Imus, Racism, And The Positive Side Of Negativity

Is the media overreacting to Imus? The man said "nappy headed hos". He didn't drop the N-bomb. He didn't call for the extermination of any race. He just made a tasteless comment. This, at worst, deserved a behind-closed-doors scolding.

So here is what I truly don't understand. If you want to rage against Imus, please feel free to do so. But riddle me this: Why all this rage over Imus and very little mention of Kamau Kambon's televised rant about how whites are out to get blacks and can only be met by the total extermination of the entire white race? Here is a complete quote of what he said:

“We are at war. Every white person on earth is a plantation master. You’re either supporting white people in their process of death, or you're for African liberation.

And then finally I want to say that we need one idea, and we're not thinking about a solution to the problem. We're dealing with all these other things, but these are diversions from a solution to the problem. And we have to start to think about a solution to the problem so that these young brothers and sisters who are here now, who are 15, 16 or 17, are not here 25 years later talking about these same problems.

Now how do I know that the white people know that we are going to come up with a solution to the problem. I know it because they have retina scans, they have what they call racial profiling, DNA banks, and they’re monitoring our people to try to prevent the one person from coming up with the one idea. And the one idea is, how we are going to exterminate white people because that in my estimation is the only conclusion I have come to. We have to exterminate white people off the face of the planet to solve this problem. Now I don’t care whether you clap or not, but I’m saying to you that we need to solve this problem because they are going to kill us. And I will leave on that. So we just have to just set up our own system and stop playing and get very serious and not be diverted from coming up with a solution to the problem and the problem on the planet is white people."

Oddly, the only internet sources I can find about this are his MySpace page and "White Nationalist" websites.

So is there a positive side to all of this? Yes. We live in a country where you are free to say something stupid and shoot yourself in the foot. (Though I would be willing to bet that Imus' listenership will double upon his return) Let's be honest. Imus is boring. A snore-fest. This will pump life into a dying career. Conversely, we live in a country where one can express any rage that they may feel, even if that rage is somewhat irrational. So the next time somebody says something racist, sexist, or classist, be thankful. Their ability to make idiotic statements also means that you have the ability to make rational judgements and question your leaders with little fear of retribution. Instead of meeting these statements with rage, be happy that you don't live in a country where questioning the status quo is met with death. Thank goodness for freedom of speech.