I have watched and/or listened to Imus on many occasions, and, yes, some of what he has said on his program is far from being politically correct. But I hardly think that this incident warrants his termination.
I am looking at the broader picture here. If we continue to fire talk show hosts and other entertainers because they made remarks that offended select groups of people in this country, what then will be deemed "acceptable" or "allowable" for broadcast in the comming years?
If you stop and think about it, just about everything you say could be taken as offensive to SOME people. It's like the old saying "you can't please everybody." So what now? Do we stop making provocative statements altogether for fear that we might offend someone? Do we have all our on air dialogue written out on nice little cue cards and have that dialogue be heavily researched and approved by focus groups? Is it going to get to the point where everyting we hear on radio or TV is going to be all "warm and fuzzy" and full of phony happy talk because everything has to be "politically correct" and "family friendly"? I hope not.
Now, I am NOT saying we should open the flood gates and let every neo nazi or other hate based organization on to the air waves at will. What I have a problem with, is the basic feeling that most Americans harbor. "I don't like what this guys says, therefore, he must be SILENCED." I ask you all, how FAIR is that?
I am offended many times by conservative talk hosts, and right wing religious broadcasters who constantly bash liberal thinking people such as myself. But do you see me calling for them to be silenced? No. And why? Because, as much as I may not agree with what they say or what they believe, I respect the fact that they have rights too. And I also know that if I were to ever say something provocative on my radio show (not likely to happen seeing as it is a music based program), I would want people to respect my right to freedom of speech and/or expression. Just as I would respect theirs.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. I know this, and so do most people on this board I'm sure. Like it or not, there will always be people in this world who feel it is their duty to silence that which offends them. Or who feel that they need to shelter their children from anything or anyone who does not share their same values. There will always be people who feel they have the right to force their values onto the rest of us. Who beleive that if they can't listen to or enjoy a certain kind of radio program, then, by god, NOBODY should be able to enjoy said program, and that's the way it is.
