it’s the nature of the beast. Sharpton and Jackson are more transparent than they can imagine, we can all see through the rhetoric, the poison they spew, unfortuneately they have believers and followers and more power than they should be allowed. They intimidate they don’t lead or provide examples like Martin Luther
King provided. They may well be the architects of a horrendous white backlash, the double standard can not endure forever.

Regarding your entry on the Dukies, and this entry on Imus/rappers..Terry, you should really up your meds!

Guys like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are nothing but rabble-rousers. Are they trying to starting another Civil War? One between blacks and whites?
If the situations are reversed (i.e.) a black man saying something like Imus did, about white women, absolutely NOTHING would have been said. And I’m tired of the “double standard” that exists.
If a white cop has to shoot a black man, it’s a “hate crime” by a prejudiced cop. If a black cop has to shoot a white man, nothing. Nothing, whatsoever.
Stop trying to make a race issue about everything that occurs. There are are bad people in every race, of every gender, of every religion, of every political belief, of every sexual persuasion. Stop trying to make something out of nothing!
Yeah, Don Imus said something that everyone considers objectionable. Except for the people who are making money from the same words on video, on hip-hop (or rap) music sites, and black comedy shows every day.
How very HYPOCRITICAL of all of those involved!

casuistry as an art form… what a self righteous ass.

nobody ever remembers the losers of the championship game, only the winners are glorified. rutgers however, will now have their place since they keep pushing into the limelite with their debate over imus’ comments. though i don’t believe in his comments, i do believe in freedom of speech. he has already been released by his employers…what else do they want? also, is there any one player on rutgers that actually take his comments personally? i don’t even like basketball. i don’t watch it…i don’t even know who won. however, i do know who lost…..don’t stop with imus….take rap out as well!

previous post by Dick belongs on “Dukies” article, not here.

Oh for Pete’s sake! Can we all just get over it? Freedom of speech…Hello? If you don’t want to hear what Imus has to say (whether it’s derogatory OR uplifting), don’t tune in. Each of us is in charge of our own environments, and we choose what and who we lend an ear to. You don’t like what he’s saying? Don’t listen. Fascism will reign if we all start barring what can and can’t be said in America.
One more thing, why don’t we let the listenership speak for itself? If the majority of Imus’s listeners were offended, they’d stop listening. And if they stopped listening, advertisers would stop sponsoring…end result? END OF DON IMUS! There’s something to be said about thinking before you speak, but to fire him is certainly jumping the gun.

Terry you fairy… You can run from the ‘Dukies’ but you can’t hide….

Mr Brian your posting was Spot-on Mr Moran would kill to get that level of insight. Years from now todays Rap artist will be looked upon as some pervese Minstrial show. It’s tragic that we have this in our time. And more so that a vapid collectivist like our friend Terry here could post for a million years and not scry the truth in your observation…

To Mr. Moran
Politician Gus Savage once said that it is not prejudice to know that fire is hot.
This is why the term “black racism” is a misnomer, if not altogether fallacious. We speak not, as lesser enlightened “whites” often do, from misinformed ignorance, but from generations of real and continuing experience.
“White” racism is not only alive and well, but prospering and growing, witness the resurgence of KKK chapters around the US, the growing disparity in wages and expenses, actuarial data from insurance companies, unequal access to capital, and many other real indicators.
Is it racist if I recognize these facts, and rebel against those who cause them to persist?
If Snoop Dogg calls me a ni**er, it definitely has a different meaning than if Kramer does it, but I won’t support a ban on the word, rather, let everyone use it as they will, by their words we will know the face of the enemy…

everyone shut up already

to Jeane
Perhaps he doesn’t know better. He was in a position, where he could not only insult minorities on the air, but actually be paid well for it, as he has done many times. The fact that his supporters seem mostly to be right wing white racists is not important to his producers and sponsors, its the numbers that count.
The same principle is valid for the “rap artists”, they are paid to generate numbers, and also provide the extra “benefit” of the negative stereotyping of an entire ethnic group.
It’s almost funny, you might remember after the Rodney King incident, Ice-T made a song called “Cop Killer” that expressed anger over continued LA police brutality. None other than Charlton Heston went on TV to try to deny the right of free speech to the brother. The right wing seems however to have no problem with Imus, or Richards (Kramer), or David Duke, Pat Robertson, or that joke who is paid to represent the “right” on CNN’s “Crossfire” any of a long list of people whose hatred for “those people” takes form in words on the air.

