I haven't seen any discussion on this, so I was hoping we could have a civilize discussion here on the Cafe board.

I have seen the recent news reports about Ibus (don't know his first name) making a comment about the Rutgers Basketball team being "nappy-headed hoes". ETA: Just found out, his correct name is Don Ibus.

I guess this could go along with the PC thread?? Anyway, what is your view on this?? Again, let's please have a civil discussion on this, with respect for other's opinions.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I think that at his age and with experience in talking to the public he should know better than to say something like that. And then to say he is NOT a bigot??? Of course he is. And he proved it with his big mouth.

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I'm not sure what he was thinking, I don't think anyone can say for sure. I just am so tired of the double standards and the hypocrisy. Jesse Jackson and crew calling for his resignation, please. Let it go. If you don't like him, don't listen to him. What he said was offensive, but if it wasn't on the news like this I wouldn't know a thing about it. I also wouldn't know a thing about those tremendous women on the Rutgers bball team, nor would I care. What he said about them doesn't mean a hill of beans to me or make me feel or think ill of them, and I dare say that can be said of most people. People will always say mean things about others, if it is n't true, let it go..................that's what I tell my kids and it works for them! ;0)

I think all the apologies in the world will not erase the fact that he is a racist and sexist.

I agree, if people do not like him, people should stop listening to him. I don't listen because I think he is a huge buffoon.

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Nutella,....
proving some of the best things in life come in a jar.

What he said was mean-spirited and a racist comment. He is a very experienced media personality and cannot blame this on inexperience or any such thing. From what I understand, his show is on public radio, right? If so, the public has an absolute right to express their anger and outrage at his disrespect. His advertisers have the right to expect that his words and actions will not reflect badly on them or their products. He should feel ashamed by what he said, not just sorry....because I believe that his expressed "apology" is more of an "I'm sorry that my true feelings have slipped out and gotten myself and my station(s) and advertisers in trouble", rather than an "I'm sorry that my words have been hurtful to your pride and hard work."

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"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

Dont want to start a fight about what he said, But, It's just not a racist that say things like this. I was in Wal-Mart the other night and 2 black men were talking VERY Loud and 1 of them was calling the other a MF'ER N***ER.. and it wasn't just 1 time he said it either, he repeated it a few times before I got down the isle they were walking down. This isn't the 1st time I have hear blacks calling each other the N word..I have heard women (black) call other black women Ho's, I have a good friend that has a child thats part black and she comes to school at least 2 times and states outside the room, 'Girl your hair is so nappy" her words... What I dont understand why is it OK for other blacks to refer to other blacks in this manner and you dont see it pasted all over the local news channels , But if someone outside of the race says this is NATIONAL NEWS. A person can be a racist even to their OWN kind.

Now do I think what he said was right. NO I sure don't, it was mean spirited and he had NO right to judge them based on a color, or type of hair they had. and then to call them Ho's ?? Um mm thats crossing a HUGE Line in my book, where does he get off calling ANYONE these names ??

He should be cancel IMHOfor long than 2 weeks.. I wouldn't be surprise if he got fired later on down the road.

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MyCoupons Is #1 for Holiday Shopping

Imus is a big-mouthed buffoon (I like that word! ) This time he was a huge-mouthed, obnoxious buffoon.

Personally, I think he was trying to be funny, use the kind of outrageous language that is used black-on-black...and it backfired. Should he have known better? Yes. Is he a racist? I have no idea. Should he be fired? Probably not - I think he is paid to be obnoxious. Should advertisers pull their funding? Absolutely, if they feel that his comments do not reflect well on their product of company.

cj/

What gets me the most about folks who say something politically incorrect, is that they don't stand by what they said. They said it, they meant it so please stick by it. If that is how you feel thankfully we live in a country where you can say it!

I am so very tired of celebrities who take back what they said with a half hearted apology...to me that is insulting. I think that perhaps this "celebrity" has seen what a few well placed phrases will do for his popularity and decided to run with it. Good attention or bad attention is still attention...

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#3 Gone To Race In A Better Place...

You know it is our responsibility to remember! I don't care who it is- creeps like Imus, the Seinfeld guy, or any one else who has a big mouth and is intolerant. Our job is to walk away from that type of person with our attention and our money. I would not watch Seinfeld it is was the only program on TV or Imus if it was the only program on radio. We can not allow ourselves to be lured by an apology or political promises. We can't dilute the intolerance by saying, "well, those people did it". We must set a standard for ourselves which makes a world we want to live in.

