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Imus Ruins America
F’in hell! I knew this would happen. Don Imus makes some stupid insensitive remarks, and now the watchdog groups have been emboldened. I swear to God - they are determined to get every goddamn offensive person in American off the radio airwaves. Insensitive assholes are the new Communist, I suppose.
Anyway, the story here concerns a NYC radio station owned by CBS (the same broadcasting company that owned Imus’ show) and their mid-morning show, “The Dog House with JV and Elvis.” Apparently, the day after Imus made his stupid remark, JV and Elvis made a six-minute prank call to a Chinese restaurant, in which several ethnic and sexual slurs were used. In the skit, the DJs called the employees of a Chinese restaurant and berated them, telling one women he wanted to come to the restaurant to see her in the buff, specifically the part of her body referred to as “hot, Asian spicy.” The caller also repeatedly cursed at the employees and tried to order, “flied lice.”
Naturally, the show was re-aired last Saturday. And naturally, the advocacy group the Organization of Chinese Americans took umbrage and — taking a page out of the Al Sharpton book — made it their end goal to get the DJs fired. The DJs have since been suspended, but the advocacy group has promised not to let up until the hosts and their producer are fired. Said the president of the NYC chapter:
I just see plain ignorance in the CBS management — of the community, of who we are, of what we’re all about. If they don’t fire the D.J.’s, it will be a double standard.
And this, folks, is what were inevitably going to have to deal with for the next few years as advocacy groups begin extending their assault onto other media and, in all likelihood, stand-up comedians. I’m sure some goddamn Caucasian advocacy group is already preparing itself to go after Chris Rock; the gay rights groups are ramping up a campaign against Larry the Cable Guy; and everybody else is getting ready to take down Sarah Silverman.
Damnit.
Can’t we just let the goddamn markets dictate this? Do we really need social lobbyists to do our bidding for us? Imus was a racist douchebag — so, I don’t watch him. These DJs are racist douchebags, so I don’t watch them, either. But, it’s nice to have a choice in the matter. And you know what? I hate all of those redneck comedians who belittle educated people and glorify Wal-Mart and flatulence, but I’m not forming an organization to combat them. Jim Belushi offends my sense of humor. “American Idol” offends my sense of well-being. Tom Brady offends my need to have the Colts win every game they play against the Patriots. But I don’t work up to a fever-pitch and develop a bloodthirst for rolling heads every goddamn time I’m offended.
And lookit: I understand it’s not the same thing, at least not yet. But, it may be someday soon. The PC assholes are mounting their horses, ready to take aim at everyone and everything. The country’s skin is growing increasingly thin. That stupid, insensitive racist “flied lice” bit was in a huge blockbuster film not 7 years ago (Lethal Weapon IV, I believe) and, while I flinched, no one else raised a fuss. It’s not a First Amendment issue today, but pretty soon it will be. The airwaves, cable and satellite television, and even the Internet will be completely sanitized and deprived of anything that might ever offend anyone ever again. In 10 years time, USA Today will be the most subversive thing on the planet and the First Amendment will be completely useless.
Does anyone really want that? Is this a fair exchange for getting a few racist pricks off the air?
Lenny Bruce is turning over and hurling an arsenal of obscenities from his grave. (Though, soon enough, advocacy groups will probably dig him up and cremate him, just so he won’t be allowed to offend our delicate sensibilities from the great beyond).
Update: Hip hop music officially the latest casualty of Imusgate.
Comments
One interesting aspect of this whole store was the way it involved copied media that was distributed over the web. I mean, it wasn't the original broadcast that received attention, but the copied and distributed versions that spread so quick across the web.
Shelly Palmer made this clear in "Imus in a Techno-Political World" -- a pretty good look at the controversy, from a tech point of view.
As he points out, with everyone copying and spreading everything -- we all need to be much more careful about what we say and do. Ay misstep could have intense results.
Alexandra
Posted by Alexandra | April 25, 2007 4:55 PM
Wow. I could not disagree with your post any more. That "flied lice" bit, while stale, is also totally racist and dehumanizing for Asians and Asian Americans. I'm also surprised that you play off the complete sexism of asking about a strange woman's "hot, spicy" anything! And while I see the slippery slope argument you're making, and I'm a big fan of this site, I still think you really missed the mark with the downplaying of comments that should offend everyone, Asian or not.
Posted by atchafalaya | April 25, 2007 7:12 PM
I was trying to read this bit as a failed attempt satire. There's not really any other way I can make sense of it.
I mean: Let's let the markets make decisions on social justice? Is Ann Coulter in the room? The markets aren't known for favouring the poor, the disadvantaged, the female, the black, or anyone in a minority power position.
To counter the 'PC assholes' who are against anything that might be offensive, we should just swing to the complete opposite end of the spectrum and say that nothing is offensive? Both of those arguments are totally irrational.
Again, I'm just going to assume this is satire based on the left/right political polarization and that way I avoid feeling like I just listened to Fox News rant and need to scour myself with Clorox. That way I can come back and read Quizlaw again tomorrow without feeling like an asshole.
Posted by Matthew | April 25, 2007 7:38 PM
I have to agree with the above posts. I just can't find it in myself to agree with you at all, in any way here.
Posted by Monica | April 25, 2007 7:45 PM
The only reason this is getting any press is because of the Imus deal--these guys got fired from a station in the SF Bay area less than a year ago for being unoriginal, offensive, and generally not worth listening to.
I would hope a legally trained person wouldn't confuse the right to free speech with the right to a commercial forum to spread racist and misogynistic "humor," but that appears to be exactly what you're doing. Because the "PC assholes" aren't trying to legislate these numbskulls out of business--no censorship, no FCC fines--they're just exerting social and economic pressure on the offenders' sponsors. Which sounds pretty damn clever and free-market to me.
Posted by Sara | April 25, 2007 10:19 PM
To play devil's advocate:
I can see the point that is trying to be made here. I think we can all agree that we're not big fans of the Ku Klux Klan, however, I personally have to support their right to assemble peaceably because I want that same right for myself. I can understand why these dj's are being fired - because they are being paid for what they are saying - but it is, no matter how you look at it, a monitoring of what can and can't be said.
Also, there is the very relevant point that we do have a choice in what media we consume. I live in the New York area and have heard this radio show. It personally offended me because it was misogynistic, racist and unintelligent. So I didn't listen. Which is really the most powerful thing a person can do - another shock jock is just going to take this radio slot. If we don't listen to that as well, it will go away. To fire them makes martyrs out of them and increases their visibility, which should be the last thing any one who is offended by them would want.
Look at it this way: to be offended should be thought of as being challenged - not a challenge to get these people to shut up, but rather to get them to change their way of thinking. Wiping out a word is not the same as wiping out an attitude.
Posted by Miranda | April 25, 2007 10:21 PM