Dopey Moran had his Duke case story backward. They never WOULD have been arrested had they not been “rich” (they’re not all rich, though) white males. Nor would they have had the lynch mobs at their door. The girl’s basketball team only had to deal with a nasty insult (which they never would have heard anyway had the media not run to them to tattle on what Imus said). Who hires these illogical goofs like Moran?!

To Theresa
The three dots at the end of your train of thought are interesting, was the next supposition going to be that if they were not married and also not virgins, that they are indeed whores?
Look up the definition of prostitute (or whore), it is a female paid for sexual services, in the most literal definition.
If you can prove that the girls are, or were involved in an occupation illegal in most states, then present said evidence to the proper authorities, who will then charge them with prostitution, if you have no proof, then your statement approaches libel, and defamation of character, and you expose yourself to civil and possibly criminal action.
Mr. Imus defamed these girls without evidence, calling them “hos”, which is in fact a southern accented variation of the word “whore”, is indeed calling them prostitutes. The possibility that their lifestyle or appearance doesn’t conform to your own “ideal” does not excuse this, neither does your hearing Snoop Dogg calling an imaginary figure in a lyric the same.
This is precisely what Imus has done

All this Imus situation shows is that a radio host can be fired if enough people protest. It seems like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were really the ones who fired Imus. We’ve seen this scenario before with people like Senator Trent Lott and Pat Robertson. When you are in the public eye there are people who don’t like you and sometimes you say something dumb and those people are right there to take you down.

In my opinion, Terry Morgan doesn’t have a clue about how much MEN are being violated by the very law that is suppose to protect them.Women have cried out for equal rights for years, but is the law equal? NO,it is NOT.Freedom of speech,freedom to vote as an equal,freedom to be able to fight for this great country,but even with all the changes men have been left out in the cold.When a woman can murder her children and only get probation or molest an under-aged child with only a smack on the wrist then the law is truly flawed.If a man were to commit such crimes he would be in jail or on death row.So,for Terry Morgan to take such an unjustly stand makes me ill.The laws of today are so unjust and to see someone like Terry Morgan only creates more minds like himself and as they say, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” I am a female who wants equality,but at what expense? It seems reason has been expelled within the law system.How about instead of trying to kiss political “behind” you try to look beyond your own nose and see just how the world truly is and actually report on TRUTH.For Terry Morgan Ignorance is truly “bliss”.

To Mr. Moran
Amazing, isn’t it how the same people who call for your resignation for your post about Duke, are at the same time defending Mr. Imus? They are so angry that they cannot confine their postings to the Duke topic, nor can they present a consistant policy on what free speech is about.
In your duke article, did you falsely accuse the players of being prostitutes? Or cast aspersions on the group morality of their “race” by using a peripheral physical attribute usually associated with that particular group?
If you did, then I would also call for your resignation by the same standard I use for Imus, If you did not, then invite your detractors to STFU.
As for the “communist” rant, this is, after all a “free” country, there is no crime in being a communist, and no wrong in saying something they agree with, if what was said was truth…

