Very little has been said concerning the good that Don Imus has done. He has a ranch for homeless boys. He has harped about the treatment of blacks in the Katrina tragedy. How many black comics have been fired after making similar statements regarding whites? ZERO? It would appear to me that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson should have better things to do then try to destroy Imus. He has said it was a big mistake. It appears that the “Reverends” have little, if any mercy.

Wise people believe, “for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” If Imus is going to be allowed to wield so much influence through his radio show (which has been on the air longer than many people have been alive AND is televised) then he must be held to the highest of standards. With that said, Imus should be fired! I’m not judging Imus. But, Imus certainly acted callously by derogating the women of the Rutgers basketball team with his tactless comments. Imus is called a “shock jock pioneer.” If we allow him to degrade women and make racially insensitive comments, what type of pioneer are we allowing him to become? More importantly, not holding Imus accountable will create a horrible precedent for other obnoxious shock jocks. They will this they can say anything on the air and get away with it simply by muttering mea culpa.We should not excuse Imus simply because he apologized to Rev. Sharpton on the air. Imus must be held accountable for his comments. He and those of his ilk must learn that–offensive remarks chased with an I’m-a-good-person-who-made-a-bad-mistake -speech–is wholly unacceptable. Where’s ‘The Donald’ when you need him?

There is far worse hateful, inciteful crap being broadcast on television and radio that should be taken off the air before Imus. I’m not condoning the awful thing Imus said, and as a long time listener of his show, when I heard last Weds’ comment, it was not the first time I cringed while listening to his show. From time to time he, and his crew, say things I find highly offensive, but on the other hand, where else are you going to find well-done morning programming on the radio and television with interviews of leading newsmakers and journalists? All the other morning “news” programs have been dumbed down to the point of being totally unwatchable. (Today, American Morning, Fox & Friends, etc.) How could we justify the firing of Don Imus, a man who uses his show and personal resources to do much charitable work for the poor, the sick, minorities, etc., and let over-the-top offensive hate-mongerers like Michael Savage, Jay Severin, Rush Limbaugh, and Bill O’Reilly continue to spew their inciteful hate-talk? The answer to that is easy: free speech is a treasure and should be protected. All of these folks should be allowed to air their ideas and we as individual citizens should be free to respond as we see fit. Do we really need MORE censorship today? I think it’s a far better thing to use this awful incident as an opportunity to start a meaningful and useful dialog on our nation’s persistent ill-treatment of women and minorities. I, in fact, applaud Don Imus for taking the first steps by offering a contrite apology, going on the Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio program, and wanting to meet with the Rutger’s team and their families.Christ preached forgiveness – let’s accept Don Imus’ apology and move on. The problem of sexism and racism is far bigger and runs a lot deeper than this one incident.

In the past few months it seems that racial slurs have become commonplace among celebrities of all stripes. It almost seems formulaic: They drop the slur bomb, apologize to the offended, and then make a visit to the god of on-camera redemption, the Rev. Al Sharpton. Well, hey, why not? I’d never heard of Imus before this happened, but I know his name now. Who was it who made the claim that no publicity is bad publicity?>

The above was me. Just for the sake of clarity, I want to make it clear that I don’t condone racial slurs. I just think that the amount of media attention we’re giving them ensures that a racial slur will get you back in the public eye if you haven’t been there in a while, essentially rewarding the guilty.

The Imus brouhaha on its face, while serious, don’t seem worthy of the “punishment” that has been given out. One bad conversation that’s out of character is one thing, but what happened wasn’t a mistake. It came on the heels of years of derogatory and misogynistic talk. The bosses that for years have been making $$$$$$$ off of Don Imus have suddenly decided that there s an unforgivable line he and his team have crossed??? Please don t insult my intelligence. Don t feel sorry for the talk show host he ll go on after enjoying a 2 week vacation paid for by years of doing what it is he does, paid for by listeners, viewers and advertisers who know exactly what type of man he is: the good, bad and ugly.

