The Imus Uproar

Ok, this is getting a bit out of control in my opinion. Yes, Imus made some remarks that were hurtful and mean, but the reaction is also getting out of control. If you have not heard or saw what he said, here is a recap.

From the Guardian, Tuesday April 10, 2007

Imus started the firestorm after the Rutgers team, which includes eight black women, lost the NCAA women's championship game to Tennessee. He was speaking with producer Bernard McGuirk on the air when he said ``that's some rough girls from Rutgers. Man, they got tattoos ...''

``Some hardcore hos,'' McGuirk said.

``That's some nappy-headed hos there, I'm going to tell you that,'' Imus said.

Ok, yes, its wrong, nappy headed ho's is the wrong thing to say. Its racist and sexist, even if it can be argued that it was just a joke. Just because it might be funny, its still not right. Though, I know their are worse things said by other people. And Don Imus is getting in trouble, suspended for 2 weeks, after this weeks radio-thon, which is raising money for different charities that he supports.

But, I also have to take a bit of an issue with some of the comments being fired back in response to his remarks.

Do the Rutgers girls have tattoos, yep, I am sure some of them do. Are they nappy headed ho's. Ok, this is bad, indefensible and you can't argue it.

And now, where I take issue.

"This week and last, we should have celebrating our accomplishments the past season,'' said Heather Zurich, a sophomore forward. "We fought, we persevered, and most of all, we believed in ourselves. But all of our accomplishments were lost, our moment was taken away"

Ok, you don't deserve this spotlight, this is not the spotlight that you should be in. But, after the game on Monday night, I checked the score of the game, said "aww they lost by alot" and completely and utterly forgot about the Rutgers Womens Basketball team. Unless you are in the south, Connecticut, or in some parts of Arizona, most people could absolutely care less about womens basketball. Its a flash in the pan, here and gone. So, no one has taken away your accomplishments, and no one has taken away your celebration, because no one was really celebrating you before that. Plus, if Duke's best player hits 2 free throws, you are not in this spot in the first place!!

Stringer also said something along the lines of saying that all women should be offended at being called ho's. Hey, guess what coach, head down to spring break or Mardi Gras and I am sure you will see plenty of fine young ladies acting like Ho's. So, yes, while it may not have applied to the Rutgers basketball team, it certainly does apply to many women who have spent some time in college, at least maybe once in their lives.

Of course, NOW and Al Sharpton and all the others are getting involved, to claim some of the spotlight away from the discussion and bring it up to light in general about racism and the way women are treated in the media in general. Hey, it might be a good thing to bring up as a discussion, but this is not a slight to all women everywhere, its a problem between Rutgers and Imus in the Morning. If you want to have a discussion, listen to some of the stupidity on all the morning radio shows, rock, rap or urban. Attack it all, because removing Don Imus will not fix the larger issues.

Of course, I am probably in the minority here and will get flamed mercilessly for this post, but its how I am thinking. If some of my readers hate me, I still love ya.