Don Immus is a strong man who believes in freedom of speech. I do agree that his content is rather raw and insensitive, but people DO have a choice to listen to him or not. I don’t agree with what he said about a preacher’s black daughter and her basketball team, but at the same time, how many times have black people male or female trash white people? “honky”, “dirty white trash”, “prejudice,” “intolerant,” “discriminitory,” “nieve,” “sucker,” are all terms hypocritically used by black people to describe white people. Truly, the pot calling the kettle black. Furthermore, black males, in small groups, target young white women and their children, and often turning teenage girls below the age of 16 into prostitutes. You see them walking down the street with their black pimps, expecting people buy a couple of hours of “love” time, and people pay not her, but HIM on the spot. I am not prejudice, but I’m fast becoming that way because they are destroying the moral fabric of the United States and family values. Mexicans, both legal and illegal are NO better, while crossing the border with drugs, guns, and human cargo. I don’t understand why Americans just let it go on. Don Immus, your feeding them their own medicine. I say, “Buy your own radio station and air time. Then WHO can tell you what to say?” Suggested reading: The Afrikan Posta, published by Babatunde at “Under One Roof,” in Killeen, TX. This is a revolution waiting to happen. His watchword? “Freedom of Speech belongs to those who OWN THE PRESS!” He can say whatever he wants to include racial remarks, twisted interpretations of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King. So, what is wrong with US? Fight fire with fire. We’ve done everything else but that. It’s time for us to fight.

and to all who refer to a “white backlash” we have endured the worst of what is in your nature for almost half a millenium. Those words don’t scare anyone, if it comes to that, we can and will give as we get…

Pittenger: I’m sure the backlash has already taken effect. Nothing dramatic. The Duke case, etc., just cemented in the minds of most white and Asian Americans that the black culture is resentful and dysfunctional. Most believe that ever since their crime rate against themselves tripled since the 1960′s.

Switching the subject. We should not let the “Dukies” thing go. Sqeaky wheels get the oil, Right? Terry, will you ask why there is no apology from Jesse and Al? Saw a picture of Al with Obama, with an embrace. Do you think Obama thinks the “Dukies” need an apology, Presidential candidate hanging with a racist. Tsk Tsk.

I definitely think a double standard has taken place as to Imus, being fired. I’m not saying he was right, but can a black person say it’s ok, because it’s art? WHAT?? Imus needs to be put back on the air. He contributes more than hard rock artist.

How do you fire a Rapper?
I find it odd that everyone and there mother draws an comparison to Snoop Dogg and Imus. If this story never breaks, are we still talking about Snoop and other Rapper? NO. Reason why is because Imus is on a platform that a large number of people of power hear and see. If these same people of power were not pushed to do something about Imus then nothing would have been done. So all of you out there riding that high and mighty horse, please just relax, you are not changing the world. Rap has been like this for the past ten years and the only reason why outrage is felt about Rappers is because Imus was fired, and he has no recourse.
Easy way to solve this problem your having, spend time with your kids, maybe try to be a parent from time to time, and your child will grow up with values that will make them turn the station or channel when this type of music is played. Or you can just blame Rappers and movies for all the bad things that happen today in this world. Maybe its time to look within our selves and ask this question.
Why would my child want to hear this music? After you find the answer to this question, you might be able to understand the values you teach weigh more than music on a CD or some video on TV. But I guess that means Americans would have to be accountable, and well we all know we don’t want that. So, blame the Rapper!!
Sure, I’m all for it.

I recently took my daughter to a Woodbridge, VA high school to take a test for an on-line course she was participating in. Tiring of waiting for her in the car, I decided to get some excercise and walk a lap around the high school. As I walked around to the front of the building, I approached a group of 8-10 young black students laughing and talking. They were well-groomed young men, handsome and impressive, one and all, in their Army ROTC uniforms. I couldn’t help but think to myself, these are fine young men, men to be respected. Then I began catch some of their conversation, of which every other word seemed to be “nigger.” Sadly, the initial respect I had felt for them evaporated almost instantly. If only they hadn’t opened their mouths.