One of the unfortunate realities that the Don Imus debacle underscores is that racism and bigotry continue to live and breathe in our society. So much more is possible. Race is an illusion from a biological standpoint. We are all of one race the human race. We are all African. We are one and connected, not separate and unequal. As explained in the ground-breaking PBS series, RACE – The Power of an Illusion:

Race is so fundamental to discussions of poverty, education, crime, music, sports that, whether we be racist or anti-racist, we rarely question its reality. Yet recent scientific evidence suggests that the idea of race is a biological myth, as outdated as the widely held medieval belief that the sun revolved around the earth. Anthropologists, biologists and geneticists have increasingly found that, biologically speaking, there is no such thing as “race.” Modern science is decoding the genetic puzzle of DNA and human variation – and finding that skin color really is only skin deep. However invalid race is biologically, it has been deeply woven into the fabric of American life…

As Professor Joseph Graves, Jr. teaches:

The traditional concept of race as a biological fact is a myth…Nearly everything you think you know about race is a social construct. You don’t have to be a racist to be wrong about what race is. That doesn’t make the effects of a belief in race any less damaging, or the situation any less perilous. Most Americans still believe in the concept of race the way they believe in the law of gravity they believe in it without even knowing what it is they believe in… We have paid dearly for the policies of racism, and are continuing to pay in a currency of despair, unfulfilled dreams, and blood…We are paying now with academic underachievement, the drug epidemic, health disparities, unequal justice, urban malaise, and the ongoing social and political division that still exists between the socially defined races. Every time we pay, we slide closer toward hell on a road paved with our racial misconceptions. We will continue to pay until we reject the notion that there are biological races in the human species, and that race determines an individual’s worth…If we can understand that all allegiance to racism is ideological, not scientific, then we may be able to silence the bigots once and for all. We may be able to construct social systems that allow all of our citizens to actualize their biological potential. If we can live up to our creed of equality for all, then maybe we will have a chance to finally actualize the true spirit of democracy and the American dream… Racism is not a neccesary feature of human society…People ask, ‘Professor Graves, you say biological races are not real?’ I say, ‘Yes. Biological races are not real, but socialized races are real as a heart attack, and do not confuse those two.’ There are no genetic barriers to dismantling racist ideology; it is a question of whether we want to.

This is totally ridiculous. Al Sharpton, to this day, refuses to apologize for slandering a District Attorney in his Tawana Brawley hoax, but he expects Imus to not only apologize but kill his career? Sharpton is a hypocrite. Imus’s remark was horrible and racist. He’s apologized and offered to make it right. Now it’s between him and the Rutger’s team he insulted. The rest of us, let’s move on.

We can continue to talk about this injustice until the end of time and it will not change because we have become accustomed to the garbage we tune in to hear and watch! If you cringe a little it’s your spirit trying to tell you something is wrong. It’s time to stop asking ourselves why this world in we we live is so bad, it’s because “if you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything”. Blame yourself for the state our world is in. Don Imus’s apology was an appeasement to the producers not the young women who were savaged by his derogotory comments! His 2 week suspension is a joke, and we are still laughing!

It’s interesting that everyone is bringing up the fact that Imus has done great stuff like his Cancer Ranch which houses black children and all of his outcries about Katrina, but if he really had such a compassion for minorities and humankind then he wouldn’t have even had it in his mind to say these hateful words. I don’t excuse him and could care less because all of his good deeds are erased everytime he opens his mouth to say something offensive and not just this occurence but any of his “shock-jock” behavior. CNN contributor Roland said it best when he said that this is even beyond race, it is an issue of morality. Let us not forget that there are many that claim good deeds but aren’t necessarily good people. Let Christians not forget that it said in scripture, that not everyone who cries out Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. A man is justified not by his works but by God’s grace and even Imus will have a judge to ‘fess up to when it is all said and done.

