Letters to the Editor
C. Mosby
Published Letters: 304 Editor's Choice: 3
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@Mishima666 re: Ask them the question
[Read the article: He's sorry now]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You wrote:
“That would be an excellent question to ask the women athletes in question. While the specific subjects of the music are fictional, the black community is not fictional. Certain rap musicians perpetuate the ugliest stereotypes about the black community. Their lyrics are populated by hos, pimps, and gangstas. A number of rap musicians have been murdered or convicted or felonies. I have no idea what damage such images do to young people, but I suspect it is considerable. Most rap music is purchased by white kids. What image of the black community does it present to them?”
For reasons I hope will be clear in what I say further on, I’m going to pick out one thing you said here in response:
“That would be an excellent question to ask the women athletes in question.”
Why?
Having seen how they conduct themselves and noting what they’ve accomplished; I don’t see a need to ask that question of them. Personally, I think it would just add another layer of insulting imposition on their lives as a direct result of what Imus said. Have THEY done something to suggest they’ve been negatively affected by rap music? What relevance do you think it has to the Imus diatribe? Do you think they speculate, as you seem to, that Imus was “wounded” by the rap “artillery”? Is it because he said “hos” instead of “whores” or “strumpets”? Did Imus in his late ‘60’s suddenly learn racist and misogynistic attitudes from rap music? Do we all now attribute Karl Rove’s sinister past behavior to his newly revealed affinity for rap music at the White House correspondent’s dinner?
I thought this article and the ensuing letters thread was about the gradual progression of Don Imus to the light of contrition after he realized what he said on THIS occasion was not going to be just winked at. You seem determined to turn it into a discussion about the cultural influence of rap. I’ve tried to answer all your questions about the IMUS MATTER directly. You have yet to answer any of mine, while persisting in attempts to turn this discussion into an analysis of the influence of rap culture on the society.
It seems we agree that rap music is not particularly appealing to either of us. I prefer NOT to participate in clouding the issue at hand with a distraction because a full-of-himself media fossil happened to use a “ghetto” term in a hateful, misogynistic attack on young women who clearly didn’t deserve it.
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To King Kaufman
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks for the article. I must admit that its intent and your objective for publishing it eluded me.
This is the last paragraph from the column you referenced about Dusty Baker’s stupid remark:
“If people like John Rocker and Marge Schott are spewing hatred, then off with their heads. Screw 'em. But if someone with a pretty good record puts his foot in his mouth, maybe swift and blinding punishment isn't the best way to go. There's more than one way to attack a double standard.”
http://dir.salon.com/story/sports/col/kaufman/2003/07/10/thursday/index.html
It seemed from this piece that the criterion for your “okay to fire” imprimatur is the degree to which past insensitive and stupid remarks by the transgressor in question can be documented. Are you not aware of the record of Don Imus?
A couple of other things you said in the Imus article puzzled me in terms of your role as a reporter:
1. “What I mean is why do the idiot rantings of an out-of-touch gasbag have such power?”
If you can’t figure that out, perhaps you could go ask his former employers. They evidently reaped the benefits of his power for a long time. They also pulled the plug. So their perspective, while perhaps dishonest, should be full cycle and complete. They may be able to explain it to you.
2. “Why wouldn't the obvious response be to blow him off, ignore him, the same way the players wouldn't give a second thought to an opposing fan who yelled, 'Rutgers sucks'?"
Exactly to whom is that obvious? The only thing obvious in that question is the complete disregard for facts, empathy and context that your analogy implies. If you didn’t appreciate the reaction from your perspective, I suggest that you could ask Vivian Stringer and the Rutgers players (or their parents). I’m sure they could explain it from theirs. You were not directly affected. They were.
By the way, if these questions are that important to you, the fact that Imus was fired, shouldn’t be the end of it. Why don’t you do some real research and get some answers that can be defended on an objective basis? Isn’t that what reporters do?
I’m just asking.
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Domini
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks, well said.
We DO have to start somewhere.
To borrow the words of June Jordan (more recently honored in Alice Walker’s book):
“We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For”
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Good job by the guys in the booth
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It didn’t hurt that the game was being broadcast by the consummate (IMHO) baseball broadcast pairing, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. They were not intrusive at any time to the flow of the game and the repartee with the guests was excellent. I think they could have handled it just as well if the game had been a nail-biter.
Can anyone imagine how this would have come off with Joe Buck and Tim (earmuffs & cyanide capsules, please) McCarver in the booth?