Oh Imus!

Finally, Don Imus was fired. I'm sure people like Al Sharpton are happy about it and people like Bill Maher believe that free speech has been compromised. I honestly do not understand what the issue is. Obviously, it was an insulting remark that Imus made, and he did apologize. OK, apology accepted, lets move on with our lives. But no, we cannot do that because this is not his first offense and this comment is just too much for those poor innocent college girls to take, therefore, Imus needs to be fired.

Seriously! Those girls are in college and I'm sure they are being called things just as bad all the time. Ive heard people on my campus being called horrible stuff that no one should be called, but somehow, that doesn't seem to bother anyone. Just to be clear, I am not defending Imus here. Its just that I see a very clear double standard exposed by this incident that no one seems to be talking about. Boys address others as "dawgs" all the time. Personally, I would be insulted if anyone addressed me like that. However, I seem to be the only one that seems to be bothered. Some of the songs that I have heard "stars" sing are deplorable! They refer to girls as "bitches" and "whores" and worse things than that. In fact, these songs have the "n word" constantly repeated in their lyrics. How is that OK?

Apparently it is because as someone told me "they are artists and they are expressing themselves." Really? what was Imus doing then? Another argument I have heard made often is: "don't listen to it if you find it offensive". Why then can we not turn of Imus when we don't like what he says?

Herein lies the double standard I see. Everyday I hear black people listen to despicable music that talks about girls just as Imus did. In fact, blacks are the ones singing the songs! They dance to it and think it is the coolest thing. This to me is self degradation defined. However, when someone else calls you something you call yourself everyday, it becomes an issue. Why is that? Why don't we all avoid using these words? Why don't we fire all these singers who make money out of putting us down? Most of all though, why do we enjoy it?

Something I read long ago comes to mind: "If you put a low price on yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise it."