Mr. Imus is not a person. Simply take a look at his face. It is evident that this man loathes life. There are signs of contempt for others and no signs of compassion on this man’s face. Who he really is speaks from his face. He is one of those things put here on this planet to cause grief for others and he takes joy in doing so. We should not forgive, acknowledge or consider his existence. He is merely here with his only purpose…that is to cause others pain.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IMUS IS AN INTERESTING CHARACTER, AND I KNOW HE HAS WORKED HARD FOR KIDS. I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK THAT RACIAL AND SEXIST SLURS ARE ANYTHING NEW. THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE IMUS’S COMMENTS. I FEEL THAT PARTICULARLY HIS GENERATION, FOUND THESE THINGS “COMMONPLACE”. I MEAN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS! I LIVED IT.I GREW UP IN AN IRISH NEIGHBORHOOD WITH AN ITALIAN LAST NAME. THAT WAS TROUBLE. I REALLY FEEL VERY STRONGLY, THAT AL SHARPTON, AND MANY OTHERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE LEAD OF BILL COSBY, AND ALL WHO ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THIS WORLD! DO PARENTS EVER HEAR THE WORDS OF GANGSTER RAP, WATCH VIDEO GAMES, SEE MOVIES? I WORKED WITH CHILDREN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS,FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, AND I KNOW HOW DESTRUCTIVE THESE THINGS CAN BE.WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THAT? WHY IS THIS REPITITIVE DENIGRATION LESS IMPORTANT THAN A COMMENT THAT MAY HAVE GONE VIRTUALLY UNNOTICED? I ALSO KNOW FROM A CHILD GROWING UP IN NORTH PHILA. THAT THE “N” WORD WAS AS COMMON AS COULD BE. I HEARD IT MOSTLY FROM MY NON-WHITE FRIENDS. IRONICALLY, I LEARNED LATER IN LIFE,THAT I AM PART BLACK.I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF IT. I REALIZED WAY BEFORE THAT, YOU JUDGE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE, AND WHAT THEY DO, NOT THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR THEIR NAME.THE RUTGERS TEAM DID SO TREMENDOUSLY! I SUGGEST THEY FORGIVE, NOT FORGET AND MOVE ON. THEN THEY WILL BE EVEN BETTER ROLE MODELS! CELEBRATE THEIR VICTORIES! FREE SPEECH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. BUT, WHY DO WE RAISE SUCH A HUGE MEDIA EVENT OVER ALL OF IT? IS IT POLITICAL OR FOR THE GREATER GOOD? PLEASE LET US FOCUS ON THE BIG ISSUES! THESE ARE GENOCIDE, GLOBAL WARMING, WORLD PEACE,RAISING THE NEXT GENRATION TO BE BETTER THAN US!WITH PEACE, LOVE, JOY AND HOPE TO ALL!

Who cares about what Don Imus says? The problem is that we have too many expectations for some people and too little expectations for others. Why do so many people pretend to be shocked by the comments of a man who represents the majority??? Instead, be shocked by those same comments that are made by the minority…about, the minority.Forget Don Imus. As an African American female, I’ve been raise to be “on guard.” So, I don’t care about his apology either way. However, I wouldn’t mind one from Snoop Dog, Jay-Z, Cam’ron, G-Unit, the YingYang Twins all others who refer to us as “nappy headed hos.” I have was taught to be “on guard” for them and continue to be blind-sided by what comes over the airwaves.And let’s remember, the real powers that be are CBS Radio, MSNBC and the Human Resource departures that air Imus’ show and lock people of color out of production jobs.

it is amazing to me, how everything that is done or said relating to black folks is suppose to be forgiven, or not made a big deal of. what do you think would happen to Imus if he said something like that relating to a jewish person? His suspension would have been immediate. Let’s not forget, for years whites have been throwing stones at blacks and nothing had been done. we get angry for a minute, then it is over. well this time, we need to make him accountable and maybe the rest of the idiots, including black folks who denegrate themselves and women will see the light.

