The Imus Fiasco, Racism and Anti-Muslim Sentiment Posted by Shadi Hamid

Sorry for not posting much the past couple weeks. Just got back from Greece and other places. Ok then, let me start off with Imus: I don’t like him. Many years ago, I remember occasionally tuning in to his show in the early morning hours, and sitting there baffled, wondering how someone like this could possibly get his own gig on television. But while what Imus said was of course offensive and racist, I find so many of the responses to his comments to be little more than self-serving, cynical examples of all-too-convenient scapegoating. The thing is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. The raison d’etre of talk radio is to offend, and because we enjoy listening to people who say outrageous things, we’ve condoned and indulged a talk radio culture that is revolting. Imus himself has said things that are much worse in the past such as using the epithet "thieving Jews" and later saying that the phrase was "redundant." I'm not sure how you can get much more anti-semitic than that. He also, not surprisingly, doesn't like Arabs, calling them "towelheads" and "ragheads."

At the same time, I understand people who say that we shouldn't be in the business of firing and censoring people for their bigotry, unless said bigotry crosses the line into incitement of violence. Even if Imus deserved to be fired (and I think there's a good argument for it, not so much based on his most recent "hos" comment but due to the fact that he has a history of saying these types of things), the danger is that because of this whole incident, people will practice even more self-censorship making an honest conversation about race in America even more difficult than it already is. Few white politicians and commentators say anything but useless platitudes on race today, because they’re in constant fear of slipping and saying the wrong thing. How this is conducive to addressing racial tensions in our country is beyond me.

Ok, let me now delve into a related point that I find a bit troubling. What Imus said is pretty tame compared to the anti-Muslim remarks that have been a staple of public discourse (and particularly right-wing talk radio) since 9/11. It’s amazing to me that Ann Coulter could get away with saying in reference to Muslims: “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity," which strikes me as out-and-out incitement to violence (she's also said utterly inane things like "Muslims ought to start claiming the Koran also prohibits indoor plumbing, to explain their lack of it").

Also, if you, like me, get into the habit of reading right-wing blogs everyday, you quickly become desensitized to a subtle but no less effective anti-Muslim bigotry. This isn’t so much racism as it is a sneering disdain and contempt for Muslims. Then, we have American clergymen and politicians (mostly from or associated with the Republican party) like Congressman Virgil Goode who said (referring to newly-elected Congressman Keith Ellison):

When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran.  

The White House refused to criticize Goode. Elsewhere, someone like Ayaan Hirsi Ali (who I discussed at length here) skyrockets to fame as some kind of latter-day Muslim Martin Luther precisely because she engages in the most revolting and simplistic anti-Muslim stereotypes. I’m not saying that Hirsi Ali or anyone else should be fired (they shouldn’t be), but let’s at least pretend to be consistent instead of using the race/religion card as a political cudgel only when it's most convenient.

Comments

[Maureen]

I think it is ridiculous to say that "nappy-headed ho" is less derogatory than "thieving Jew" or "raghead." You've totally ignored the sexual valence in the first that is missing from the others. Remember why we had a feminist movement?

Opinion elsewhere makes the point that the targets of Imus's comment were very young women, not political figures. Yeah, they probably trash talk on the court, but it's still pretty gross for that to be your first exposure to national

Imus's remark was the last straw on a large pile. And sadly, the national culture was ready to find that speech unacceptable in ways that it isn't finding anti-Muslim rhetoric unacceptable. I'm not condoning, just observing.

[Kathy Gales]

Have you lost your mind... ?? Do you know of the First Amendment...

If you have not..I will spell it out for you... are you seriously saying you did this .. because you don't like the man...yes I knew there had to more of this than meets the eye.
Now watch BET ...MTV...etc...tell me how you feel... hope it swings back to bite you in the end..
a man I admire greatly said
"May I present, "The Bill of Rights" in regards to free speech;

''Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public; to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequences of his own temerity."

Notice, it does not say, that you can not utter illegal or improper statements (if it did, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would be in a heap of trouble) it merely states, to be prepared for the consequences. Imus can say what ever he wants, but he has to pay the piper for his own impudence. The question is, should the consequences have been so severe? To those who say "yes", I ask the following questions;

"Was what Don Imus said illegal?"

No. However distasteful, it was not illegal. If it were, the FCC would have filed charges. Therefore, on this count he should not have been fired.

"Was it improper?"

I believe it was, but many weren't even phased by it, so where do we draw the line? With that said, this isn't sufficient grounds for his termination. The majority of Americans overwhelmingly feel that Imus was wrongfully terminated.

"Was it mischievous?"

Most certainly, but that is what he was, a mischievous character, for nearly 40 years. He was hired to be outrageous, pushing the envelope at every given opportunity, and it is clear that this time he pushed a little too far. However, I believe his words did not have the spitefulness that is alleged.

Yes it was tacky, salty, and unacceptable, but it wasn't meant to be vicious. There is a big difference.

Don Imus probably has an excellent case for wrongful termination, but I'm sure that will all be settled with a very large sum, and out of court. I wonder if NBC and CBS can feel the ice cracking beneath their feet?"
Sums it up nicely ...

[ILanG]

Don Imus got fired because his sponsored dropped him. The first amendment protects his right to say what he wants, but it does not protect his right to get paid millions of dollars to say it.

[Greg Sanders]

Quick note of agreement with ILanG. This really isn't a first amendment issue. The FCC (correctly) didn't do anything. Imus is a guy who made his money based on what he said. His comment wasn't made in private to a friend, it was directly party of his job. Imus was dropped by his sponsors, they were within their rights to do so and his employers were within their rights to fire him.

Were I in his district, I would similarly try to fire Virgil Goode but I don't (thankfully) so I don't get a vote in the matter.

One question on bigotry against Muslims. Is there a substantial difference in the level of vitrol thrown at foreign versus American Muslims? I know a lot of people tend don't particular hesitate when considering the mass bombing of foreign countries, so the standards are obviously much lower for comments about people overseas.

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