Revisiting Don Imus

Amid The Current Controversy, Mike Wallace Looks Back At His 1996 Interview With Don Imus

(CBS) 

[booyaw_77]

I saw what Imus said. And it was nothing but a joke. A bad joke? Ok. But a joke!

Why do people confuse ratings with constitutionality? A consumer is not a citizen, and nor vice versa. NONE of those cable networks represent a citizen's voice. They're all corporate ******! And Imus is gone because corporations (NOT CITIZENS!) are afraid of his bad jokes.

[silent_mjrty]

enaudnalla -
hope u catch this ...

Town Mtgs for white folks? So cool u asked. A sign we've made change.

(Post-60's)-not possible! It would be dismissed as racists, no question! but the fact you're questioning - feels really cool.

It's tough to get the "pendulum of righteousness" to swing just-right -

We do a good job of it in the U.S.A. Maybe the best in history. (as a country, we're still babies.)

Maybe better - drop B-W -
After watching Oprah's 2 shows this week ... i hope many are ... requesting that she commit a day every week or 2 (similar to her DR PHIL segments) for:

"HOUSECLEANING" ...

Oprah is a "PHENOM". A MEGA-MONEY MACHINE. TERRIFIC POWER. this country listens to every word, watches every nuance. Her level of power is frightening. With power comes responsibility. and problems. Money can corrupt. Gotta be vigilant.

she has the platform to reach into all corners, all colors. she has our ear - proven.

"preaching to the choir, isn't going to cut it."

Cowards killing - is another topic. B-B, W-W, (IRAQ too.)+every comb. Yes-all forms. big problem.

ANY FOOL can pick up a weapon begin firing on the unarmed, unwarned.

We need to"get" this factoid. NOT glorious. MORONIC.

Targetting defenseless is MORONIC.

ONE BY ONE, OR A ROOMFUL. One thing in common - IT'S COWARDICE.

These cowards had a TRAIL of behavior that might have been circumvented.

THEY'VE REACHED, BUT WE HAVEN'T PUT THEIR SIGNS TOGETHER!

your turn.

[nursmity]

Sure, I'll stop watching CBS show if you agree that you don't allow yourselves, friends, and or children to attend the City Colleges of Chicago, especially OLIVE HARVEY College. Thats is where I encountered the racial slurs by my nursing instructors. I nor a few of my classmates yet have not received any apologies from Chancellor Wayne Watson, Angela Starks and or Deidre Williams not even the big shot James Tyree. I guess this means its acceptable. The nursing program was disorganized to begin with, policies were subjective I guess it was based on which students they like or did not like. But to be intentionally dehumanized because of my race. My teachers were NURSES - so much for intergrity and compassion. Can you imagine how they would take care of their patients who were a different race from them??? It was a very exhausting and traumatizing experience. I guess this is the
just the way it is, huh?

[nursmity]

The South Side of Chicago is sooo racial. There are alot of hidden agendas going on there. Don Imus was the only one terminated? How come? If the Olympics were to come to chicago, how would the African American community handle all the Latins, Asians, and Europeans who will be staying in the City? Like I said earlier, my nursing instructors demoralized the ones who were not of their own african race. I often wondered how these same instructors took care of their patients who were white and or mexicans? Trust is a big issue in an african american nurse who would be taking care of my mother. Will she provide good quality care knowing she is a racist? Probably not, I did not get good quality education by means below standards. Worst of all, the Chancellors of the City Colleges of Chicago was very much aware of this.
Why was this tolerated - not sure.

[nursmity]

f Bernard McGuirk abaited the conversation why didn't he get punished? IEveryone who was involved should have been terminated. I was watching Mayor Daley when he made a comment about Imus. He stated that this sort of behavior should not be tolerated. Yet, under his nose it is being tolerated. He has educators who minimizes their students based on their race. The moronic part is these educators are NURSES! I never felt so unworthy as a human being. My nursing instructors who are Afican Americans humilated me in class. Other classmates who were not of
African American were also being humilated.
We wrote our concerns. The chancellors were very much aware. My concerns now are that the school may have another Euro, Latina, Asians students who will go through the same mental abuse as we have. A vicious circle. When will it end? Who can address this issue? Mayor Daley? Is he aware? The Chancellor for the City Colleges of Chicago are. Should we notify the stakeholders for the City Colleges of Chicago and inform them of these racial incidents? If Don Imus was fired, who should get fired at the City Colleges of Chicago? Do you want your nurse to be taught this way? What about Rev. Jackson what does he have to say about this one? Maybe he doesn't care, its blacks saying it to whites or Latinas and not the other way around. Does he care if it only concerns his people or ALL people? Mayor Daley should be concern of this behavior afterall, he is white.