WOW! I COULDN’T HELP BUT COMMENT AGAIN! THE JUDEO CHRISTIAN WORLD SAYS IT BELIEVES, “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF”.JESUS ALSO SAYS “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, EVEN THE TAX COLLECTOR DOES THAT.” “HE WHO CASTS THE FIRST STONE, SHOULD BE WITHOUT SIN” (I AM PARAPHRASING FOR SURE.) THIS WASN’T A BIG NEWSMAKER TODAY, BUT A WORLD HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HAS FORMED. TO HELP A SCHOOL UNDERSTAND THE HATRED, HALF OF THE KIDS WHO WORE THE “JUDE” STAR OF DAVID PATCH TO REPRESENT THE JEWS, WERE GREATLY MISTREATED. THEY WERE SPIT ON, HIT WITH STICKS. THE PROJECT HAD TO STOP, THEY WERE SO BADLY MISTREATED!! THIS IS TODAY, WITH CHILDREN WHO PROBABLY ARE NOT WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE KU KLUX KLAN.IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS STILL OK TO PUT DOWN JEWS AND CATHOLICS! AND OF COURSE, IT IS STILL VERY ACTIVE WITH WHITE “CHRISTIANS”. I HAVE BEEN TOLD CATHOLICS ARE NOT “CHRISTIANS”. PLEACE LOOK UP THE WORLD HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. I KNOW IT IS ON ABC.COM. GOODGLE THE EARTH TO GET A BETTER VISUAL PICTURE OF THE CURRENT HOLOCAUST IN DARFUR. WHAT ARE ALL OF US DOING ABOUT THAT? PLEASE, WE REALLY ARE ALL ONE, LET’S ALL, I BEG OF YOU HELP WITH THE BIGGER ISSUES! WITH LOVE, PEACE AND HOPE! SUSAN

Living by choice in a black, cold empty hole, one survives by the feel good heat created by making oneself feel better about themselves at the parasitic use and expense of others. Discernment requires the opposing streams of lightness and darkness, but when one chooses only the darkness, then the discernment of self-reflective mirroring that is food for growth is not accessible. Imus’s statement reflects more about the sorry state of his unbeingness than about anything else and I wouldn’t trade places with him for any amount of lifetimes.

REMEMBER: JESUS WAS A PALESTIAN JEW, AND LOOK WHAT WE DID TO HIM! YES A JEW!AND COMING FROM THAT WORLD, HE MOST LIKELY WAS DARKER SKINNED! GANDHI SAID HE MIGHT CONSIDER BECOMING A CHRISTIAN, IF HE MET ONE WHO ACTED LIKE JESUS! AND GANDHI, ONE MAN (WITH DEVOTED HELPERS) SAVED INDIA FROM BRITISH COLONIALISM! DOES OCCUPYING A COUNTRY WHEN THEY WANT YOU TO GO, SOUND FAMILIAR? BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, MY SON FOUGHT THERE, AND BECAME LEGALLY BLIND THERE. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT COMMENTS LIKE IMUS MADE ARE NOT SMALL ISSUES. BUT, PLEASE PUT MORE OF YOUR ENERGY ON THE BIG STUFF! WITH PEACE, LOVE AND HOPE, SUSAN, AGAIN.

Seems to me that that “phrase” that Mr. Imus used is used plenty between and among people of color – distastefully so, yes – But can we please accept, forgive, and get on with our lives?

I feel this whole thing has been blown out of proportion and it’s time to let it go. I’m tired hearing about it.

I BELIEF WE SHOULD SPEND OUR TIME BRINGING OUR FATHERS, SONS,HUSBANDS HOME. SPEND TIME LOOKING FOR POOR AND ABUSED CHILDREN . FEED THE POOR!!! GIVE SHELTER TO THE HOMELESS!! I BELIEF THAT IMUS DOES SO MUCH GOOD FOR OTHERS. AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE COMPLAINING PLEASE, PLEASE GROW UP!!! WASN’T THERE SOMEONE (JESUS) WHO SAID TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.

