Sure, we need to protect free speech in America, but that does not mean Lenny Bruce was ever entitled to a prime time network sit-com. His act belonged in the smokey side street clubs, and Imus belongs there too.
We have different levels of decorum for different venues, and I for one am very glad to see the American people finally stand up and demand an end to shock jock shout show dramatics.
Our airways are infested with a whole stable of professional hatemongers (mostly from the right) who are making millions of dollars, poking sticks at every little bee's nest they can find.
Our nightly news has degraded into a sound-byte city of snarky wordsmiths who have no regard for the true art of debate.
Our talk shows have devolved from places of public discourse and reason, to a name calling, big time wrestling exposition of closed minded bullies. The more outrageous you are, the more press you get.
If the trend continues, pretty soon our networks will be anchored by the street corner schizophrenics. (Oh well, I guess that's one way to help the homeless, but it definitely would not be my solution of choice.)
I feel bad for the fall of poor old Imus, but he will land on his feet. He wont make as much money now, or wield as much power, but he still has an audience, and he will find a another station willing to put a few thousand watts behind his rusty barbed wire tongue; of that you can be sure. Shock Jocks are like car accidents. They sadden and disgust us, but we just can't seem to look away.
My hope is that free market capitalism will solve the problem through public pressure. If people refuse to listen, refuse to watch, speak out for justice and use their buying power to influence advertisers, it will regulate the hate mongers to a smaller market share, and in doing so, reward the voices of reason with prime time shows and premium pay.
I am not about to advocate taking away any ones right to free speech. I just hope we are smart enough to prevent these people from getting rich while doing it.
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7 comments:
Well said!
Certainly thankful that you exercise your right to free speech.
Thank you so much for your reasoned and reasonable essay on Imus. I appreciate it. I heard about your blog on BWAN
i agree!! Let the market do its job and encourage people to take back their country through popular demand.
Thanks Blogmommy. But what is BWAN?
The television, Music and the Movie industry has sold us the language we hear. They make billions of dollars off people using terms as "Nigga, Nappy head and Ho." and the one word that always makes me want to do head spins. "Bitch." We are sold the language and it is ignorant to think that it will not be used. Imus is a moron, no one is in doubt of that. However, he is not the cause of this. He is the result of the language that is being sold to us every day, 24/7. Until we finally put our collective foot down and say "ENOUGH!" this is only going to grow worse.
We can not live by dual standards. What one man says has just as much effect as what the other says. We can not condemn one and applaud the other for using the same language. Because we have allowed this type and kind of language to be present in our society and into our homes we are condoning it as acceptable. Simply turning the channel or a blind eye to it will not make it go away. Nor is it going to go away while the music, television, and movie industry is making billions from it. This whole episode is so wrong on so many levels that it is almost impossible to describe it. I have said this before. Imus is like a man striking a match in the middle of a raging forest fire, and those capable of putting out the fire turn to Imus as the cause rather than seeing him for what he really is. The effect.
Tom R.
Black Deep
Well Said Tom. I like the match analogy.
Perfect.
I hope more people get tired of the disproportionate meanness of these "entertainers", too. Then again, I was once fired as a CD critic because I "like everything." :-)
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