Well said, Ann, and spot on as always. Too many have been afflicted with a case of “Queens-of-Hearts by Proxy Syndrome.” The pundits, race-baiters, fear-mongers, NY Times editorial staff, garden variety ne’er-do-wells, hemp-saturated Birkenstockistas and other liberals are constantly in high dudgeon and having difficulty walking due to the knot in their collective panties as a result of hearing something then saying that that word or phrase “means what I want it to mean, as long as someone who is a minority may possibly be offended so I can go on an unbridled hissy-fit.”

Imus is reprobate for his remarks. They were an unfair characterization and quite frankly disturbing. (Almost as disturbing to learn that he was still on the air after all these years, I had thought he had faded into oblivion by now.) But, he said it, even if he did not mean it, and as awful as it was, he needs to take his licks.

Censuring him, silencing him, firing him are not the answers. If his sponsors want to drop him, fine, that is their prerogative. The real jury must be we, the people. If we do not want to hear racist and insensitive remarks, we need not listen to him, much the same way that most smart people in the world ignore Al $harpton. (Who knew HE had a radio show?)

There is no compelling reason why one ought be nice when dealing with folks who aren’t. As I am fond of quoting Rodney King, “why can’t we call just get along”, yet the answer is simple; some people just don’t want to and a few bad apples, etc, etc…

But all this said, where is the apology to the Duke athletes? When $harpton was Johnny-on-the-spot to offer his quick evaluation and pronouncement of guilt on the “Durham 3” he was lauded as a defender of the poor and downtrodden. Now, as it is exposed that the poor downtrodden stripper was, well, a very big liar, where are the apologies from $harpton and the others?

Does anyone see a pattern here?

God Bless and God Speed
John

Imus is an 'entertainer', and not a very good one in my opinion.

To some people, outrageous statements are simply an attention-grabbing device (albeit a rather sick one).

However, if listeners don't like what he says, they should simply turn him off.

Same thing with his sponsors. If they don't like his message, don't sponsor his show.

That's how people 'vote'.

But I'm guessing, since 9 more newspapers dropped your column after the Edwards comment, you already knew that.

Yes I would like to know where are all the apologies and where are all the black and white ministers who were ready to lynch the three white boys at Duke University, for their alleged atrocities to this African-American woman who claimed to have been raped by them. I would like to know when those three former Duke University lacrosse players will be apologized to and how bout the coach for the lacrosse team and everything else that happened all for nothing. And here we go into our second or third week of wringing our hands that what Donnie Imus said. Great column Ann, I hope you can keep up the good work and point out the hypocrisy that seems to rein in the politically correct circles of this country. I'd like to see where are all the apologies from all the professors who signed that paper and had it published in the newspaper. There are a lot of hypocrisies going on and yet everyone seems to have a short memory for those few individuals who seem to profit the most from making the biggest seen about these unfortunate comments made by Don Imus. People should listen to the audio clip of Angelina lacrosse Wisconsin on the Rush Limbaugh website. They have a whole different perspective of how to take comments made by somebody else.

Dead on accurate as usual, Ann!

I get really tired of the “word police” and their garbage about what you can and can’t say, who can and can’t say what, and which words have made their ever growing list for the day.

Growing up, I was always taught “sticks and stones”. Due to political correctness and a liberal education system (and borrowing some “Rush” terminology), today we are raising wimpy, whiney “skulls full of mush” that are afraid they’ll be called a name.

You are right that Imus should apologize to the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team and only them. Apologizing to Al Sharpton is the equivalent of me insulting Ann Coulter and then apologizing to Debbie Schlussel or Rush Limbaugh for what I said about Ann. It’s ludicrous!

And exactly when are we going to hear bull-horn Al Sharpton apologize to the 6 innocent white men in the Tawana Brawley incident, and to the 3 innocent white students in the Duke Rape case?

And while we’re at it, when are we going to relish in an apology from Jessie Jackson for his “hymie town” remark?

I’m not a fan of Don Imus, never have been and therefore never listen to him. If advertisers pull their ads and listeners turn him off, that’s their decision. But, apologize to Al Sharpton? Imus is weak. He’s not considering running for office as a Republican, is he?

And you’re right. If we are ever “treated” to a rule book of acceptable and unacceptable words and phrases and the who, when, where and how to use or not use them, it would be larger than Encyclopedia Britannica, would read like stereo instructions, and would have to come in both English and Spanish.

If I were the Durham 3 I would not want an apology. Too many people would expect accpetance of an apology. I would rather win the civil suits: against the Stripper, the Duke Admin & Faculty, the Duke Sports Dept., every media outlet that reprted me guilty, Nifong, Sharpton, Jackson, etc.

ESQ: I would want the apology for the simple reason to show that I was a bigger person than my accusers. Additionally I would play, replay and replay again the apology by Al $harpton. As he has never apologized for any of his other antics/crimes/lawsuits it would be priceless.

Sadly the Dook Administration and the cabal of 80-odd faculty members still remain irony-proof, apparently under some sort of Ward Churchill-like psuedo-cloak of invincibility. Being as far left as they are there is scant chance that they will see the error of their ways, even after losing a multi-million dollar lawsuit. (You can be assured that should such a case go to court and if the Durham 3 prevail and are awarded a huge stack o’ cash, either the school or a collective of other lefties will come to the rescue with the necessary funds to pay the settlement.)

ARGH!

Perhaps someone can explain to me how someone like Imus is fired and $harpton, Rosie O’Donnell, Bill Maher, Alec Baldwin and so forth are allowed to walk the streets.

God Bless and God Speed
John

John & Lynn - I've been away from the computer for a while...missed reading Ann's column and your posts!

Since I'm quite late, I can only say I hope Imus' lawyer succeeds in his behalf. Not that I am interested in Don Imus or his career, but the "word police" state of mind does not bode well for our country.

Ann, please keep this one on the front burner. The liberals want to "zip all conservatives' lips" and this is just the warmup. Great column!

I, too, am waiting to hear from the Duke admin and professors - Hope they will also soon be on the losing end of legal action on behalf of the Lacrosse players and coach. What a disgraceful exhibition of what our children are being subjected to in the name of education!

And, no, John, don't think any liberal will be let go due to their statements! Nor will any apologies be forthcoming!

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