What I don't understand is - if this Imus guy is such an idiot to begin with - why does anyone care what comes out of his mouth???
without reading a single post in this thread, my opinion is that the idiot imus, causing this much cooler talk, is an example of how utterly boring this country has become. kisses.
First, it doesn't apply to any woman. When was the last time you referred to your mom or sister a "ho?" (teenagers: don't answer.) Second, here are some urban dictionary definitions... None of the definitions are in anyway generic or positive or even neutral. Here's the only one that is close to what you suggest: If that's what you really think of women... if you think "ho" has become part of the vernacular and means "any woman," then I pity you, for yours must be a lonely, tormented life. Now, in no post did I suggest the word ho is evident of racism. However, by using "nappy-headed" (as well as the rest of the conversation) it was clear Imus meant it to apply to the blacks on the team. Third, I find it curious that you are telling me what is racist and not when you use this phrase: I'm sure all the African-Americans on this board will be happy to learn from you that "ho" represents how they view women. I'm not saying you're a racist... merely that your use of words leaves a lot to be desired and gives a very strong counter to what you are trying to say.
So, because you listen to him and I don't, you get to decide what his "true thoughts" are? Or at least what his "true thoughts" are not? There's no getting around it... his words represent his true thoughts at that time. If no, then what are they? How do you say "nappy-headed hos" by accident? Doesn't mean he's a racist all the time. Doesn't mean he demeans women all the time. But for that brief period, he was and he did... and he compunded it by targeting a group of women who had done nothing to put themselves in the crosshairs.
didn't say it applied to all woman, but someone can use it to apply to any woman. The ho waiting tables, the ho in line in front of you or whatever. nice strawman. where did i say i thought all women are "ho's"? Guess I missed that part. So explain to me how saying the Rutgers team (with white and black women) are "Nappy head" is racist? Where's the tie-in to race here? And what about Tennessee - he said they were cute and they had both white and black players too. So is Rutgers and NJ somehow more black oriented then Tennessee? Is that what you are saying? If he called the TN players "nappy headed" and the Rutgers players cute - he wouldn't be a racist? Interesting - I'll say most of the times I hear a woman referred to a ho, it's from the mouth of a Black person. That doesn't mean Blacks see all women as ho's. Or even some, it's just more part of a particular vernacular. Most of the time, it's not meant to say they are whores, just slang....as in, "that ho has a nice bootie" or whatever. Look - I'm not saying the guy wasn't offensive - I mean, he is, he's paid to be that. I'm just saying it's jumping to a conclusion to call him racist. And to me....I mean, don't you think that the whole thing about discrimination is jumping to conclusions about people because of scant superficial evidence? Like judging someone by the color of their skin? Aren't you doing the same to hone in on one word and say - that guy is a total racist for it? Should people just take note and say, "hey - I don't know about that Imus guy - he's really pushing it, maybe he doesn't think so well about blacks?". And if he repeats the same thing then maybe he is a racist after a while. But what happened to innocent until proven guilty? Look at the Simpsons. They have a total stereotype on and Indian guy in Apu, and of a gay guy, and of Christians. So now, should the Indian lobby make a lot of noise and push the Simpsons off the air and make them apologize about Apu? Hey - I find Apu offensive. He doesn't make me laugh. He makes me think - what a crappy way to establish an image of Indians in this country. But guess what - I don't call for the show to be banned! Geez.
And to paraphrase Charles Barkley, there is a BIG difference between when an African American uses the N word than a fellow like Imus says it. If you can't grasp the difference there probably isn't hope for you, but hopefully your kids will figure it out.
Again, the dictionary can prevent embarassment... Why, it's right here... Nappy-head is not in and of itself racist. It is a marker and in this case used to designate the blacks on the Rutgers team. It makes no difference what he said about Tennessee... unless you want to consider that by comparing the two the way he did, he made the insult worse for Rutgers. Again, I never said he was a total racist. I don't know anything about that. I know for that particular moment what he said showed both racism and misogyny. And again, the difference between real people... real people who did nothing to bring this on... and Apu is evident.