[nursmity]

I agree Mr. Imus has gone too far. I don't think anyone who has a position such as his should get away with such statements. I and a few of my classmates at Olive Harvey College in Chicago was confronted with racial remarks by our nursing instructors. Remarks that involved Europeans, Asians, and Latinas. Its a predominatly African American school. I felt humilated and very much unworthy as a human being. Nursing school was challenging enough, but to be minimized and feel neglected as a human being be nursing instructors who is suppose to not only educate but in the field of compassion. I would wonder how these instructors would take care of their patients if they were of Euro, Asians, or Latinas. Would they treat them differently? Would the patients feel neglected like I or my classmates???? People of authority seem to have a habit of taking their positions for granted. I was watching our Mayor Daley commenting that this sort of thing in not to be tolerated. Does he know what the City Colleges of Chicago educators have done to us? Definitely, Chancellor Watson, V. Chancellor Starks and Lewis are fully aware of what occurred. There is a paper trial on this one. Its a shame that educators can broadcast to their students their racial remarks like Don Imus can.

[misspp-2009]

Anyone with an ounce of decency and common sense would have to understand that the Rutgers players did nothing wrong. Therefore, I am shocked to see that some people have started to attack them because they are upset about Don Imus. Well following is what his wife had to say:

----------------------------------------------
She told listeners that the Rutgers team, %u201Cgave us the opportunity to listen to what they had to say and why they're hurting and how awful this is."

"He feels awful," she told the audience of her husband. "He asked them, 'I want to know the pain I caused, and I want to know how to fix this and change this.'"

Deirdre Imus also said that the Rutgers players have been receiving hate e-mail, and she demanded that it stop. She told listeners "if you must send e-mail, send it to my husband," not the team. "I have to say that these women are unbelievably courageous and beautiful women," she said.
--------------------------------------------

So I would suggest that some of you haters listen to his wife and drop your hatred and racism. GET OVER IT! You probably were never a fan of his anyway.

[pared1]

What does Al have to do with this?
Posted by Misspp at 08:36 PM : Apr 17, 2007


Well duh, he stated on Oprah yesterday he, Jackson and that moron at CBS pushed to get him fired. Sharpton never admits he's wrong or accepts appologies. Therefore he has something to do with this.

[misspp-2009]

For those who owe Al an appology go here:
http://www.imsorryalsharpton.com/
LOL
Posted by pared1 at 08:26 PM : Apr 17, 2007

What does Al have to do with this?

[bonneterre]

No one disagrees that female sexism and racism shouldn't be on the forefront based on the Imus mess but there is a double standard at play which many truly see.

The Imus show has only a few million listeners, mostly middle age. Network TV shows reach millions...and most importantly, our kids and families. Mr. Moonves seems real convicted to address the cultural coarseness in our society now. Well, let's see CBS and the other networks start with their network programs. And if racism and sexism are hot button topics again, why not go after the BET network and other cable shows as well? These channels go after the black audience and make Imus look tame. Another point, have you noticed that the advertisers that yanked their spots from Imus for such noble reasons; do you see any of them yanking their spots from " Desperate Housewives" and other non-family shows on TV? No! Racism and female attacks are just a portion of a bigger issue. When it comes to our youth, far more is concerned. Let's get to talking about inappropriate sexuality on TV, violence, and increasing foul speech. Heck, they don't even bleep it out of non-premium cable movies anymore. How nice for the kids!

If cleaning up the media is only centered on race and sexism, than we are missing a big opportunity. I am embarrassed if my 14 yr. old daughter walks in the room and we haven't turned the TV off. Where are the so-called gatekeepers on this garbage?

John Moser
Wescosville, PA

[pared1]

For those who owe Al an appology go here:
http://www.imsorryalsharpton.com/

LOL

[toldyouso21]

you caved under pressure. If people are going to associate with those who use such language and refer to THEMSELVES in such a way, they deserve what's said and need to grow up.
Posted by Gryphon82 at 10:41 AM : Apr 17, 2007


Other than rap artists who are describing the gold digging women in the neighborhoods that surround them, what black man or woman have you personally heard, who describe themselves as ******? I know many black people--and not one would describe a woman as a "ho"

You seem to be a product of anything you read or hear on a show. Do you personally know blacks or do you take all of your info from Fox news and other targeted media? The fact is, Imus has been making racist comments for the past 40 years and it finally caught up to him. He says he's sorry? Not hardly--when people are really sorry--they don't do the bad stuff anymore. Imus gave lip service to an apology and like the boy who cried wolf--it was too late and a bit played out. As for you being hip--in your dreams grandma--you post as if you could use a "Hip" replacement badly. LOL

[misspp-2009]

macaer: your comments reflect your ignorance, racism and bigotry which explains why you would be a Don Imus fan. In your stupid commentary, you attempted to insult people based solely on their race. As long as folks like you exist, racism will be alive and well.

