|
Post by Lucifer on Apr 11, 2007 22:15:17 GMT -5
Has anybody heard anything about the firing of Don Imus from his morning broadcast on MSNBC for uttering a sexist and racist slur against a women's sports team? There seems to be a fair bit of debate about this on American news programs. Some are saying that the whole thing is being blown way out of proportion, and others are saying that Mr. Imus's television and radio programs should never again be broadcasted to anyone. I personally don't have an opinion on this for several reasons: - I'm not an American.
- I have virtually no interest in the broadcast industry whatsoever.
- I didn't hear the broadcast that is raising all of the ruckus.
- It has no real bearing on my life.
Mr. Imus has apparently made several apologies and has agreed to meet with the agrieved team, but it appears to be making no difference.
|
|
|
Post by bizzi on Apr 12, 2007 6:56:07 GMT -5
Well, I have to agree but, In the states their claim to fame is free speech is on the charter of rights.... I am not saying what he did was good or bad. Just saying that he exercised that right and is being punished for it. It's his opinion and he has the right to it just like the upper-class have the right to think they are better then us... does not make it true.. but.. just the same.
It's seems no matter where you are in north America.. the charter of rights and freedoms is more commonly used for ass-wipe.... then something people follow.
(Well the poor try to use it but the rich trump that somehow... Well not somehow.... we all know how.)
But it seems the rich get to override those rights and freedoms no matter where you go. And the only way anyone can make them stand is if they got the money to challenge these upper-class peoples in power. If not..... you can post in a forum like this one..... and hope someone cares...
Long live democracy......
|
|
|
Post by Lorna on Apr 16, 2007 11:37:53 GMT -5
Imus has been doing this for many years, and it was ok for him be politically incorrect with government, but when it came to nappy heads they were all over him......I think it was a black issue and nothing to do with rights. But just my opinion.....I don't think they should have fired him, and alot of the sponsors that pulled out will not be getting my business.....Realy was it an issue of having a bad hair day? That is what nappy head means isnt it?
|
|
|
Post by Lucifer on Apr 16, 2007 11:56:38 GMT -5
Imus has been doing this for many years, and it was ok for him be politically incorrect with government, but when it came to nappy heads they were all over him......I think it was a black issue and nothing to do with rights. But just my opinion.....I don't think they should have fired him, and alot of the sponsors that pulled out will not be getting my business.....Realy was it an issue of having a bad hair day? That is what nappy head means isnt it? I actually have an opinion on this issue, but I was reluctant to state it. I just really didn't want some pathetic loser saying, "There he goes again. Telling the broadcast industry what to to do." But I really don't care what those hapless fools think or say, because I'm pretty confident that most people can distinguish between an opinion and an order. What I say is an opinion. That said, my opinion is that Don Imus should not have been fired from his television or radio program. As you correctly observed, he was fired for something that he had been doing for years without much fuss. So, in my opinion, Don Imus crossed a line that had not, for all intents and purposes, existed. He was well within "acceptable" limits, when you use the "radio program" and "show history" as a guide. The culprits that should have been punished, if anyone, were the executives at NBC and CBS who had failed to establish an acceptable conduct policy. It is beyond me how someone can be fired for crossing a line that essentially did not exist. If the public was outraged by his comments, action should have been taken in a more meaningful and practical way. A two week suspension for Don Imus was more than adeqaute. The person or persons responsible for setting ethics policy for CBS and NBC should have been fired. And the two companies should have been forced to pay financially. And I don't mean through lost revenue. I mean that the two companies should have had to have paid "real money" out of their pockets. My personal opinion is that Don Imus should sue the bastards into oblivion. Although, this entire episode does demonstrate what the broadcast industry thinks of people. They don't give a fsck about anyone... They don't even protect their own! Sad! Just really sad!
|
|
|
Post by Lorna on Apr 16, 2007 13:36:37 GMT -5
Well said Lucifer.....some of your own opinions are some of mine......alot of ppl wont post their opinions on this, because its about racism not rights, and its a tough subject for some. I think there were some white girl nappy heads on that team too, who spoke up for them...hmmmmmmmmmm? They turned this into a joke.....any petition yet for this guy?
|
|
|
Post by Luci on Apr 16, 2007 15:52:01 GMT -5
Well said Lucifer.....some of your own opinions are some of mine......alot of ppl wont post their opinions on this, because its about racism not rights, and its a tough subject for some. I think there were some white girl nappy heads on that team too, who spoke up for them...hmmmmmmmmmm? They turned this into a joke.....any petition yet for this guy? There most certainly were some white girls on that team. Regardless of the racist issue, the point remains that his comments were the "accepted" norm for his show. People that listen to his show, expect to hear those kinds of comments. NBC and CBS had been fine with the kinds of comments that Imus and his crew had been making. So the fault doesn't really belong in Don's lap, in my opinion. No one had ever established "rules of conduct" for Mr. Imus and his crew. So the fault rests somewhere else. Somewhere further up the corporate hierarchy. By contrast, Canadian Broadcasters have an industry wide Code of Ethics that was established by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council oversee's public complaints and takes action to ensure that Canada's broadcasters are within the acceptable limits. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring that Broadacsters remain within acceptable limits rests with the listening/viewing audience however. The CBSC (Canadian Broadcast Standards Council) does not have the resources to monitor Canadian Broadcasters, so they count on the audience to be aware of what is acceptable, and what they can do when they see or hear something that is objectionable. The entire process is built on the premise that radio and television audiences are aware of the established codes -- and there are several. If the public does not have knowledge of the codes, the broadcasters are essentially free to do whatever they please. So it's really in the best interest of Canadians to become aware of them, and to know their individual rights with respect to the codes. As for petitions to have Don Imus reinstated, I'm unaware of any such action on the part of the public. That's not to say that there isn't one, just that I don't know of any such petition. It remains to be seen however, if such a petition would have any impact in this particular situation. I recall having circulated a petition several years ago when Gary Connors was fired from CHOK. There appeared, at that time, that there was no real audience driven reason for having Mr. Connors terminated. The reverse dynamic was readily apparent however. There was much public outcry over his dismissal. Alas, Blackburn Radio Incorporated ignored the pleas of the public and decided that the audience really didn't deserve any input in how Sarnia's broadcast monopoly was operated. Blackburn is a dangerous monopoly for this community. They wield far too much influence, and they've proven their criminal tendencies over the last few years. I for one, would not lose any sleep over Blackburn stations being shutdown in their entirety. I don't believe that this community really needs a small bunch of unelected self-serving goons ruling over the city by decree. Screw that noise!
|
|