Curious.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Curious.....
985
Thu, 04-12-2007 - 6:22pm

I've been thinking about the recent discussion about "opinions" and the Imus case comes to mind as an example, an extreme example for sure...but an example none the less.


Here's a link to one of the many stories about this issue


http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/09/imus.ap/index.html?eref=ew?cid=CNN+Showbiz+Feed


So is it true, if someone

PumpkinAngel

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2006
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 3:24pm

It is a deflection - it is two different arguments. And no matter how many times you state that it is a double standard, it is not.

Rappers have no access to the elite political audience that Imus did. Rappers have access to our children and young adults, most with no political influence. It may be an important debate, but it still is a very difference debate than the Imus one. When rappers try ro inject themselves into the political system like Kanye West did for his New Orleans comments, they get caught in the media feeding frenzy, too.

He got caught making racists comments and held accountable. He expected to get a pass like the dozens of other racists, sexist, and homophobic statements he had made in the past on his radio show. He did not get away with it this time, because the network executives finally felt he had crossed the racist and sexist line and by targeting the exemplary Rutgers basketball. His target was so undeserving of ridicule, his vile statements were exposed to the light of day.

Huh? I compared a child apologizing to your statement that noone ever apologizes if they didn't think they did anything wrong - You must come from strong-willed, principled and inflexible stock, because in my world people apologize all the time, even if they think they're right. They apologize to keep the peace, they apologize because they're made to by more powerful influencers (parent - child example, Imus - public opinion example), and some people apologize to reach a compromise. I believe the US apologized to Vietnam to get some prisons realized.

Really, I think he's spinning in his grave.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 3:28pm
Sorry but that is an I can but you cant theory. If people want to deem a word as racist, and/or harmful they themselves shouldnt use that same word in any capacity.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2006
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 3:28pm
Do you have point to make about institutional racism? I'll just assume your kool with the concept.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 3:28pm

<<>>

How so?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 3:32pm
Can you explain why you feel this way?


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 3:37pm
Nappy-headed is a derogatory description of African American people's hair. This, in conjuction with his description of the women as "hos" (which in itself is a word with ties to the black community), make me feel that his comments were derogatory and chosen for their racial implications.


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2004
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 3:53pm

White people use the word ho just as much.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 4:07pm

I think part of what distinguishes racist comments from non-racist ones are the spirit with which they are made. I don't particularly find Chris Rocks comments on white people to be offensive. Imus's comments, from what I understand, were not made in a joking "let's make fun of making fun of people" type of spirit. They were mean-spirited. In my mind that makes the difference.

As far as rappers using the n-word-- I commented on that. The use of the n-word by the African American community is a defense mechanism utilized by many groups to take the power away from the words used by other groups to try to degrade them. I do not think that every time a white person uses the n-word it is racist. Context is everything.



iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 4:12pm

You stated something about ever hearing jokes about physical appearance, which was not what I stated.


PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: pumpkinangel
Thu, 04-19-2007 - 4:20pm

<<>>

Two different arguments that directly relate. Yes there is a double standard. Unless you can show me the media frenzy over black rappers making racial remarks in their music.

<<>

Oh please. They are played on more radio stations than Imus and outnumber him 10 fold.

<<>>

Right...the VOTERS.

<<>>

Imus is a shock jock not a political figure.

<<>>

If I make a statement to someone like...You are an idiot for speeding in a neighborhood. I am not going tp apologize for that. Why would someone apologize for saying something that they feel is correct?

<<>>

So basically you know a lot of people that use apologies to just not get into trouble. I have yet to see a true racist do this.

<<>>

What you think doesnt apply to Strohm.

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