I just noticed that a couple of the comments from the Don Imus post did not get bumped off...if you listen to the responses, please disregard those...

I.C. Jackson

Eh...

Freedoms come with responsibilities...

Just because one has the freedom of speech, it doesn't give them the right to slander anyone else...and whether the 'nappy hair' is truth or no, it is tasteless, and the "hoes" comment is definitely slander.

I do agree that Black America is doing a lot of unnecessary whining that will accomplish absolutely nothing...but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have said ANYTHING...

It's just a shame how Oprah and everyone else is taking advantage of these girls for ratings, putting them on their shows so the coach can say the exact same stupid thing that doesn't mean or change anything...you know...

I.C. Jackson

EXACTLY!!!

It's all for media attention and dollars. If they REALLY had a problem with the "n-word' and all of the racist degradation of such phrases as "nappy head hoes", they would have come after Ice T, NWA, and 2 Live Crew YEARS AGO...

among others...

I.C. Jackson

Thanks Clayton!

Yeah...you know I wouldn't stop dropping in on you and your blog without a good reason! :-)

Glad to bring some good news...but it sounds like we have a hardcore freedom of speech advocate in our midst...Imus' firing was the worst news you heard all week? Please elaborate...

(waiting anxiously)

I.C. Jackson

Hmmm...

I am going to check out those blogs today...

You've got me thinking already...let's see what happens. :-)

I.C. Jackson

While I agree that the both of them do chase the limelight way too often AND I think they should have not chased this story or the Duke case, I have heard the rail against the negativity in Hip Hop and ohter places in the black community. You just don't see it broadcasted all over the place unless it is about stuff like this. And what is all this venom recycled over and over again getting us? Oh well, everybody has to vent somewhere.

I will say this: It is amazing to see how people who ascribe to a particular political/ideological label, pattern their behavior to be so dogmatic of it. Liberal this and conservative that. Is anybody really that rigid? I guess so but that is one of the main reasons people can't make progress as a whole. And I have yet to see or hear one so called black conservative decry Imus's statements. Maybe I'll check out some more conservative blogs to see if there is any balance at all.

Anyway, much blessings to you I.C.J., may your journey to birth be as peaceful and painless as possible. Twins........you must be incredible.  

Thank you, Roz!

I am TOTALLY incredible, by the way! :-)

The Black conservatives that I know of who addressed the Imus situation did so when it first dropped and have since moved on. It just isn't something that really warrants as much attention as the civil rights ambulance chasers have given it...

Now don't get me wrong, it's controversial, it's messed up, yeah, yeah, yeah. But at the end of the day, that man meant what he said, there is no need for his half hearted, half witted apologies, and those who don't like what he has to say can either boycott his show or withdraw support like his advertisers did. Good for them. The Black market is too big for them to continue supporting blatant racists...

All the melodramatics are for the ratings of the radio and tv show hosts who have no problem exploiting others for their own personal gain. None of Rutgers' appearances have done one solitary thing to end racism, raise awareness (like that's really necessary), or anything except increase ratings for Al, Oprah, and everyone else who is willing to drag this thing out forever.

And yes, people really are that rigid. I am a staunch conservative because I am really cut like that. I was like that before I knew it was called "conservativism"...

and with the bipolarity of this country's moral systems, there really is no gray area...you are either a saint, a prude, or a flat out heathen....anything in between, and you're kind of a hypocrit...or just flaky.

I.C. Jackson

I had no doubt about your "incredibility"! LOL!

I worry about the country being so rigid. Leaves no room for change, or others who don't fit the mold. That can lead to societal disaster. Even for this great nation.

As far as the extremes? That is why we as a nation and why people in general have such a hard time resolving anything. Too stuck in their own systems of thought to even see that sometimes they may be wrong. Nobody is perfect but in practice nobody seems to actually belive that.

Lastly, perhaps if so called conservatives made a bit more of a stink about it (not the way your token targets did) then maybe others would come around to listen a bit more. I think most blacks on an individual level lean right but have no reason to embrace the machine.

I feel you...mostly...

I know that it is said that 'it takes two wings to fly'...

and people can be rigid without listening...

but what happens when your belief system causes you to be unyeilding in certain areas? We're not talking about budget cuts only versus budget cuts AND tax increases...on those kinds of things, compromises can be made...but we're talking about morality. I can't compromise on my morality...AT ALL...

so some fights my side will win, and some we will lose...

and I agree about your comments on conservative behavior as well as the Black community...we just have to keep working on it. 

I.C. Jackson

uh oh...its Roz B of the Race Police Task Force!

What Imus said was stupid.  There.  You happy?

Eh...

Faggot kind of implies a hate for the whole gay community...or at least for what they do. I'm sure you don't hate gay people, but hating homosexuality? There's nothing wrong with that. I hate it, too. But that doesn't make me call them faggots, though...

