Anyone not living under a rock knows about Don Imus and the horribly insensitive remarks he made last week about the Rutgers University women’s basketball players. There is no excuse for him labeling them as “nappy-headed hos” — and to Mr. Imus’ credit, he has apologized and accepts full responsibility for his actions.
The Imus In The Morning Show, which is carried on MSNBC and CBS Radio, has been suspended for two-weeks because of his disturbing racial remarks.
In a recent appearance on Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio show, Imus said, “I understand there’s no excuse for it. I’m not pretending that there is. I wish I hadn’t of said it. I’m sorry I said it.”
He has repeatedly apologized all this week and will be meeting with the Rutgers basketball team to personally apologize to them.
Yet, Rev. Sharpton and many others have called for Mr. Imus to resign or be fired.
Where is their forgiveness?
Howard Kurtz noted in his Washington Post column today that:
“Jesse Jackson fathered an out-of-wedlock child with a top aide — he said he was sorry — and used the anti-Jewish slur Hymietown in his first presidential campaign.”
Dick Polman questions the right of Al Sharpton to be critical of Mr. Imus, writing:
“Sharpton was playing judge and jury early this morning, on NBC’s Today Show, declaring that Imus’ Monday apology was “too little, too late,” that it was “business as usual,” and that Imus should vanish forever because “people should not be attacked for their gender or their race.”
And yet Matt Lauer never bothered to ask Sharpton to explain why he deems himself qualified to sit in judgment. Lauer mentioned that Sharpton has been a figure of “controversy” in the past, but never hit the preacher with the actual facts. Such as:
In 1987, Sharpton concocted the Tawana Brawley hoax, charging that a 15-year-old black girl had been abducted, raped, and smeared with feces by a group of white men. He targeted one particular guy, who turned out to innocent. In fact, the crime itself never happened. Sharpton taunted his white target, saying: “If we’re lying, sue us.” The guy did sue – and wound up winning a $345,000 defamation verdict against Sharpton…who, to this day, has refused to recant his slander or to apologize.”
What has happened to our society when a man can sincerely apologize and still not be forgiven?
Part of the Lord’s prayer reads:
“…and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us”. Why has forgiveness lost its value in our society?
Who among us hasn’t done something wrong, something stupid that we later regret? True, not many of us do it with a listening audience of 10 million people — but we ALL make mistakes.
Where are we in society of we are unable to forgive one another?
The bible also teaches us to “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
I agree with Michael Hyatt that Mr. Imus initially botched his apology by focusing it on the wrong person (Rev. Sharpton instead of the basketball players), by trying to explain himself, say it was just comedy, shrug off the criticism by saying it was out of context and point to others who have said worse. (Although Michelle Malkin makes a strong point about the filth that passes for music today.)
But I’m glad that some folks are continuing to stick by Mr. Imus. CBS’s Bob Schieffer: “I’m not going to sever a relationship with someone who has apologized for what he said. He’s my friend. I hate what he did, but he’s still my friend.”
Others like John McCain and Rudy Giuliani, after criticizing the Rutgers comment, say they’ll continue to appear on the Imus in the Morning program.
While he may not initially have understood the depth of his callous remark, I believe Mr. Imus now “gets it” and is sincerely remorseful. Should he be punished? Yes. Should he be required to change his behavior? Yes. Should he stop making excuses, explanations and justifications for his conduct? Yes.
But more important than any of these things: should he be forgiven?
Yes.
UPDATE:
NBC cancelled MSNBC’s simulcast of the Imus in the Morning show yesterday. They said that they were responding to the tremendous amount of criticism of his remarks.
I’m sure that fact that a bunch of advertisers have pulled out, including: General Motors, American Express, Genworth Financial, Sprint Nextel, GlaxoSmithKline, Proctor & Gamble and PetMed Express has something to do with it.
Does this change my opinion about Imus being forgiven? Not at all.
Perhaps now he will see that it’s his quality features (well known politicians, political commentators, news reporters, writers and others) can sustain the program without the crude jokes, skits and satire.
Like many, I overlooked the garbage on his show and enjoyed the bits of quality. This may be just the wake up call he needs to see that quality easily trumps trash.
Second Update:
The I-Man was fired yesterday by CBS. I guess forgiveness has gone out of fashion.
But make no mistake, this was a decision about money. Once the sponsors of Imus in the Morning jumped ship, CBS gave Imus the boot.
Hopefully, Imus will land on his feet somewhere else. If so, I’ll listen to him again. After all, we all make mistakes.
