DON IMUS

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The incident having to do with Don Imus’ remarks about the Rutgers women’s basketball team is quite prominent in the news. While the incident has been brought to a conclusion of sorts (at least for the time being) because of economic considerations, the discussion of its other ramifications continues.

Today I was in a group that debated the role that free speech should play in such a situation. It was an interesting discussion with no firm conclusions. I believe the greater problem is not whether or not the right of free speech should prevail in such a situation, but what use is made of that right. As I understand it (I am not one of his listeners), Imus is well known for derogatory and antagonistic remarks, inflammatory speech and little respect for much of anything. In that sense, he is no different from any number of other people that display such characteristics via the media.

What should be of great concern is the fact that such people are very popular and that their listeners are loyal, enthusiastic and numerous. The listeners approve of the attitudes that are exhibited by these people and, I assume, display those attitudes themselves. One does not have to search far to discover those same attitudes in many sectors of our society---arts and entertainment, business, our justice system, our government and, unfortunately, religion.

Our nation has come to accept and admire the very attitudes for which Imus has been criticized. If this incident would serve to point that out to the general public and as a result cause a change in such attitudes among the populace, the incident would serve a valuable purpose. Or is that too much to hope for?

---written by Joe F. Stierheim