I agree that we should forgive Imus. But he must be held accountable for his actions. God forgives His children. Be he also disciplines us for our disobedience and our wrongdoings. I’m not a mind reader but I’d bet that Imus knew that his and his cohorts’comments were out of bounds. We can’t ignore the fact that the whole crew laughed when one of the commentators essentially called the Rutgers women’s baskball team “Raptors,” “Grizzlies,” and “Jigaboos.” That cannot be overlooked. That has to be addressed. Imus must be called to the carpet. The captain must go down with his ship! Imus must be fired!

Mr , Imus’s remark was very distasteful to say the least. But the phrase was invented by our people degrading our women.This phrase is used daily , I can’t believe Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are shocked.( They do not represent me . ) They are a disgrace to our people . They are out for themself’s and most black’s knows it.There will never be peace among the races as long as these type of people keep the trouble going.Bill Cosby is my hero. But they don’t like him either. Mr. Imus could be fired but they would keep the trouble going, and theysay they are men of God.Give me a break.I think Mr. Imus should aplogize to the women on the baskeball team and they should forgive to show they are the better people.This remark will cost him in the long run . Peace. Bill Martin

The good revernd Sharp pain in the butt,is nothing but an ambulance chasing civil rights leader,looking to make a buck where ever he can,Imus made a wrong comment,appologized..done get over it people,ever listen to the so called gangsta rap?…hell of a lot worse…and while your at it people,look up nappy in the encyclopedia…it means pretty well tight frizzy hair,and i seen that team,they are a bunch of rough looking girls,and thats not being ment as an insult,it’s just the way they appear,and when i last looked,there’s a lot of white girls on that team….and one last thing…black comedians,so called civil rights leaders have made not so nice comments about white people for a long time,not a word is ever said about it…so in end,should of he said what he said?…no!…but lets not crucify him and burn him at the stake…sheeeesh,get a life people… Joe

Why is it that a white man makes a comment about other races and he’s considered a racist and condemmed, But if a black person makes a racial remark about a white person it’s overlooked and it is done all the time. When will all races be equally treated.How many times must whites apologize and blacks get away with it. equality for all races not just blacks.I for 0ne feel his apology’s should be accepted,and let it go.So he made a comment about their hair, I have bad hair days too.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF BLACK RACISTS IN THE PUBLIC EYE.I HAVE SEEN IT AND HEARD IT MANY TIMES IN THE MEDIA. SO ALL THOSE RACISTS WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.” JUDGE YE NOT LES YE BE JUDGED”HERES ONE MORE FOR YOU THOSE WITHOUT SIN LET THEM CAST THE FIRST STONE. WE ARE ALL GODS CHILDREN IF GOD CAN FORGIVE SO SHOULD WE.

You know, I get so tired of the “majority,” especially in this country, telling me and my people to “get over it” and “forgive and forget” when the issue of blatant racism and racist comments, especially when made in a public and massive medium come into play. Not only are the citizens OF ALL CREEDS here who are genuinely and justifiably outraged speaking out and demanding accountability, but MAJOR COMPANIES are stepping up to the plate and pulling their ads and business from both Imus’ show AND MSNBC!!! And it’s about damned time!!! I have yet to hear the same “majority” tell the Jewish or Asian communities to “build a bridge and get over it” whenever offensive acts and verbal assaluts are leveled at them. As far as the “good deeds” Imus has done, I could really care less. To me, that’s like telling me, “Sure, he helped lynch hundreds of Negroes, but he also built three hospitals and contributes monies to many universities — and feeds the poor, too!” Now THAT insults my intelligence and infuriates me. The question is not about how “good” this man is, and it’s certainly not about the many so-called good works he’s done. It’s about him attacking and ridiculing hard-working young women who defied odds and busted their collective rumps to embrace an extraordinary dream; young women who did not deserve such degradation and humiliation at the “expense of comedic value.” It’s about how comments like this triggers painful memories and experiences within those subjected to such degradation, and about individuals from the Baby Boom era to Generation Y taking a stand and not taking such “comedy” lightly. MSNBC has fired Imus and cancelled his show. Again, many powerful companies have pulled their support and ads from both he and the network. Now we shall wait and see what CBS will do — whether they will stand by that slap-on-the-wrist admonishment or morally follow suit.

