Roker: There is no joy in what has transpired...

Posted: Thursday, April 12, 2007 11:52 AM by Jaclyn Levin

(From Al Roker)

There is no joy in what has transpired over the last week. From the utterance of those foul, vile words to the dropping of Don Imus' program on MSNBC, this has been extremely difficult.

As someone who called for the dropping of his show, I take no personal satisfaction in the Imus program's removal.

I am proud of the courage our president of NBC News, Steve Capus, has shown in making this difficult decision. I'm gratified by the hundreds of e-mails I've received thanking me for my stance. And I appreciated the other hundreds of e-mails I got that were less than complimentary. Why?

A line has been drawn as to what is acceptable and what will not be tolerated. A dialog has been started about race in our country. An opportunity has been created to start holding responsible those who produce and broadcast offensive music lyrics, both rap and rock, that denigrate and marginalize women.

We can use this time to really look at ourselves and dig deep to create a world that our children will be proud to inherit. Diversity, inclusion and acceptance are great goals to strive for.

For all those who think this punishment is too harsh, consider having to explain to your daughter why someone would call a person they didn't know, a "nappy headed ho". And by the way, for all those people who posit that the phrase is rooted in the black community, it is not. My childhood neighborhood of St. Albans, Queens, is a middle-class neighborhood. People keep their homes neat and their lawns mowed. I never heard the word "ho" in my neighborhood or in my parents' home. To this day, when I go back to take my kids to see their grandmother, there aren't young black men on the corner calling women "hos".

In the end, this is not about Don Imus or his producer, Bernard McGuirk, who often set the ugly and hateful tone of the "comedy" bits they produced. The ten young women of the Rutgers Women’s basketball team showed how unjust and wrong the humor of the Imus program is. Mr. Imus says he's a good person who said a bad thing. That may be true. Certainly his charity work speaks to that. But just as he wants to be judged on what he does, he must also be judged on what he says and what he has said, both on and off the air. Mr. McGuirk contends he's not a racist, even though he spews racist invective because, in his words, he grew up around black people. Hmmm. So did Strom Thurmond.

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Comments

MR ROKER,i will now go on my own mission of truth and fairness. you talk about MR.IMUS and what he has said. What about the Duke players?YOU are the one that has double standards.Maybe you should be fired for pointing fingers at Mr. Imus and not at the black woman who accused the Duke players and probably ruined their lives. My mission is to let as many people as I can know about this situation so that less people will be watching your show. I will no longer watch your show.

Thomas E. Rogers, Ottumwa, IA 52501 (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:40 PM)

This is not about Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson or rappers. It is not about what others said or the hypocrisy of others. It is about what Imus said. It is about the cruel, vulgar words and the person that used them to hurt young women trying to get an education and play basketball. They don't deserve criticism nor do you Al.

Tom Perry, Licking, MO (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:40 PM)

I have decided that the races will never come together. At this point I don't care. To compare the situation with the Duke players with that of Rudgers players is ridiculous. Those guys hired strippers to entertain them at their frat house. Those ladies simply played a championship game for their school. I finally get why the media hunts Jackson and Sharpton down to get their perspectives when anything happens in the black community. Once their views are presented everyone can marginalize them by bringing up their past discressions. Stop talking to them and speak to other people whose images and reputations are tainted. I bet they will have the same reactions that Sharpton and Jackson had. You know, I don't care what whites think anymore.

Michael, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:40 PM)

The issue for me was never racism, sexism, freedom of speech, artistic license, or the involvement of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, though all those issues should probably continue to be addressed. Rather, I was grossly offended by this attack by Mr. Imus on specific individuals, that is, these intelligent, talented and hard-working young women so ably representing their university. They should be held up as ideals instead of pilloried in a lame attempt at comedy. For that reason, and for his not understanding the difference, MSNBC is completely justified in terminating Mr. Imus, and I applaud their decision.

Sandee, Westwood, NJ (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:40 PM)

Mr. Roker, I've enjoyed watching you for years, and I agree that Imus's comments were insulting and offensive. HOWEVER, why haven't I heard a single journalist, yourself included, ask Jackson or Sharpton throughout this whole affair, about their own hypocricy! Each of these men have made antisemetic comments -MORE THAN ONCE - "hymie" is just as offensive as the "N" word! And Sharpton incited riots that led to the death of innocent person and the burning down of a jewish owned store - MUCH MUCH worse than Imus's comment! And yet, no one challenges them on the air and the media continues to let them speak as the "representatives" of the black community. SHAME ON YOU

ruth, new york, ny (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:40 PM)

oK, how long are these comments going to continue. This is just keeping this whole mess in the limeight. Why can't we just accept Imus' apology and go on with the healing. No one on earth is perfect no matter what color. Why isn't this team ready to accept an apology? they are in a position to be going out into the business or professional world and make their mark, whether in basketball or whatever, hopefully to do the good work for others as Imus has been doing. Why is the black community so eager to blame everyone but their own for the use of this language which is, in most part, where it originated, thru their music and other professionals use. And as far as Mr. Roker, I do believe that the rating for Mr. Roker, as not nearly as high as that of Mr. Imus, could that be his reason for his remarks?

