2008 Woodie Awards
Have we given this any thought…
Steven Glenn
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: Opinion
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What I can't believe is that this is the first time any of these people have heard that term before. I think I heard that term a couple of weeks ago while I was in Reed Gym. I have heard a lot worse from teammates when I played basketball and attending different events here at ISU. I'm not calling for those students to get kicked out of school.
Rev. Jesse Jackson was calling of the removal of Imus from the airwaves, but he himself was accused of similar comments made against white Jews in New York City, not too long ago. Rev. Al Sharpton, who also demanded the firing of Imus, has also had many indiscretions, racially backed and has made no attempt to apologize for them. Imus did, but he was canned.
Here are my questions: Would the members of the Rutgers Women's Basketball team even have heard the remarks if the media weren't making this a big deal? If the media didn't see ratings in his comments, would they have aired them over and over again? Was this the worst thing that Imus has said over the last 28 years? Would NBC and CBS have fired Imus if they weren't facing the loss of advertising revenue? Given the pasts of Jackson and Sharpton, why has the media made them judge and jury?
It seems society is a little off kilter when we generally accept that those in the spotlight are going to make mistakes and should be forgiven. Professional athletes, rap stars, and movies stars seem to be excused of their 'indiscretions' because of who they are. Have we forgotten about the illegitimate children created by the indiscretions of some of the most idolized members of our society such as movies stars and civil rights legends? For crying out loud, we have former KKK members serving in Congress! So why is it that only the radio personality is held responsible?
I could go on and on (as anyone who knows me will tell you), and I could really get going on the upcoming début of a Porn Star, Ron Jeremy, in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center (The 'Jewel of Eastern Idaho' is about to find a flaw).
Here are the final questions that I pose: Should we not say anything because somehow, somewhere, someone will most likely be offended? Is racism only acceptable in the comedy club, music, and movies if you are paying for it? Are a person's indiscretions a part of who they are? If the aforementioned indiscretions are merely lapses in judgment, how many lapses are acceptable in today's society? Should we as Americans be worried that we are culturally following in the footsteps of many great empires that inevitably fell? If the local distributors of pornography required a formal dress code to purchase said material, would it be considered art? Are we a better society for accepting the taboos of the past?
Rev. Jesse Jackson was calling of the removal of Imus from the airwaves, but he himself was accused of similar comments made against white Jews in New York City, not too long ago. Rev. Al Sharpton, who also demanded the firing of Imus, has also had many indiscretions, racially backed and has made no attempt to apologize for them. Imus did, but he was canned.
Here are my questions: Would the members of the Rutgers Women's Basketball team even have heard the remarks if the media weren't making this a big deal? If the media didn't see ratings in his comments, would they have aired them over and over again? Was this the worst thing that Imus has said over the last 28 years? Would NBC and CBS have fired Imus if they weren't facing the loss of advertising revenue? Given the pasts of Jackson and Sharpton, why has the media made them judge and jury?
It seems society is a little off kilter when we generally accept that those in the spotlight are going to make mistakes and should be forgiven. Professional athletes, rap stars, and movies stars seem to be excused of their 'indiscretions' because of who they are. Have we forgotten about the illegitimate children created by the indiscretions of some of the most idolized members of our society such as movies stars and civil rights legends? For crying out loud, we have former KKK members serving in Congress! So why is it that only the radio personality is held responsible?
I could go on and on (as anyone who knows me will tell you), and I could really get going on the upcoming début of a Porn Star, Ron Jeremy, in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center (The 'Jewel of Eastern Idaho' is about to find a flaw).
Here are the final questions that I pose: Should we not say anything because somehow, somewhere, someone will most likely be offended? Is racism only acceptable in the comedy club, music, and movies if you are paying for it? Are a person's indiscretions a part of who they are? If the aforementioned indiscretions are merely lapses in judgment, how many lapses are acceptable in today's society? Should we as Americans be worried that we are culturally following in the footsteps of many great empires that inevitably fell? If the local distributors of pornography required a formal dress code to purchase said material, would it be considered art? Are we a better society for accepting the taboos of the past?
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Maureen McGuire
posted 4/27/07 @ 11:03 AM EST
I am very disappointed in this post. I would expect that someone who has made it far enough to push the post button on opinions of this nature would have also thought about writing clear concise arguments. (Continued…)
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