It’s GIVE ME A BREAK TIME people! Please see my blog at the URL. In case the URL doesn’t show in messages, here it is again: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-sf1BB0IyeqoCp68IeMK6sfs-?cq=1&p=2222 Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Be With You, Cal-el & Black Canary

Have we all forgotten Jesus bending over in the dirt and writing, then standing and asking “He who is without sin cast the first stone?” I am not condoning Mr Imus poor behaviour or his slur, I believe he should pay for his mistake, but we all make stupid mistakes and poor choices. The only folks I see who are behaving with true dignity are the women who were on the court that night. They are willing to meet with Don Imus and FORGIVE him, get to know the man and allow him to get to know them. Shame on Al Sharpton, who apparantly has allowed his heart to be hardend by this world, he is not setting good christian example in this situation. The forgiveness we show others is the love others see in us as christians…….they will know we are christians by our love. Unforgiveness keeps us in bondage.

Mr. Sharpton and Mr. Jackson do not represent me. They have no right to question Mr. Imus as they have. He has apologized, let it go! Who cares about his heart? That’s his karma and his alone. Sharpton and Jackson need to work on their own karma. They are the biggest phonies! The buddhist way is to allow Imus and his producers to apologize and move on! Everyone knows those Rutgers ladies are awesome! Who needs Don Imus, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson to validate women? They are all mysogonist as far as I’m concerned and i have met my share in these United States

i forgot one thing………does anyone remember Tawana Brawley? No wonder we didn’t hear from Sharpton regarding the Duke Lacrosse team. Treading on familiar ground?

The real loss here is that Al Sharpton and other African American Christian clergy did not see fit during Holy Week to hand over this situation to the God who loves us out of our understanding. There is power in forgiveness, which is not to say control. To forgive is to feel the power of God taking your life and transforming it into a gift of love. Sharpton’s first loyalty ought to be to God not to his political self.

I hate racism; I feel that it is appalling. However, what happened to freedom of speech? Not one single comment here mentioned that we are all entitled to our feelings and freely speak them. It’s not like Don Imus headed up a group of racists to storm the Rutgers women’s basketball team with guns and ammo rushing at them calling them “nappy-headed hoes”. He called them a name and that’s all it was. Why should he have to apologize? Let the guy go. There’s plenty of offensive remarks being said on radio and if every radio personality was expected to apologize for all those offensive remarks, we’d hear nothing but apologies all day long every day. Forget it. It’s just not worth the energy being spent on this. Use the energy for more positive change instead of the negativity that this is perpetuating. Get over it.

I BELEIVE THIS WAS WRONG,BUT THE INTENTIONS WERE NOT RACIST, HE DISRESPECTED THE YOUNG LADIES AND OWES THEM THE APOLOGY,NOT THE AFRICAN MERICAN COMMUNITY,I BELEIVE SHARPTON HAS USED THIS AS HE DOES ANY OTHER SITUATION TO JUMP ON THE TRAIN OF RACISM AND HIS OWN PERSONAL COMPLEX,,, XOXO REY>

There are so many negative comments made towards white people than any other race out there. But, I do not see them getting bent out of shape and wanting to sue this person and that person. Calling people names is wrong. But, when you get down to what really matters in life, how is this person really effecting you on a personal level. Don’t let people rent free space in your head. Let it go for your peace and practice forgiveness for your peace of mind.

Continued from the above. Or stay angry, hateful, resentful, and maybe you can even choose retribution and see what that accomplishes. The most racist remarks I’ve ever heard are from the Afican-American race against themselves.

