Don Imus

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by 100% PURE WHOOP ASS

OF CORSE YOU CANT cause your probaly a white guy, and wouldnt understand at all[.]

Statements about one person's inability to understand another person's pain are both ignorant and offensive. The mere fact that someone has not experienced something firsthand does not mean they are incapable of understanding it. In fact, if this were so, than education would be meaningless because the point of education is to help us understand those things we have not experiened (Have you been to Antarctica? Know anyone that has? Yet, I bet you understand that it exists).

Much of white america has not experienced racism. That does not mean that the majority of white america cannot understand it. Rather, it is the very attempt to understand it that has created the enviroment neccessary to end the permisiveness of overt racism. For blacks to discredit whites understanding of racism b/c they have not "experienced it" is to end all hope of reconciliation and improvement of race relations.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Statements about one person's inability to understand another person's pain are both ignorant and offensive. The mere fact that someone has not experienced something firsthand does not mean they are incapable of understanding it. In fact, if this were so, than education would be meaningless because the point of education is to help us understand those things we have not experiened (Have you been to Antarctica? Know anyone that has? Yet, I bet you understand that it exists).

Much of white america has not experienced racism. That does not mean that the majority of white america cannot understand it. Rather, it is the very attempt to understand it that has created the enviroment neccessary to end the permisiveness of overt racism. For blacks to discredit whites understanding of racism b/c they have not "experienced it" is to end all hope of reconciliation and improvement of race relations.

Well said.

As for people who suggest that the Rutgers team should not be so sensitive, I say this:
Racial comments are not the same as other insults. If somebody calls me a jackass, or a douche bag, it does not imply that I am sub-human. However, in my opinion, racial slurs are meant to degrade a person to the point of being sub-human.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

As for people who suggest that the Rutgers team should not be so sensitive, I say this:
Racial comments are not the same as other insults. If somebody calls me a jackass, or a douche bag, it does not imply that I am sub-human. However, in my opinion, racial slurs are meant to degrade a person to the point of being sub-human.

I understand that point of view and agree that the use of racial comments are intended to degrade. My response to that, as to the Rutgers team, is not that they are being oversensitive but, rather, that they some of them appear to be claiming injury beyond the actual harm caused.

The original remarks were degrading. Yet, they have been universally condemned (I know I keep coming back to this point, but I think it is significant). It would be one thing if there was even some debate as to whether the remarks were permissible but there isn't. Everyone has turned to these Rutgers players and said "Imus is an ass, ignore him - We don't agree with him AND we think his remarks are hateful and ignorant. We believe you are talented athletes deserving of respect."

In light of the public response to the remarks, one of reassurance and affirmation to the Rutgers players, I cannot see how irreparable harm can have occurred by the remarks.