I know who Don Imus is, but I've never heard his talk show. Similarly, I know what catfish is, but I've never tasted it.This morning, the Today show practically tied me down and shoved a 646-pound Mekong giant catfish down my throat -- without the decency of giving me fries on the side.
Matt Lauer (whose job I still want) grilled Imus on his comment about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Then, my future predecessor questioned Rev. Al Sharpton about the incident.
After a break for the local news (where, thankfully, Imus was not mentioned), the Today show returned with Meredith Vieira interviewing the "Reverend" Jesse Jackson, Jim Carville, somebody from the Urban League and somebody else who had something to chime in about.
All in all, it was almost 30 minutes of non-stop coverage of Imus' comments and how they were inappropriate, racist, insensitive and grounds for firing him.
I do not have a strong opinion on what should (or should not) happen to Imus. My gut says that he should take his suspension then go back on the air. To be honest with you, I really could not care any less about that than I already do.
What irritated me about this morning was:
- the inexplicable and unjustifiable amount of time given to this incident on prime morning broadcast television (given all the other more newsworthy stories to choose from), and
- the fact that the objectionable phrase was quoted over and over (and over and over and over and ...) again by the very people who were calling for a man's career to be ended because he said it one time.
Thanks to these offended folks, the offensive phrase was spread wide and far -- far beyond the audience who would've heard it if it had been limited to Imus' show.
If a disparaging comment were made against a friend of yours, would you go around telling everyone within earshot the comment that was made -- or would you keep it to yourself? Would you throw kerosene on the campfire or a bucket of water?
It's been a long time since I've gotten all worked up over a current event like this. To be honest, they just aren't my passions anymore. But for the love ... this was (and is) ridiculous.
5 comments:
all i can say is finally, something "big" enough to push anna nicole smith to second story!
the last number of weeks where political messes from gonzales to reed to scooter have to take a back seat to things like imus and anna nicole...and other hollywood celebs (incl. sanjaya :) tomkat, brangelina, etc. ) just show how much we only look at news as entertainment!!! what a sad display of "culture".
thanks for being sad at what is really the problem!! i recommend reading "amusing ourselves to death". it will mess with your perceptions of the news!
Do you know that while we were watching Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harting battle it out, and hearing about Kurt Cobain's death, the entire nation of Rwanda was going through a genocide?
Our media is warped.
And yet you continued to watch the claptrap that is called the Today show. Even through a half-hour newsbreak.
Expressing your opinion here is good, for you. But it won't change anything. I doubt anyone from the Today show reads your blog (maybe they still do if they are following up on the restraining order they took out against you when Couric was still there). Send a letter to someone who matters. Notify sponsors -- their money speaks loudly.
The news media gives us what we want or what they think we need. Until they hear otherwise from us, they will continue to give us the some old stuff. And we'll continue to take it.
End of rant.
notifying sponsors is not going to do anything...why? well it is like telling stockholders...the bottom line is that they are maximizing profits. a news that entertains with silly stories IS great for sponsors!
the change that needs to happen is in the public. just look at fox news...it becomes the most popular--not because they are the best, but they noticed and responded to a change in society...
Raj, I hate to disagree with you, but it was complaints to sponsors of Imus's radio show, generated by Sharpton and Jackson, that caused CBS Radio to fire Imus just two days after they said they were suspending him for two weeks beginning April 16. Two major sponsors pulled their support and then it became an easy business decision for CBS.
But without the pressure on the sponsors, Imus would be going to work on April 30. Sponsor money speaks volumes. And Les Moonves heard it loud and clear.
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