Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say.
~Jake Hudson (editor-in-chief)
Don Imus has been fired from his nationally syndicated radio show. This is old news at this point... but why was he fired? Was he fired because he made a comment that was both racist and degrading to women? Was it because it was in poor taste? Was it because our nation is finally fed up with this kind of "comedy"? I would like to say that was the case, but really when it comes right down to it... he was fired because of money. All his big time sponsors pulled the plug, thus MSNBC and CBS fired him. The companies that carried Imus' show could care less about his remarks, as he has been making these kinds of comments for years without being fired... MSNBC and CBS care about their bottom line, and that's the bottom line here.
Should Imus have been fired? No, of course not... in America we have this crazy little thing called freedom of speech. This protects not only Imus, but also Howard Stern, Carlos Mencia and Chris Rock. Anyone can say anything, and if you don't like it, then don't listen, or fight back by exercising YOUR freedom of speech.
There are still racists in America, of every nationality and color, it's a simple fact of human nature. We humans have an amazing capacity for hate, and we show it more often than not. It might not be right, but it's the reality we live in.
If we are going to have free speech it should apply to everything... everything. Love, hate, ignorance, and amazingly intelligent ideas, all are allowed, or none.
Take your pick, freedom or oppression.
2 comments:
i'm all for freedom of speech, but keep in mind that imus was on the clock. he was being employed, and PAID, by someone else. he has every right to say what he wants. no one's arresting him, are they? of course not. but they radio stations ALSO have every right to express their dissent by choosing not to employ him, and the same goes for the sponsors.
ok...freedom of speech means we can say what we want... nice idea, and we the people exersize that right on a regular basis. The reality however is that censorship is rampant through out this land of the free" and for once, it was nice to see the right guy getting nailed. Don Imus did not get in so much trouble for the words he used, he got in trouble for what he meant buy using them. we hear some shmoe on the sidewalk we ignore it, but Imus is a man with the power of a national audience, and he was stupid to forget it. let him be the racist asshole at home if he wants, but on the clock? you are right in the fact he has the right say what he wants and so do we. and judging from the public reaction we exersized that right. we not only changed that channel, we used our "freedom of speech" to say SHUT UP!! his employers decided he was a liability and used there "freedom of speech" to say you're fired. Don imus can still say whatever he wants, am i wish him luck trying to find anyone who cares to listen.
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