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Lyn Clarke

I do not like Imus. I do not listen to his ramblings. BUT I am for equality for ALL people regardless of what they look like. Having said that I do not feel that Imus is being treated fairly. Lots of people say stupid things, It doesn't make them racist. I do not feel this was a racist comment. There are nappy haired ho's of all races(LOL). If anything it was degrading to ALL women. But imagine a women saying degrading things about men(which most women have) Do you think if a women said this it would be viewed any differently? I DO! It wouldn't matter what race the women was, It would be viewed VERY differently. So I cannot view this situation as being equal in any regard. I wasnt even going to mention the rap songs that they give airplay to that are very degrading to women, But I guess I just did. I'll step down now. Thanks for listening to my ramblings

Well, I guess I'll throw in my two cents now. I did NOT see/hear the TV/Radio show where Imus made the comment. I don't watch him. Not because I don't like him, but, just because I don't usually have the TV on at that time, and if so, it's PBS or Disney. When I heard the clip of Imus making this remark, he appeared to be in a jovial mood, and I honestly took this as a joking, almost complimentary, remark. I took it like this "those are some fierce women, not to be messed with". I didn't take it in a derogitory way, but, then again, it wasn't aimed at ME.

Now, all this to-do over it, I think is over kill, and just ridiculous. On Easter Sunday we were watching "Happy Feet" as a Family. One of the songs in there is by Stevie Wonder, and he says, ".....i was a nappy-headed boy...." Did anyone else catch that??? WHY is it OK for him to say that, and in a kid's movie, no less!!!!

I also saw Rev. Al Sharpton (does he have an actual church, or what is HIS deal???) on the Today Show today. He made the comment about being stabbed, and how he forgave the person that stabbed him. Well, he had to interject that he was stabbed "by a person of a different race" or something like that. Now, I could have easily taken offense to that. What was the purpose of pointing that out????

I really do think there is a double standard here. People screw up all the time, no one is perfect, and we all need to accept people for who and what they are, and get on with life.

JMHO.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I agree with you. What he said was wrong and inappropriate, but I don't think he meant it as a derogatory, racist comment. He spoke before he thought what he was saying, and probably was trying to be funny (which it wasn't). I have to say though that I really despise when Jesse Jackson jumps on the Racist Bandwagon and starts organizing protests and what not. It seems that this is all the man does, and he does create more turmoil.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

Imus has a long history of racist comments and has apologized more than once so obviously it doesn't mean much. But this time I think he has gone way too far. Can you imagine how these girls must feel?

So for all those who think this is just fine - should your daughter be on TV or the newspaper and some shock jock publicly called her a whore that would be alright with you? If he had referred to your daughter's team as "red-necked hos" you wouldn't want him fired?

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"Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live."
-Oscar Wilde

Personally I do think hes got a mouth that just rambles & I think hes rude & sometimes I have wondered how he has stayed on TV once in awhile I listen to him I have no idea why sometimes I listen to people I cant stand just for kicks I guess. But after this I probably wont I dont want to him ramble anymore!!

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mom of 3 greats girls

Overkill, if you ask me! I personally don't ever listen to him. I've never liked him. He said it, he's apologized -- they should just let it go. I personally don't think he should have called them 'hoes'. Now he's meeting with the basketball team to apologize to them! Come on! I think enough is enough. To me, there's a double standard. One of my sons have a few friends who are black and they are always calling each other 'what's up, my n......er'. The blacks to the whites and whites to the blacks. All the time! Why is there such a double standard? I think for these people to HAVE to go on Al Sharpton's show or speak publicly about their apology is silly. Wonder what rehab center they're making him go to? Why is it Howard Stern (the other one) can say anything he wants and you certainly don't hear anyone calling him to apologize or if they do, he'd tell them where they could put that apology!!

It really smacks of PC! On another note, if anyone watched The Amazing Race the other night, didn't the couple who was yielded called the blonde team who yielded them 'hoes'??? I'm sure they did. Wow, nothing was said of that?!!!

See my post in the "Are we to PC" post. He said something stupid that should not have been said. Now saying that I heard it at my BF's this weekend in his neighborhood (Colored drug infested slum neighborhood). If that race is allowed to call themselves or others of that race n*****s or nappy heads why can't I?

Don't give the double standard if one race can't say it then don't say it yourself.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

I think a man of his experience should know better, I think any gentleman would know better...and I think even if he had not use the words nappy headed the fact he called a group of women *hoes* is enough..
I am so tired of women being nothing but useless objects only looked at for their sexual worth..if he can look at a basketball team and say that..he says that about all women.
I put him up therr with Stern and Rush and the rest of the so called shock jocks..you must not be worth much if your whole show is based on shock value only..and I even put Riley in that bunch..he is just as crazy and so is Nancy Grace..she used to have a half way deceont show but anymore she has become a tiring hag to watch.

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"Cast upon this globe without physical strength or innate ideas, incapable in himself of obeying fundamental laws of this nature which call him to the supreme place in the universe, it is only in the heart of society that man can attain the pre-eminent position which is his natural destiny. Without the aide of civilization he would be one of the feeblest and least intelligent of animals.."
Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard

I don't care for Imus or Al Sharpton. I'd like to send them both to an island and let them fight it out. I'm tired of hearing about it. rude comment ..foot in mouth comment ..whatever it was he apologized over and over and over. get it off the air .