I agree Terry,,
Music can be the living soul..but then there are those that tempt the devil too be one w/them..and in tis day&age its all about the money..the actual “definitions” of the words are meaningless as much as the absurd/seems to offer a place on the playing field..I think Don Imus’s time was up..like an ol’ elephant he was heading for the graveyard and needed to “wail” one more time..from the stories of the Rutger’s basketball girls..I think most difinitive acts fall right inline..this really is a load of BULL-oney..over others successes..getting the words out as Imus did seemed to take some 15-seconds..(as the excerpt)revealed..Only it a Racial-Sexist-slurr against the Rutger’s girls..pure baloney..in the aftermath..these girls acually came to bear that they are the Speakers For All Girls..<<–there's one big Hang Nail..Girls can truly be idiots..especially when some guy points them in a direction they would never percieve.

Dear Mr. Moran,
I must admit that I have not read the plethora of responses posted for this topic (I admittedly tire of the grammatical mistakes littering the majority of these blogs), but I do essentially agree with your contentions. While it is a good idea for all humans to view their fellow conspecifics through a lens of cultural relativity, we need to set some limits on behaviors that define cultural norms. Rap and hip-hop are examples of phenomena that need to be revised in order to be less offensive.
At State College High School in PA, I recall hearing a fellow student (a white, female, middle class honor student) remark that she liked the music of a certain rapper, even though she knew that this affinity was “wrong” (It would have helped if she had defined “wrong”, but one can see her point sans the definition). She is an example of those white, privileged youths you mentioned who are exposed to the rhetoric of a lifestyle about which they know nothing. While references to “hos” and “bitches” may be used with regard to actual inner-city prostitutes who are just out to make a buck, the sheltered individuals (regardless of their race or locality) who hear these lyrics will be affected by them and start using them in everyday speech. One is no longer the girl next door, but the “bitch” next door. A sinister form of language conditioning occurs–hear a word often enough, and you’ll probably begin using it.
A street-wise friend of mine once explained that rap’s ostensible misogyny is inherent in its style, just as country music (an equally appaling “art form”) has its swooning tendencies. Sorry, friend, but that is not a sufficient explanation.
Misogyny has grown considerably over these past few years, thanks primarily to popular culture and those mindless organisms who wish to conform to it. It seems like all those heroic efforts espoused by women’s lib have been unravelled. You are correct in asserting our need for a revolution, hell, any revolution would do in this lackadaisical society of automatons. As you once stated on Nightline: “The hardest thing to do in America these days? Think for yourself.” Thank you for having the courage to write this article that probably sparked a great deal of debate.

