IWA for Sunday 041507

Hey folks,

Yes, there is no big surprise this week. EVERYONE knows this weeks winner. Not only is he this weeks winner, he is the frontrunner for the Idiot of the year. Don Imus.

Here is a guy that has been on the radio for nearly two decades. He has raised a lot of money for charities and has been well liked by a lot of people.

Think about this folks. He got to get up in the morning and go and do a job, get well paid, and go home. The difference in him and most, he LOVED what he did. I would. Most would love to have a job that they love going to, that more than just paid bills, and gave them a headache. He got there. He made it.

But this all came crashing down by his own stupidity. Three little works ended it all. "Nappy Headed Hos" Those three words ended his career. Those three words destroyed all the good he had accomplished in the past. Three words that he should have known better.

Now I know that you could argue that these words are out there and even being used on a daily bases. You can argue that double standards that exists in our society. But for someone who uses words for a living, Don Imus HAD to know that HIS use of the words would create a major problem for him.

Take me for example. I KNOW that there are certain words and phrases that I REALLY need to stay away from. I know that I, as well as Imus, have a Constitutional RIGHT to say them, but I am intelligent enough to know that even though this is the truth of the matter, I will pay a dear price for their utterance. I may win in the end, but the damage may be too much to recover from. So I avoid the whole battle.

I have no idea what Imus was thinking, or if he was thinking at all, but I would be willing to bet he agrees that due to this momentary laps in judgement, uttering those three little words has earned him the right to the Idiot of the Week Award.

Congratulations Mr. Imus, You ARE the Idiot of the Week. Not only that, you are without a doubt, the frontrunner for the Idiot of the Year. You may of may not believe this, but I really do wish you the best.
Peter

Personal Offense Vs Free Speech.

Hey folks,

For those of you that have known me for a while, know that I’m a proponent of Free Speech. I have gone into battle over free speech side by side with some people that I do not even like. Both privately, and very publically, I have taken on some major and minor companies out there. I even forced one News organization to shut down an entire section of their business because they could not, or would not, answer a simple question.

I said all that to say this, when I saw this whole Imus mess, I KNEW what was coming. Like a bloodied person in the water, the sharks are now swarming. The push is on for censorship and control of the First Amendment. Let me try to explain what I mean.

Do I like Don Imus? No. Never listened to his,, no wait,, maybe on Tuesday back 2002, I may have got about a minute of his show. I think I may have seen it for a micro second while flipping through channels another time. Basically, I’m not a fan. But know that he gone and said something stupid, EVERYONE has heard of him, and the push is on.

According to CNN Entertainment -Rutgers players describe how Imus' remarks hurt

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey (CNN) -- Don Imus "has stolen a moment of pure grace from us," the captain of the Rutgers women's basketball team said Tuesday, responding to the uproar over the radio host's description of the players as "nappy-headed hos."

Essence Carson and other players spoke out at a press conference in their first public statements since Imus' inflammatory remarks last week.

"I would like to express our team's great hurt, anger and disgust toward the words of Mr. Don Imus," Carson said. "We are highly angered at his remarks but deeply saddened with the racial characterization they entailed."

They are offended. Because of this, Imus is in serious trouble. I have an old saying that I should start using again more. An offense is only an offense when it is taken as such. Chose not to be, and you CANNOT be offended. How weak is one that can allow someone else to have that much control over they emotions. Why bother. Why would you care what ANYONE thinks or says. But either because they were told to be, or they truly were that weak, they became offended.

Then you have this COMPLETELY ridiculous statement. I smell the quest of money.

"Our moment was taken away -- our moment to celebrate our success, our moment to realize how far we had come, both on and off the court, as young women," said sophomore forward Heather Zurich. "We were stripped of this moment by degrading comments made by Mr. Imus last Wednesday. What hurts the most about this situation is that Mr. Imus knows not one of us personally."

That statement just speaks for itself. He has apologized but for some, that is not enough. Now they want him fired, fined, I still smell a lawsuit coming. Was what he said stupid? Yes. Should he have apologized? Yes. You know, my Grandmother use to say that if someone says something about you that is not true, who cares. Forget it. Why let it bother you? Good advice. Do you know how many times people says things about ME that isn’t true? How many times I’ve been lied about? Called names? ETC. I could spend days on days, being offended. Why should I? You can’t fix stupid. People are going to say and do stupid things all the time. You cannot let it bother you. But then again, if there is a possibility of MONEY involved? Fame? You get the point.

