I've never been a fan of Imus. In my opinion, Imus has made a career out of making fun of people who've done stupid things. It's been interesting watching his career. He's the kind of guy that enjoys being a shock jock - but at the same time covets legitimacy. It's an ego thing. He wants to be shocking, but also wants to be looked upon as a sort of a "social" and "political" ... "guru".
And he's found that the two don't mix. You can't be a "serious" clown - eventually, you come to a point where the two ethos collide.
Can anyone say that Howard Stern hasn't said MUCH WORSE than what Imus said the other day?
Of course not ... Stern has crossed the line many more times than Imus. However, there's a difference between Stern and Imus. Stern is an admitted idiot while Imus tries to claim a margin of legitimacy by getting seriously involved in political and social issues. Essentially, what I'm arguing here is that Imus has, for years, balanced a gas can on one shoulder while holding a lit flame-thrower on the other. It was just a matter of time before an "accident" occurred. Imus should have known it was going to happen - I shed no tears for him because he's a grown man. Actions have consequences - and he's living with them now.
Imus is getting exactly what he deserves.
Another point I'd like to make is that Imus fell victim to the new culture of ... I'll call it ... "apologism". That's not a real word ... but it's what I use to describe this bizarre new culture where an apology is supposed to fix everything that is broken. "Apologize early, and often" - seems to be the mantra these days and, Imus followed the mantra to a tee by tripping over himself with his rapid fire apologies and self-condemnations.
But Imus found out - apologies don't fix everything. In fact, they rarely fix ANYTHING!
Let's see if Imus has enough self-respect to go quietly into the night. He has, after all, had a great career and he's certainly at a good age for retirement. Perhaps though, Imus will attempt to make a "come back" by claiming it was drinking and drugs that made him say what he said - and that he's joining a rehab program to get fixed.
When an apology doesn't work - surely rehab will.
Won't it?
Look, we can throw stones at Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson and call them hypocrites for denouncing Imus.
And where's the news flash there? Al and Jessie have ALWAYS been hypocrites. They should have no legitimacy with anyone in this country except people of lesser mind - "sheeple" if you will. There's nothing new about the clueless buffoonery of Al and Jessie. But Al and Jessie didn't force Imus to make the comments he made.
Imus made them all on his lonesome. He made them in a lame attempt to be "cool". A white guy in his late 60's parroting young, urban, black "lingo" just to appear cool to the folks in radioland. He only used the language he did to look cool and to "prove" that he's plugged into contemporary pop culture - even though he's old enough to be a great grandfather.
It takes one hell of a lot for an old man to look "cool". Imus is old enough, and should be wise enough, to know that using urban obscene slang at his age is just ridiculous.
Hopefully, this is goodbye for Imus. I don't think so though. This is a world of intense "drama" after all and Imus still has another 10 minutes or so left on this 15 minutes of fame ordeal. By my estimation anyway.
And he's found that the two don't mix. You can't be a "serious" clown - eventually, you come to a point where the two ethos collide.
Can anyone say that Howard Stern hasn't said MUCH WORSE than what Imus said the other day?
Of course not ... Stern has crossed the line many more times than Imus. However, there's a difference between Stern and Imus. Stern is an admitted idiot while Imus tries to claim a margin of legitimacy by getting seriously involved in political and social issues. Essentially, what I'm arguing here is that Imus has, for years, balanced a gas can on one shoulder while holding a lit flame-thrower on the other. It was just a matter of time before an "accident" occurred. Imus should have known it was going to happen - I shed no tears for him because he's a grown man. Actions have consequences - and he's living with them now.
Imus is getting exactly what he deserves.
Another point I'd like to make is that Imus fell victim to the new culture of ... I'll call it ... "apologism". That's not a real word ... but it's what I use to describe this bizarre new culture where an apology is supposed to fix everything that is broken. "Apologize early, and often" - seems to be the mantra these days and, Imus followed the mantra to a tee by tripping over himself with his rapid fire apologies and self-condemnations.
But Imus found out - apologies don't fix everything. In fact, they rarely fix ANYTHING!
Let's see if Imus has enough self-respect to go quietly into the night. He has, after all, had a great career and he's certainly at a good age for retirement. Perhaps though, Imus will attempt to make a "come back" by claiming it was drinking and drugs that made him say what he said - and that he's joining a rehab program to get fixed.
When an apology doesn't work - surely rehab will.
Won't it?
Look, we can throw stones at Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson and call them hypocrites for denouncing Imus.
And where's the news flash there? Al and Jessie have ALWAYS been hypocrites. They should have no legitimacy with anyone in this country except people of lesser mind - "sheeple" if you will. There's nothing new about the clueless buffoonery of Al and Jessie. But Al and Jessie didn't force Imus to make the comments he made.
Imus made them all on his lonesome. He made them in a lame attempt to be "cool". A white guy in his late 60's parroting young, urban, black "lingo" just to appear cool to the folks in radioland. He only used the language he did to look cool and to "prove" that he's plugged into contemporary pop culture - even though he's old enough to be a great grandfather.
It takes one hell of a lot for an old man to look "cool". Imus is old enough, and should be wise enough, to know that using urban obscene slang at his age is just ridiculous.
Hopefully, this is goodbye for Imus. I don't think so though. This is a world of intense "drama" after all and Imus still has another 10 minutes or so left on this 15 minutes of fame ordeal. By my estimation anyway.
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