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Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

I think as a society, tho, we perpetuate this. I am not saying it is OK to call a woman a "ho". However, pick up ANY woman's magazine....you'll see scantily clad women in adverstisements. Why?? Sex sells, plain and simple. I don't watch MTV or VH1, but, sometimes while flipping thru channels will come across it. Take a look at some of the "women" in those videos. We (general we) do it to ourselves, don't you think??? Look at the shows on TV. A perfect example is "The Bachelor". What woman would vie for a man amid 24 other women??? And, the bachelor is so great, yet, when they show "The Bachelorette" she's a whore, slut, ho...etc. Definitely double standards, but, I think as a society we perpetuate these things.

Also, on another note, how would people respond to "NAAWP" (National Association for the Advancement of White People)? or WET (White Entertainment Television). Also, has anyone ever seen the Dave Chappell show??? I don't regularly watch that, but, someone called me and asked me to watch one of the episodes....it was where he was playing a blind man, leader of the KKK-believing he is a white man. In the end he leaves his (white) wife, saying he can't stay married to a "n***r lover". I did not hear any broo ha ha over that.

Our society has really gone a bit wacky in all regards, IMO.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

IMHO, this was just another minor situation that could have blown over with a simple apology if Al Sharpton wouldn't have been involved. That guy is an embarrassment and does NOTHING to improve the lives of black people by having a meltdown everytime a celebrity uses a politically incorrect term.

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No, I wouldn't call for him to be fired. They need to get over it......

I watched part of the news conference, but just couldn't take it anymore when one of them said she had been "scarred for life". Good grief, she might as well hang it up now and live in a cave if all it takes is some stupid white man making an idiodic comment to scar her for life!
As for "Rev." Al Sharpton, aren't we as Christians supposed to forgive 70 times 7000?? INO, we are to always forgive. Can't have it both ways Al. He and Jesse would be helping those young women tons more if they were helping them to learn how to deal with buffoons like Imus with dignity instead of being "scarred for life"!

ARGH! Stepping down now..........

what was it that led up to the comment..how did he end up saying it..does anyone know I never watch him so I have no clue.

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"Cast upon this globe without physical strength or innate ideas, incapable in himself of obeying fundamental laws of this nature which call him to the supreme place in the universe, it is only in the heart of society that man can attain the pre-eminent position which is his natural destiny. Without the aide of civilization he would be one of the feeblest and least intelligent of animals.."
Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard

Apparently, He and another commentor were refering to a Spike Lee movie back in 1988 where the teams were called the jiggers and the wanna-be's. I have never seen this movie and I don't even know what it is called. However that is what they were referring to, and they said they were making a joke. I'm white, I don't think I've ever been discriminated by anyone b/c of my color so I don't claim to know what its like to have that type of discrimination thrown in your face. What I don't understand about the whole thing is if you are so offended Why does Chris Rock make millions off racial charged comments? Why are "hip-hop/rappers" making money and their record sales are skyrocketing every year.

I don't use words about myself that I wouldn't want someone else (of any color) to use in describing me.

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

I think its dumb that he got suspended over something so silly. First off you have to take in to consideration of who said it. Secondly what do you call hair like that? Imho nappy is the correct term. He could have left out the ho part as i think that was uncalled for, but he said it and they need to just get over it. My view may not be the popular one, but that is just my opinion.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

I think that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton try to stir up trouble so they can keep their jobs as the heads of the group they work for!
If all went smooth there would be NO need for them.

Nappy headed is not the worst, but "ho" is certainly disrespectful and hateful. "Uncalled for" is really not putting into real perspective how these women felt they were portrayed. There is not an "acceptable" place for "ho" anywhere whereas as I am sure if he had just said "nappy-headed" this would not have made any news anywhere.

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"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

I think he is a piece of **** NEED TO BE CANNED !!!!!! THAT"S MY TWO CENT

I think what he said was wrong, and very disrespectful. Having said that...I agree that the entire issue has been blown way out of proportion and that I find it hard to understand how what he said would *scar* these woman for life. the world is full of idoits, and if you let a few awful words from one man ruin your life than thats a real shame....as far as Al Sharpton..in my personal opinion, he is just trying to stir up trouble. I find it strange how he jumped off the Duke rape case bandwagon (charges will be dropped today against the players), and onto this new *cause*.

I really don't understand the fuss over using the term nappy hair it means kinky and black hair is naturally that way, would we be yelling over the term bleached blonde? I think he used the term stupidly so as to point out the team is mostly black.

What he should be lambasted about is calling them HO's- that is insulting to any woman. So why Al Sharpton is stirring racial trouble over this is pushing the racial divide once again. Noone in this country does more to divide us than he does.

And where is Gloria Alred the queen of women's issues and why isn't she yelling for his head?

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