Some breaking news tonight, as controversial talk show host Don Imus has been suspended for two weeks by both of his employers: CBS and NBC. This after his intemperate remark about the Rutgers women's basketball team being "nappy-headed hos."
Imus attempted to make amends this morning with Rev. Al Sharpton -- yeah, like that was going to work -- although my first impression is that he appeared to be genuinely contrite. His star has faded over the last several years but he still can score points when he needs to. There is a fine line, however, between pointed social commentary and generalizing about an entire class as he did last week. That is, this is one of those cases where free speech stopped and being the proverbial yelling fire in a crowded theatre began.
Except women aren't the threat -- it's those who would take Imus' words literally and deign to do serious harm to female athletes.
These are serious times we're living in and there is a time to wisecrack and a time to shut up; especially when everything you do is caught on YouTube. If Imus can figure out the difference, he might actually set an example for Limbaugh and O'Reilly. I pray that he does figure that out during the next fortnight.
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