Mgetonwithit (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:40 PM)

Al, I respect your opinions and thank you for stating them so respectfully. I also think that, regardless of the origin of the words, the hip-hop and rap commmunities should be taken to task for the degrading language and ideology that they perpetuate into the mainstream culture on a daily basis. However, the accountability for this problem ultimately falls not upon those who use the words, but upon those who continually provide them with a microphone! Free speech is a right. A platform to deliver filth is not. I applaud MSNBC for taking a step, whatever the motivation was, in silencing at least one channel of this language.

Kristin Dallas, Texas (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:50 PM)

Al Roker, just so you know: millions of us agree with you - that Imus crossed the line, repeatedly, that it is inconceivable that an organization such as MSNBC or CBS or any of their advertisers condone the narrow-minded & bigoted comments of the likes of Don Imus. I'm glad you spoke out. A public person referring publicly to female athletes the way Imus did is sheer provocation - a slur, and a challenge of the I-can-say-anything-I-want-to-thats-what-they-pay-me-for variety. All that you -- and those of us who agree with you -- are saying: there are limits that civilized, humane people observe. And we will act when those limits are crossed.

DWO, Denver, CO (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:50 PM)

It is ridiculous that Imus was fired. I thought we lived in a country where freedom of speech was more important than advertisers dollars. I guess not. So now we know that NBC is greedy......let's face it, without viewers you are not going to get any advertisers anyway. So I guess we should stop watching.

Jackie (Sent Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:50 PM)

We watched Imus for the guests and political content despite Imus being such a mean-spirited bully (with a supporting cast of bullies and syncophants). The cringe-factor was almost not worth it. Please keep the morning forum (David Gregory, perhaps?). I won't miss Imus, Bernard et al. Let's restore civility if it's not too late in this society.

Sue, Springfield, Illinois (Sent Saturday, April 14, 2007 5:44 PM)

Here's a good news. I didn't know what a "ho" was, never heard the word, until this story got so much attention. Weren't those young ladies articulate, poised, courageous? I think they'll take the positives out of this experience...changing the world! The team should be commended for so many things. I'd love to hire one of the ladies - think of the personal qualities they've learned and demonstrated, both on and off the court.

Nancy, Columbia, PA (Sent Saturday, April 14, 2007 5:46 PM)

Al - you've lost my viewship with your double standard. You and the broadcast company that supports you should be ahshamed. Your company has lost me as a viewer. I've made note of your sponsors. Please inform them for me I will no longer be supporting their bottom line. Good-bye

B Zakarias (Sent Saturday, April 14, 2007 9:01 PM)

Why are so many people comparing Imus racial remarks/foul language(or whatever you want to call it) with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton support for someone who was less fortunate. And for the record, just because someone was not found guilty, doesn't mean they weren't guilty, OJ was aquitted as well, but for some strange reason he's still guilty and the family won there civil case against him. Some of you act like Jackson and Sharpton made the story up. We all know Imus likes to express his freedom of speech, but face it he went to far! Those young girls were offended by the remarks that was directed towards them. I as well was offended by those same remarks. I as well wanted him fired!

Nicole, Syracuse NY (Sent Saturday, April 14, 2007 9:13 PM)

To all who have stood up against"The Imus show". Those young women from Rutgers deserves the right to be respected in all aspects of life. Imus and his producer have a right to freedom of speech, however at the expense of the Rutgers Ladies Baskeball Team, That was not a good choice. PLEASE! PEOPLE OF THE WORLD TODAY LOOK UP FREEDOM OF SPEECH. The first amendment doesnt say: Degrade Rutgers University Ladies Baskeball Team.

D Bradley Houston, TX (Sent Saturday, April 14, 2007 9:23 PM)

To much airtime and energy was wasted on the Imus story. What about coverage for the soldiers fighting the War on Terror. As far as I am concerned Imus said something he shouldn't have on the air. For crying out loud he has always been a shock jock. He is not perfect forgive him (the team did) and get on with it. As long as our young soldiers are in harm's way nothing else matters to me.

J. B Jackson Dallas, Texas (Sent Saturday, April 14, 2007 9:26 PM)

America should have a month where each race can say some anything about the other race. Just a good old fashioned free for all and lets see how wonderfull no holds barred freedom of speech is. The military can also join in, so can the police, oh our schools, how about the medical field - that would be nice wouldn't it? Mr Imus is like a 100 years old he should have known better, what is the point of growing so old if you do not have the benefit of wisdom? And to all the white people out there, a lot of black people speak out about rap music and all the offensive lyrics and videos - in fact people Oprah, Bill Cosby and a number of prominant black people spoke out against some rap lyric and rappers and that did not build momentum - but one always hears the "freedom of speach" argument even when they ae degrading women of all races.

Thandi Moyo, Las Vegas NV (Sent Saturday, April 14, 2007 9:26 PM)

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