EDITOR'S NOTE: In June 2004 I began a new venture as managing editor of both Northfield News and Faribault Daily News. This column originally appeared in the Northfield News on April 14, 2007.
You can make all of the arguments you want supporting Thursday's firing of radio personality Don Imus, but please don't fool yourself into thinking that his firing from CBS radio was about anything other than money. In an effort to prove how ethical and above reproach his company is, CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves said Thursday night in announcing Imus' firing: "There has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society. That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision." For anyone who may have believed this statement, I have some land to sell you in the Everglades. Imus' firing was not about CBS' - or anyone else's - concern about the effect that language has on society. CBS fired Imus because his gargantuan-sized gaffe of referring to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" cost them money; in the last week big corporations such as American Express, Sprint, Staples and General Motors had pulled advertising from the network and the list seemed like it was going to continue to build. Pinched by the ol' mighty dollar, CBS cut Imus loose. It's that simple and I wish they'd at least say so. Because if anyone wants to have a conversation about the importance of language, let's talk about words that really do matter. Sure, Don Imus insulted some very intelligent college women with a sophomoric, playground name. But, honestly, if you're listening to Imus, you should be aware of what you're going to hear. And if Imus' comments truly did hurt the psyches of any of the women on that basketball team, they better pack up and head back home to Mom and Dad's because they are ill suited to deal with the real challenges in life. But back to the argument over language's importance in society. I will agree with CBS' Moonves that language matters. As someone whose work relies upon the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, I believe I see the effect of language everyday. However, let's not be surprised when a radio personality who for three decades has made his living being irreverent and shocking, refers to a women's college basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." Did the women deserve it? No. But beyond the fact 10 women's basketball players were insulted, what impact did Imus' remarks have? Now let me point out two other recent events involving language that haven't drawn anywhere near the fire that "Imus-gate" has, and it doesn't seem that anyone is going to lose their job over. Let's start with the first right here in Minnesota. In news reported Thursday, a St. Louis County Board member, in defending his position on a vote about a smoking ban, recently stated that if his constituents wished him to, he'd support slavery. His exact quote was: "(I)f the people in my district had voted for slavery, and if the vast majority had, and I was representing them, the answer is yes, I would have voted for it." Now as serious as a statement as that was, the commissioner still has his job and will continue to represent thousands of people who live in the Duluth area. Considering the effect that slavery had and continues to have on millions of people worldwide, the commissioner's remark seems a bit too flippant for acceptance. And yet no one has blown up over it. I submit to the jury that St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson deserves a far greater punishment than Don Imus is receiving, and yet I doubt that it will come. And then there is the statement on her website made by right wing maven Ann Coulter, who is no stranger to controversies over things she has said. On April 4, the exact same day Imus committed his blunder, Coulter posted this comment regarding the tragedy in Darfur and what the U.S.'s role should be on her website: "These people can't even wrap up genocide. We've been hearing about this slaughter in Darfur forever - and they still haven't finished. The aggressors are moving like termites across that country. It's like genocide by committee. Who's running this holocaust in Darfur, FEMA? This is truly a war in which we have absolutely no interest." And although she flippantly dismisses the killing of thousands of people and says that it's not important enough for us to care, what have you heard about it? I'd venture to guess next to nothing. I ask you, of Don Imus' ridiculous name-calling and Coulter's callous remarks about the genocide in Darfur, which is more serious and could have a greater negative effect? Well, you know my answer, and I don't see anyone running to pillory Coulter. CBS' Moonves is correct in that the language we use and permit is important, but don't try to tell me his decision to let Imus go is an improvement in public discourse when the likes of Commissioner Nelson and commentator Coulter are still employed. - Devlyn Brooks is managing editor of the Northfield News. He can be reached at dbrooks@northfieldnews.com.
Comments