Don Imus got a 2 week suspension, and that was enough punishment,IMHO. People should leave “religion” out of the debate – period. Ruining his entire career is pointless and yes I listened to his program and he insulted every group known to mankind. No one says a word when blacks are undermining other blacks, whether they are a “celebrity” or not. Yes, I am a black woman and dont appreciate his comment one bit, but it was no different than having some black MALE saying the exact same thing on a daily basis. Now what does “religion” have to do with it?

I am actually glad that Mr. Imus so obviously showed all of us that there is hurtful thinking that causes separation, and it is right and a blessing that all of us get to look at ourselves in light of such a very prejudiced ‘jojke’, inculturated in white male training, both in the need to depreciate black women, and women in general. I feel the hurt of it as a white woman and for my black sisters. . IF we can come to a place of uncovering and looking at ourselves from voices such as these, then we will become more than we are. May I look to my ownself to uncover what is not true. blessings and peace.>

A certain group of people are always looking for something to cause problems and whine about, as if they have always been the underdogs. Give me a break…being treated bad is evenly shared..not just one races problem! Just look at all the problems pointing fingers does! This is the real world..you hear way worse on TV all the time…grow up and leave the guy alone…those girls probly call each other worse than what he said…geez..whats the world comin to when they want to put you in jail for talking! Who here is innocent of prejudice and judgement and name calling? Who here doesnt think they deserve better? Who here then, can cast the first stone?

If the public is so offended by the statments made by him, and I find them unacceptable for any person heard by others, then continue the uproar and subject ALL people who are heard by others being so crass, vile, and filthy: such as the rappers filthy words about womanhood.If people would not buy filth, then it would go away. How can anyone with any respect for mankind and womanhood accept what is being played on the radio, tv? I refuse to listen to filth, refuse to watch trash on the tv, and try to conduct my own actions with respect to others. A person who allows such language to be around them demeans humanity.Why hasn’t there been an uproar for the so called music with filth in it, and the tv programs that allow lust, bigamy, sleeping with any and all people to be shown on primetime? It looks like it is the acceptable behaviour if it is shown while children are exposed. Wonder why the kids today have such low opinions of others, when what they are exposed to on a daily basis is allowed? What happened to having respect for yourself and not accepting the unacceptable?

Unless this columnist and/or others on this thread and elsewhere are members of the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team, it is not our business to either or accept or reject Imus’s apology to them. We have no business speaking for them or weighing in on an issue that had nothing to do with us and did not effect us in any way (unless you had a child accidentally listening that day).

The reality of the world that we live in – is that some people say what many people are thinking – and they get into trouble for it. I think that more people should say what they think whether they are “joking” or not – rather than live in a world without freedom of speech and where everyone is keeping their true feelings secret in order not to be judged.Sure people’s feelings will get hurt – but you know what – everyone has the right to say what they want. Racism might be illegal in most countries – and in some simply a social faux paux – but it’s the biggest elephant in the room that everyone wants to pretend isn’t there. I have been in the company of white people who have the highest esteem for some of their fellow black colleagues – in public. In private – the racist comments and jokes come out. These same white people donate to AIDS charities for black babies in Africa – yet make comments such as “Once a nigger, always a nigger” – I’ve heard it. I’ve heard black people say that whites will never change – whites have no taste, white people have no rhythm etc etc ad nauseum. The world we live in a racist, xenophobic, culturally biased and most of all hypocritical. The majority of people that have criticised Imus and the Rappers are closet bigots who want to perpetrate to be all high and mighty. Give me a break. I am black and even I am racist at times such as when crimes occur – I always assume it’s a black person. Is this wrong ? Yes. Do I care ? Not at the time. Do I feel guilty ? Yes. Would I apologise ? Yes. Do I still do it the next time it happens ? Yes. Freedom of speech is slowly dissipating. As they say – I’m not a bigot, I hate everyone equally !