Now also according to Reuters -Team to meet radio host Imus after race remark

But this is what I’m talking about. YES I’m going long again here, but here is a "Open Letter to the News Industry" by a group that has NOTHING to do with this case. A group that is just trying to get into the act and make a name for themselves. What do they want? CENSORSHIP. Here it is,

The National Lesbian &Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) would like to commend the management of NBC News and CBS Radio for their decisions to suspend host Don Imus for thederogatory remarks made on his program in reference to the RutgersUniversity women's basketball team members. This is an important recognition of the fact that while we believe in free speech, which is
critical to a democratic society, media organizations that give amplitude
and credibility to speech have a duty to ensure that it is fair, accurate
and free of discrimination and bias. Speech which is hateful and
discriminatory should not be tolerated, particularly when done in a forum
as powerful as today's broadcast media.

However, as an organization whose mission centers on the coverage and
portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals (LGBT) by
the news media, we must also ask that this action not be viewed as the end
of this very important discussion. Following the incident MSNBC issued a
statement that said in part, "While simulcast by MSNBC, 'Imus in the
Morning ' is not a production of the cable network and is produced by WFAN
Radio. As Imus makes clear every day, his views are not those of MSNBC."

NLGJA would encourage all media outlets and companies to take a careful
and thoughtful look at the content included on their air, in their pages
and on their Web sites. As the conflicts and issues facing the citizenry of
both the United States and the world become increasingly complex, it falls
to the news media to help individuals make sense of the decisions they must
make. The ability of the media to be a strong and credible voice in the
public forum is compromised when news outlets and organizations allow
hateful, discriminatory and harmful speech to go out under their banner.
Whether produced by the organization or not, the ultimate responsibility
rests on the decision makers who allow them to be broadcast or printed.
This responsibility extends to those members of the media who are guests on
programs that fail to see that there is a line between free speech and hate
speech.

In the past, MSNBC has shown leadership in this area. In 2003 the cable
network fired Michael Savage for making anti-gay comments on the air. MSNBC
recognized their responsibility and took action. As most know, however, Mr.
Savage continues to have a public forum with his radio program.

NLGJA would also like to applaud Rutgers' women's basketball coach C.
Vivian Stringer for reminding everyone that the members of her team are
"valedictorians, future doctors, musical prodigies ... They are young
ladies of class, distinction. They are articulate, they are gifted." The
Rutgers players have carried themselves with distinction, grace and dignity
throughout this incident and its aftermath. They deserve the highest
commendation.

NLGJA encourages members of the news media to keep constantly and
consistently in mind the power and the trust that the contemporary media
landscape offers. We must never lose sight of the fact that we are depended
on to offer information, knowledge and clarity. We diminish and devalue
that responsibility when we allow discriminatory speech to compromise the
public forum.

NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators
and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate
coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and
provides professional development to its members.

They, like so many other "activist" groups out there LOVE free speech. When it comes to them. But if you or anyone else says something they do not like, well, then they want to silence you. In some cases, they want you destroyed. But tell THEM they are not allowed to say something, and the lawyers, ACLU, other "leaders" and even some in the MMD seek to destroy the one saying they cannot say it. Let us leave aside all they racist, hate filled, and stupid, comments that people like Sharpton, and Jackson have said in the past for now, shall we?

Free Speech IS a right in this country. Being offended is not. Was what Imus said stupid? Yes. Does he have a right to say it? Yes. Does the MSNBC, and NBC have a right to suspend, and even fire him? YES. They can fire him for any violation of the polices he agreed to at hiring. But does this mean that we need to censor and infringe upon free speech for all? No.

Take my advice folks, little people will say little things. Chose not to be offended. Just know that they cannot help themselves. They have little minds that are not worthy of your time and effort to be hurt or offended. It really is, just that simple.
Peter

Sources:
NLGJA
CNN Entertainment -Rutgers players describe how Imus' remarks hurt
Reuters -Team to meet radio host Imus after race remark