Hip-hop is not misogynist. Young men, of all colors, are misogynist. Hip-hop does not make you racist, nor does it make you stupidly spout racist remarks. The real tragedy here is that hip-hop is being graded based on its worst sub-genre which is unfortunately also its most lucrative. Why is stupid music amazingly popular? For the answer to this question I need look no further than my own teen years during the late-80s and early-90s. I had a fairly discerning interest in music but there was always a thrill associated with music that was considered off-limits. Not that my parents could care less what I listened to, though I don’t mean that to say they were negligent, just very liberal. There was a naturally male, thrill-seeking impulse that drove me toward anything that society deemed too hot to touch, like N.W.A. Years later, “Straight Outta Compton” is a record that still holds up, but at the time the musical chops rode backseat to the brazen, outlaw quality of it. To be fair, another video riding the high wave of MTV success at the time was “Cherry Pie” by a lousy hair band called Warrant, featuring a scantily clad floozie wobbling around on stiletto heels. But N.W.A. wrote good music, so I listened to them, as well as Ice T, Too Short and numerous other rappers who glamorized the harcore, F-bomb laden gangsta life.
Over the years I’ve grown out of this phase and have more mature tastes, which is normal. That doesn’t mean I never pop in that N.W.A. album from time to time, but more often I’d listen to something like De La Soul, Mos Def or Lupe Fiasco. That is, when I’m listening to hip-hop. Many people have suggested on this topic that the times are getting more misogynist. To that I would ask: “Compared to what?” The 1950s? The 19th century? Remember when Limp Bizkit was all the rage? I know, I hated them too, but they sold a bazillion records to a bunch of dumb kids. Kids who grew up and stared in shocked distaste at that CD in their collection, wondering how it got there, like waking up in bed next to a stranger after a wild party. Mainstream hip-hop has become the feeding trough of the primary album purchasing demographic: young men, specifically young white men. Record companies know what sells and will continue this practice because teenagers will continue to like bad music.
As to why black people get to say the N-word and white people can’t, that’s such a stupid debate I can’t understand why people still have it. For one black person to call another black person the N-word is absurd, that’s why it’s either meant to be funny or meant to mean nothing at all, like “man” or “dude”. I’m white, so naturally I’ve used both “man” and “dude” more times than I can count. When I say “man” I’m not reinforcing the fact that who I’m talking to is a man. And when I say “dude” I’m not a cowboy talking city-slicker. But if I were to call a black person the N-word, regardless of who I was or who I was saying it to, that would automatically take on a different connotation because the absolute root of that word’s negative power resides in it emanating from my white mouth. The thing that I don’t understand is how apparently there are legions of white people out there itching to somehow call black people n in a nice way and are feeling left out. Who the hell are these people? Hip-hop does not make you call people n more than it makes you call people b, (although it does lead to “homey” or “dawg” on occasion). Stupid people will be stupid and spout stupid crap out of their stupid mouths whether hip-hop lives on for a million years or gets wiped off the face of the earth tomorrow. This is no different than saying Marilyn Manson made kids shoot up a school or Judas Priest made kids shoot themselves.
You can fire Don Imus, you can’t “fire” hip-hop. Imus’ show had direct sponsers who didn’t want their brand associated with his rhetoric(at least to the degree that the risk exceeded the profits, as someone earlier pointed out), but the record companies who make billions off mainstream hip-hop don’t have the same trouble. Disney can sell you wholesome family goodness one moment and mind-rotting trash the next; just see Dimension Films, Disney’s tap into the PG-13 slasher market. Anybody calling for hip-hop to “clean up its act” is missing the point. Someone earlier commented that she can’t believe what she hears when her young children describe the raunchy videos they’ve watched all day. It seems the problem here is the mother who sits crocheting while her young children watch Lil’ Jon videos. Believe me, I agree that the answer is for better music to dominate the airwaves, but what about this American Idol culture makes you think that’s happening anytime soon?

