Weighing in

No, not that kind, I'm still a fatass. But more like weighing in on our weekly hot-button issue.

I don't agree with firing Don Imus. I don't like Imus. I've listened to his show a couple times years ago and was never a fan. And I don't approve of calling the Rutgers basketball team, or any other group of African-American women "nappy-haired hos." Unless of course they're hanging around the Geisha Bar at 3 AM, in which case they probably are unkempt women of African descent in the sex trade.

But while I think Imus is an obnoxious git who stuck his foot in his mouth, I also think that there are a precious few examples of free speech left in our country, and an unhealthy amount of self-righteous indignation. I think what he said was over the line, no question about it. I also think that as a representative of CBS, MSNBC and a bunch of other initials, it's within the rights of those companies to discipline their employee.

But firing him does no good. If you want Imus to learn that what he said was wrong, dock him 3 months' salary. Hit him where it hurts. Don't just cut him loose to make him a martyr to his fans and guarantee that he'll get picked up again by someone who doesn't care about the current public opinion (or at least someone who'll wait until all this indignation blows over to hire him). This accomplishes nothing. It opens no valid dialogue on race and gender relations between Imus and the Rutgers women. It doesn't pose interesting dinner-table questions for parents and children. It doesn't even do anything to change Imus' character.

I understand that in a public broadcast position, you have to watch what you say. Hell, in a private medium such as a blog you self-censor a little (unless you're Waffles). But even in the bright lights of the media, a man should be able to say something stupid, apologize, pay penance, and move on.