[macaer]

Would please explain to me why it's a problem that Gwen Ifil was called a cleaning lady???? I'm really confused about that and if I were the maid at the CEO's house I'd fire him and get a new job. Back to Imus and the CEO why instead of listening to a bunch of-I mean this-revolting reporters, why didn't you ORDER Imus to have the coach and the girls on his program. Personally I think Imus and Bernard would have lasted about 3 seconds before they had the floor wiped up with their tongues. But again, sexist people don't allow women to speak for themselves except in press converence where the Freshman were denied Freedom of Speech by the college. Put Imus back on and hire the Rutgers woman who has a bunch of brothers, she unlike the pretty white girls you guys tried to get on Imus' show, seems to be fearless and will give as well as take, apparently. Everybody was wrong in this. The woman should not have been cut off from the constitution right they're given to confront their attacker in the same room on an equal level and in front of their peers.

[samthetvcat]

It'll be interesting to see whether all the people threatening to boycott CBS/NBC will follow through. My guess is half of them weren't even viewers in the first place and for the other half the loss of Imus won't be enough motivation to get them to alter their habits permanently.

I've vowed a couple of times to stop watching one show/network or another and then later realized that it was a greater burden to me than the benefit of feeling like I took some sort of stand. The only boycott I've ever managed to maintain is against ABC news for their ageism against the great Ted Koppel and Sam/Cokie. But it didn't end up really being a boycott in the sense that their replacements (Martin Bashir, George Stephanopolous, also John Stossil taking over for Barbara Walters on 20/20, and Peter Jennings dying) all sucked (with the exception of Charlie Gibson).

It sounds to me like Don Imus was nothing more than junk food for the mind - it tastes good and is enjoyable, but is easily forgotten because higher quality substitutes abound that ultimately leave us feeling better off. When one gets a high cholesterol reading and is deprived of their occasional big mac which they substitute with whole wheat chicken breast sandwiches, they lose a taste for it and life goes on.

[misspp-2009]

It's time to move on. Enough already about this old outdated has-been. He should have been put out to pasture a long time ago. And all of the finger pointing at Sharpton, Jackson and the rappers won't change that. Point the finger where it belongs at Imus, MSNBC, CBS and all of the others who let him exist for this long. I personally find Imus to be disgusting. Am I a fan of Sharpton and Jackson? NO! Do I support the rappers? NO! If we don't like them, we should go after them, too. But don't blame them for what Imus did. He's a big boy.

[gerarddw]

Imus was a good alarm sensor -- By listening to him, we could monitor what old, white, political insider guys who kept up with current events were saying, felt, and would tolerate. Instead of heeding the alarm, troubleshooting the problem, and fixing it, we, like the folks at Chernobyl, turned off the alarm as if there wasn't reallly a problem except for the anoying alarm itself. Bring back the I-man and dump Sharpton and Jackson. Rutgers accepted his apology. Move on.

[monarch600]

I seem to remember that one should not throw stones and if Jesse Jackson would take a moment to remember his "himy town" comment he's want his stone back. I know of a dozen or so black d.j.s who have made worse comments than Imus and yet the double standard still exist. Free speech as long as you're only insulting your own color or sexuality. As for Rev. Al if you would listen with both ears you might have heard the same comments from Imus in the same way that some of us understood it (comedy comes from all sources Rev. not just the Apollo)
The fact of the matter is this.. Imus is an equal opportunity offender. Try being equal opportunity defenders.

[cmsix-2009]

It's just too bad he didn't stick to politicians. He hasn't been hard enough on them yet, and now such a waste, making a comment like that against innocent young women. There are plenty of guilty politicians he could be lambasting.

They should have fired him for wasting time on the job.

cmsix

Taken in context I've heard lots more offensive stuff from Snoop, Cartman and Ann Coulter. If Imus goes to satellite radio I'll subscribe immediately!