Dear Mr. Moran—
As someone who works in the fashion/entertainment industry, I am keenly aware of this “double standard” and hypocriical mindset that pervades young pop/hip-hop culture today.
There has been a positive side to the African American/Latino influence as far as helping to promote a healthier body image for young women i.e: Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Shakira et al), where it has allowed girls that are not “model thin” to feel beautiful with their “curves”–this has been a positive for young women.
But—the negative stereotypes that are promoted-mostly through hip-hop/rap are extremely unhealthy for a young girls sense of self and self-esteem.
I agree wholeheartedly with your opinions and reactions to the hypocrisy of artists such as “Snoop Dog”–whom, if you look up the word “mysoginist” in Websters Dictionary, it says “see Snoop Dogg”….
It is ironic that I came upon this blog of yours on misogyny, as I had just sent a now ex paramour of mine articles on mysogyny and how he fit the definitions.
But more interestingly, I came across an astounding article on MYSOGYNY and the TALIBAN and it’s relation to the abuse by the Taliban of young boys and it’s being( under certain guidlines set by the Taliban themselves mind you-dispicable)
accepted under the laws of the Taliban!!!!
And these are those who fight for God??
I had the unique experience growing up to have my father be an ultra WASP Blue Blood, my first step father an Israeli Jew, and my second step father an Egyptian Muslim ( what can I say, my mother should have worked for the U.N!).
It gave me, from a very early age a special understanding of the dynamics of the “themes in variation” that have turned the world into a witches brew of ignorance, intolerance and idolatry.
All of these issues that you have spoken of and I have mentioned here are do in large part to the lack of proper education in much of the world.
Fundamentalism, no matter what religion or ideology–is a combination of lack of education, poverty and religion–desperation and frustration.
If Yasser Arafat gave his ill gotten billions in part to build schools, playgrounds, housing etc…maybe SOME of the children would not be in the streets throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.
But it was in HIS and his heinous backers best interests to keep their people desperate and angry as it served their purpose—but they were angry at the wrong people–which is why, in the end, the HAMAS party was so successful in toppling the Fatah party.
The same goes for the Israeli Government–rather than doing sooo much to support exclusion and destruction of the right of the Palestinians to exist–they should make even stronger efforts to support inclusion and the understanding that EVERYONE has the right to exist and no one person has the right to tell one or the other that they don’t.
And we as Americans should put triple the effort into educating third world and the middle east’s impoverished as we do on War.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my thoughts.
See below for the article on the Taliban, Mysogyny and the abuse of young boys. It is an eye opener and a great subject to bring to light.
Sincerely,
Gail Simon Chafik NYC
Shining a psychological spotlight on a few of the insanities of life
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
A VICIOUS MISOGYNY
In “The Boys of the Taliban”, Jamie Glazov writes about one particular rule (rule 19) of the new Taliban “code of conduct” for its fighters in Afghanistan:
But there is a curious rule that the Western media has typically ignored. Rule No. 19 instructs that Taliban fighters must not take young boys without facial hair into their private quarters….
Aside from the question of what is permitted if a young boy does happen to have facial hair, this new Taliban commandment brings light to a taboo pathology that underlies the structures of militant Islam. And it is crucial to deconstruct the meaning of this rule — and the horrid reality that it represents — because it serves as a gateway to understanding the primary causes of Islamic rage and terror.
Rule No. 19 obviously indicates that the sexual abuse of young boys is a prevalent and institutionalized phenomenon among the Taliban and that, for one reason or another, its widespread practice has become a problem.
The fact that Taliban militants’ spare time involves sodomizing young boys should by no means be any kind of surprise or eyebrow raiser. That a mass pathology such as this occurs in a culture which demonizes the female and her sexuality — and puts her out of mind and sight — is only to be expected. To be sure, it is a simple given that the religious male fanatic who flies into a violent rage even at the thought of an exposed woman’s ankle will also be, in some other dysfunctional and dark secret compartment of his fractured life, the person who leads some poor helpless young boy into his private chambers.
The key issue here is that the demented sickness that underlies Rule No. 19 is by no means exclusive to the Taliban; it is a widespread phenomenon throughout Islamic-Arab culture and it lies, among other factors, at the root of that culture’s addiction to rage and its lust for violence, terror and suicide.
There is a basic and common sense empirical human reality: wherever humans construct and perpetuate an environment in which females and their sexuality are demonized and are pushed into invisibility, homosexual behaviour among men and the sexual abuse of young boys by older men always increases. Islamic-Arab culture serves as a perfect example of this paradigm, seeing that gender apartheid, fear of female sexuality and a vicious misogyny are the structures on which the whole society functions.
Glazov goes on to argue that Islamist terror can be thought of in part, at least, as a response to sexual rage, frustration, and the humiliation of being connected to a “degraded mother.” Thus the men in the culture must constantly assert their masculinity, defend their masculine “honor”, and strike out in rage against any who “shame” them.

Did the hack, leftist, idiot Moran decide that the internet was too rough for him?
It’s always easier for these communists to spout their one sided views on TV then to be confronted with FACTS and the way that MOST people think in this country.
That’s what commies like Moran get for surrounding themselves with other coffee shop commies. They actually think that most Americans are leftists when actually the country is right wing. Suck it up!

terry,
i don’t care what anyone says: you’ve got spot-on insights and as ever, an amazingly curious mind. as for your musical tastes, have you heard renee olstead? perfection.