2008 Woodie Awards
Three events in past two weeks connect
Costello's World
Todd Costello
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Opinion
Originally published: 4/19/07 at 4:03 PM EST
Last update: 4/19/07 at 4:03 PM EST
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The last two weeks have been crazy. In my mind, three events seemed to just string together both weeks.
First, I give you Don Imus.
There is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about the old-school racist that hasn't been said already by every news outlet in America.
Do I think what he said was wrong?
Yes.
Does firing Imus accomplish anything?
No.
The argument was simple: There is no room in today's society for such blatant racism.
I agree, but now that 300-year-old Imus is no longer on the radio, is he less of a racist?
He was fired before he could even meet with the Rutgers women's team to apologize. Either way, something had to be done.
When sponsors pulled the rug from under Imus, they made the decision for the network to end his career.
At least wait until there is a result before firing Imus. Something could've been accomplished, and Imus probably would never mention a racist comment on-air ever again.
And let's face it, the bottom line that Sharpton, and everybody else coming down on him, is racism that is on-air - spoken by an old white guy - is wrong.
If you're a follower of Imus' show, you know this is not anywhere close to some of the other offensive comments he's made.
I think it's more of a disappointment when I see Ludacris - who is very well-spoken in interviews - on daytime television.
I see him talking to women across the country on Opera, and he's banking on a career made from the same words that Imus muttered for five seconds on-air.
Yes, I know Ludacris is black and has "rights" to a lot of words white people made fashionable about 150 years ago.
But, can somebody step up for once and lead by example instead of pointing fingers and making up excuses?
One of my favorite comedians is Richard Pryor. If you like Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock, Pryor is the black comedian to thank. He never used the n-word and wished people would stop using it in the future. Looking at his wish now, it's as laughable as his stand-up.
First, I give you Don Imus.
There is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about the old-school racist that hasn't been said already by every news outlet in America.
Do I think what he said was wrong?
Yes.
Does firing Imus accomplish anything?
No.
The argument was simple: There is no room in today's society for such blatant racism.
I agree, but now that 300-year-old Imus is no longer on the radio, is he less of a racist?
He was fired before he could even meet with the Rutgers women's team to apologize. Either way, something had to be done.
When sponsors pulled the rug from under Imus, they made the decision for the network to end his career.
At least wait until there is a result before firing Imus. Something could've been accomplished, and Imus probably would never mention a racist comment on-air ever again.
And let's face it, the bottom line that Sharpton, and everybody else coming down on him, is racism that is on-air - spoken by an old white guy - is wrong.
If you're a follower of Imus' show, you know this is not anywhere close to some of the other offensive comments he's made.
I think it's more of a disappointment when I see Ludacris - who is very well-spoken in interviews - on daytime television.
I see him talking to women across the country on Opera, and he's banking on a career made from the same words that Imus muttered for five seconds on-air.
Yes, I know Ludacris is black and has "rights" to a lot of words white people made fashionable about 150 years ago.
But, can somebody step up for once and lead by example instead of pointing fingers and making up excuses?
One of my favorite comedians is Richard Pryor. If you like Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock, Pryor is the black comedian to thank. He never used the n-word and wished people would stop using it in the future. Looking at his wish now, it's as laughable as his stand-up.
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