Otherwise, why call him anything at all related to his sexuality unless you harbor a disdain for it? Yeah, you hate him, but that ain't all...

I believe in freedom of speech, too...but where should the lines be drawn? With freedoms come responsibilities. If we let these freedoms go unbridled, who is to stop anyone for publically inciting riots against a group or a people without consequence? What's to stop Black Nationalists for getting on the news and saying that we should kill all the honkeys, and we're having a rally today at such and such a place and time to gather our weapons and kill all the honkeys?

I know it's an interesting topic, and placing restrictions, even minor ones, on one's freedom of speech seems unfair. But, there are some safeguards that have to be put in place, say, for times when one's speech indirectly causes the impediment of another's rights (as in the kill the honkeys example).

At the very least, in this instance, those who don't like what Imus has to say should withdraw their support from his program and/or lobby for others to do so. All of these insincere apologies are useless and an insult to my intelligence...

Take care, Theo...

I.C. Jackson

Good points I.C..

Bottom line? Freedom of speech is not free. There are responsibilities and consequences to it all. And in the interest of balance, esp. living near Cincy, the KKK and their yearly rallies which speak of the general destruction of everyone not white.

Imus: He talked to the Rutgers team. That was the first place he should have went if he was really sorry in the first place. If they forgave him then it is time for us (past time actually) to move on and get into the nuts and bolts of the discussion.  

Well, wherever there are "hos" the "pimps" aren't too far behind or lurking in the dark making sure the "hos" are making them money...Al and Jesse are just pimpin the black community at their own leisure on topics that are anywhere closely related to "race"..and they do nothing but fuel the every growing race relation problems.  It really boils down to the double standard that goes on in the black community because if say Steve Harvey, or Chris Rock or even Dave Chappelle(sp?) were to use honky, cracker, nappy headed ho in a routine, most folks wouldn't bat an eye and if anything would be laughing..it's the double standard that I have a problem with, let alone the fact that most (black) people have become desensitized to phrases such as nappy headed ho so unless its directed at us we'll dismiss it. 

I personally don't condone what Imus said, nor do I think or agree with his assessment that the Rutgers women are in fact nappy headed hos, however, I don't think he should have lost his job behind it.  We do have freedom of speech and we have a choice to listen to his show well, not so much now since its gone but I digress..we can listen or not listen, and yes, there should have been some outcry behind his statements but not to this degree of foolishness that went on with it. 

Twins!!! yayay!!! How exciting! I'm glad you're back to writing when you can, you know I enjoy the dialogue

Glad to see you, too!

And thanks...

I.C. Jackson

The double standard comes right down to history and how the blacks and whites have related to one another for hundreds of years. And then the unwillingness to delve deeper into the conversation with each other. That would require admitting mistakes and wrongs and then committing to make progress. That has never been a strong point with the majority without irritation. As far as internally, we have to address those issues too but at this point we must realize that it will never be publicized like cross-race incidents. Also take note to how it is framed when a black person does get air time when criticizing the black community. But that seems to be another topic that I would love to get into.

I too, don't think he should have lost this job. But he will be fine, satellite will pick him up after the merger. He was trying to be funny but let's be honest: that type of sentiment is true of him and others. Passed to them and onto others. The change is in the details.

I think relationships will automatically improve when people are willing to be real and open...neither of which either of our communities does with much consistency (speaking of the whole and not the exception)

But we have done such a great job of dividing ourselves with 'multiculturalism' that it's almost impossible to cross boundaries and barriers for the sake of fellowship. Don't get me wrong; I believe that knowledge of one's native culture, and even practice if one is so inclined, can be productive and beneficial. It is certainly good to know where one comes from. However, the American culture is not something that has been upheld for a long time, and when it is, more of us will finally have a common ground to start with...then just being human and open to new experiences and new people will do the rest...

Most Black Americans have conservative values, but are so politically ignorant that they vote for whoever pays them the most attention or promises to do the most in our communities...as more of us learn to recognize the tricks, the lies, and the truly ineffective, we naturally migrate.

Man, if more of us just knew the actual party platforms...

but you get my drift.

And I'm glad you can laugh at the "white folks" jokes...most comedians really mean no harm with that stuff...

I.C. Jackson

Great points Chad.

Why are not more Blacks conservative? More of them are than you think. They just don't vote that way. As much as black conservatives yell about how the "right" is the way, they hardly take the time to be in the community working the message in a practical way and tye it to what is considered conservative/republican voting habits. And whether it be true or not the perception is that there is no true commitment nor true affection for the concerns of the black commuinty. And bringing up Abe Lincoln as many conservatives do only insults most thinking blacks. Also only showing up in an election year does not help either.