Don Imus is no saint; he has a long history of using racist and other negative comments in his broadcast.

The comments that radio talk show host Don Imus directed towards the Rutgers University womens basketball team were completely irresponsible.

African-Americans have a right to be upset. However, they should remember that this kind of racist language in their community has been promoted for years in hip-hop music. The artists within their community that frequently use this language have greatly contributed to a new uprising of this kind of racist language in society.

After analyzing the entire conversation of Imus, it is obvious that the now fired radio personality did not intend to hurt anyone. His words are less offensive than the racist ranting of artists like Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

Imus used the comments as an effort to fit in, talking the slang many blacks choose to do.

Before the controversial phrase came out of his mouth he had stated that the girls from Rutgers University were rough girls with tattoos, referring to them as unstoppable even if they lost a game.

The next sentence out of the radio personalitys mouth was not a racist rant. But instead of looking into what exactly was said, many people, especially people within the African-American community, jumped to their defense and denounced Imus.

Its appalling that the same people later jumped into their cars and blared music on their stereo full of much worse racist talk. If they do not want other people to use this language they should not accept this kind of language to be used by hip-hop artists.

Many hip-hop artists have used these rants, some extremely explicit, in their music for decades. However, the use of this language in the real world has overwhelmingly taken over the majority of the African-American community.

The same people also use these rants as everyday language to communicate with others in their community.

The comments Imus used were clearly slang and are nowhere near an attempt be racist. However, when a white person uses the same slang, it is not OK. I believe that these comments should not be used by anyone at anytime. There is no place for them in music or on talk radio.

Don Imus is no saint; he has a long history of using racist and other negative comments in his broadcast. For example, in 1998, he used a racist rant to describe Howard Kurtz, a media critic who happens to be Jewish.

He has made negative references to Arabs and people of Asian decent. Most famously, he has stretched beyond racism calling Rush Limbaugh a fat, pill-popping loser, and Lesley Stahl a gutless, lying weasel.

This type of behavior has been used by Imus for years. For years he has also been in competition with Howard Stern, trying to be the greatest shock-jock of all-time.

However, this locker-room humor is not accepted by the majority of the American public. Many believe radio content should remain free of such humor because it is easily accessible to children.

This behavior is also deemed unacceptable by a large number of citizens and important officials, and is not acceptable for radio waves under federal regulations.

Imus was fired because a series of important people made complaints to the industry and the company he worked for took their advice. Some of the people were even people within his own broadcasting company.

The comments Imus made finally caught up with him; however, it seems that negative critics were just waiting for him to snap one last time. Imus should have been punished years ago for his behavior in such degree as he has recently been punished.

At this point Imus doesnt feel he has done anything wrong because he has done it so many times. The latest words by Imus just put the icing on the cake. People who were against his show for years finally stood up and said they have had enough. Can we blame them? Of course not - radio is not the place for such behavior.

Imus should have moved to satellite radio like Howard Stern if he wanted to engage in such behavior and he more than likely will now. There he can get away with mimicking Stern and take it to the extreme. This type of radio permits this type of crude behavior because there are no regulations and no restrictions.

Apparently, Imus forgot the radio waves he talked on were federally regulated and his behavior would eventually get his show pulled.

> Comments