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| Yes | 63% | 164 votes | Total: 262 votes | |
| No | 37% | 98 votes |
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Add to FavoritesDon Imus: a man who made a poor decision to make fun of a group of people by performing a terrible, stereotypical impression of a "nappy headed ho." The man has all the wit and sophistication of Beavis and/or Butthead. But since when did we forbid people with bad taste or despicable opinions from voicing them?
There is no question that Don Imus should be "allowed" back on the air, but one should surely be asking exactly what that means: allowed? By whom? To quote Ayn Rand, "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me?" If there's a radio station that wants to see Don Imus back on the air, that is willing to overlook or forgive a momentary lack of judgement, then that station is free to do so - even if Imus was to scream about full-blown genocide. The right to freedom of speech, and the right to own property, should protect such (thankfully) minority views. Alas, the existence of the FCC precludes those basic rights, but since we're arguing in hypotheticals, we might as well go whole-hog, eh?
It should be clarified, though - the argument that Don Imus should be free to express his views on air (or in print, or on the internet) should not be taken as an argument that he MUST be allowed back on the air. Imus's former employers were obviously concerned enough about his ill-considered remarks that they were perfectly willing to incur the cost of lost Imus fans than risk losing those who found his comments distasteful. This is, in keeping with the right to own property and the right to free speech as mentioned above, perfectly acceptable - even admirable. If one does not agree with the views of someone, they should be free to disassociate themselves from that person. Just because he has something to say does not compel anyone to assist him in saying it. You have the right to free speech, but not the right to an audience.
Don Imus should be so lucky to have found a new home - but this shouldn't be a problem for him, considering his past record of controversy and out-right despicable behaviour is what got him a job to be canned form in the first place.
Learn more about this author, Michael Collins.
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No
It is clear to me that Mr. Imus' points of view or perceptions of other people is clearly the result of a person with what could be mental instability problems. If not, those young ladies should sue him for every dollar that he has for the truly unkind remarks he made about people who he never met. Mr. Imus needs professional treatment, not another job where his opinions can be broadcast to millions of people.
That kind of sick humor isn't funny, and it has no real place in the media industry. As as matter of fact, I'm sick of hearing the opinions of people who, in most cases, don't know a thing about the subject in question, and just want to appear in a public forum for nothing more than its entertainment value.
There should not be a place in the media industry for people who are loose cannons, in regard to their own behavior. Worse yet, they shouldn't be allowed to promote hate or deliberately try to make fools out people who with they themselves don't agree.
As a matter of fact, each media broadcast company must obey the requirements and the laws of the Government of the United States of America. Remarks of a slanderous naturn or those opinions and/or comments made that are considered to be discriminatory in nature are considered to be a violation of the civil rights of the people in question. Then again, as citizens of the United States of America, we should all strive to "Obey, Protect and Defend the Constitution of the United States of America." "The Bill of Rights" is no less an important document that assures equal treatment of all who live within our Country.
Like it or not, Mr. Imus did unfairly treat those truly marvious lady basbetball players by asserting that they are something that they are not, and without proof of any of those ladies being what he claimed that they were. His behavior in that regard is truly a disgrace. Shame on you Mr. Imus. You aren't funny and you rightly deserve to be fired and never again be hired by any responsible broadcast media company.
As a result, Mr. Imus did violant that requirement of the Federal Communications Commission.
As such, the people within the Federal Communications Commission can revoke the broadcast license of the media company that Mr. Imus was employed. His employer had no choice but to fire him, and rightly so. It makes no sense to damage the image of other people for no other purpose than to be funny. If that was funny, than a whole lot of other people need professional treatment, besides Mr. Imus. From my point of view each of them can laugh all the way to a looney bin, and stay their for the rest of their lives.
Learn more about this author, Joseph Malek.
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