I'm glad sombody sees it the way I do. If his comments were motivated by race he would have applied it to both teams. He was being a dick, no doubt, but he's not a racist. His choice of terminology was poor and it's easy to see how it could be taken as racially insensitive. But if you look at the big picture you see he complimented a predominantly black Tennessee team so it's hard to believe that racism was the reason he made the comments he did about Rutgers.
I disagree. Although I should qualify that by saying that this debate on whether this was racist or not is just semantics. The guy was a ****ing dick and has been an ass many times in the past so I'd have no problem if they tossed this guy onto the street. That being said, of course there's a racial layer behind this. Look at what he said. He said they were "rough" because they had tattoos and that this image made them nappy headed hos. It's that stereotype that black people should be "clean" and that tattoos somehow makes one a thug or dangerous. That's what Imus was saying. That the Tennessee players somehow fit his preconceived notion as to what a black person should look like and Rutgers' players did not. Come on you see that crap all the time. People somehow assume you are dangerous if you have tattoos. And that stereotype is nonsense. A guy like T-Mac has tons of tattoos but is as nice a guy as you can find. And conversely a guy like Bonzi Wells has none, but is a stupid dumbass. This type of language feeds the perception that black people need to dress, look, and act a certain way and that any deviation from that expected norm is grounds for assuming that they are rough or violent.
LOL! anyhow, the whole thing is stupid. where da hell where these people when fat ass rosie odonnel made those racists remarks towards Asians? where was the outrage? jews and blacks are the most protected groups in this country. u say anything even romotely or can remotely be seen as racist about them everybody is supposed to be outraged and media whores like sharpton and jackson come storming to the rescue. its getting out of hand, some are saying Imus should be fired, well they should fire rosie as well. the man is suspended for 2 weeks and has apologized. move on!!!
Not making any excuses for Imus since his comments were totally inappropriate, but it's pretty obvious what would have happened if a black media personality said the same thing about a group of white people. Absolutely nothing. Will the double standard ever end? Probably not. Until then i'll just continue to roll my eyes and move on with life....
No, it means I probably have a better understanding of what he thinks and believes than someone who reads quotes from a website or sees a clip on a viral video. That's like asking me if I think your opinion on a movie you haven't seen is just as valid as mine, when I own the DVD.
The double standard should not end. Whites have no reason to be sensitive about such issues. They have never been held as slaves, forbidden from voting, kept out of the best schools, and denied equality for the majority of our nation's history. There is reason for minorities to be sensitive about words coming from whites because there is a history of opression, and abuse.
Could you possibly exagerate Imus' role in this a little more? Don't forget Paul Begala (this AM), John Kerry, James Carville, Christopher Dodd et al. This was 20 seconds of trash talk that was inspired by McGuirk and was almost over before it began. And some idiots want to terminate a man's career over this? Sheesh.
Aren't you the one who was trying to claim that wetback isn't a racial slur? Anyway- 1. Imus' role in this was that he said the words. Where have I said anything different? Are you disputing that the words came out of his mouth? 2. Sorry that my list of important political figures that go on Imus wasn't comprehensive. Begala et al should stay the f_ck off his show if they wan't to maintain their reputations. 3. My daughter is mixed race half black/half white. If someone referred to her as a nappy-headed ho within my earshot, the last thing they would have to worry about is the termination of their career. 4. Get a stopwatch. Time how long it takes to say n_gger.
I really don't know anything about the Imus show but I am taking a wild guess that is built around a "shock" element. I believe that we are all being played.
This is the dumbest complaint ever....the guy is a comedian (whether u think he is funny or not)...im sure that most of these girls listen to far worse lyrics/slang on their ipods then what came out of Imus' mouth. He said he was sorry...move on. Oh...and Al Sharpton...get a life...he is a disgrace to all African Americans and I were one, Id be ashamed of how he sticks his nose into stuff like this and makes it into a much bigger deal then it is.
