Post-Imus: Responsibility, Free Speech, and Bigotry

Times are definitely changing and it's a sad reflection on society where some people can feel comfortable using such derogatory and hurtful vocabulary as Don Imus did on his radio show. The thing is though, that this isn't the first time this happened and sadly it most certainly will not be the last time someone expresses such hateful viewpoints on the airwaves.

Why has this story received so much attention? Why does it continue to stay in the news after weeks since it happened?


I think in many ways it makes reference to a schism we are seeing in American society today. Unforunately, many times instead of being united we are becoming more divided. Imus was speaking, cajoling, with others in a "locker room-type" of situation. Imus felt very comfortable, perhaps, even abot the law in expressing those views.


We should demand for equality and for an end to bigoted comments on the airwaves, but in a certain way Imus said what many people think and don't say. It's unfortunate, but it's the truth. And it's not exclusive to older, white men... let's be fair, here... it happens between and among everybody... no matter the race, religion, or socioeconomic background.


Free Speech is perhaps the most important right we have because it allows us to speak up for all our rights but to what extent can we defend someone's right to defame and belittle some young women who achieved such greatness at the Rutgers' Women's basketball team?

Imus may have been hired for shock value but even he should have realized he crossed the line and it was wrong. The belittlement of those women was wrong. The punishment should be in proportion with the behavior. There is no need to go overboard and use him as the poster child of what´s wrong in the US media but he does not to leran that´s absolutely not acceptable.