Idiot or Anti-Christ ?

I don't listen or watch Don Imus. This is not because of principle, but because I live in a place with no radio stations that carry his show, and I don't subscribe to MSNBC's digital channel. I learned of this Don Imus controversy through my regular podcast listening regimen. My ESPN podcast replayed the snippet, which featured Don Imus, and his sidekick, what's-his-face, talking about the Rutgers Women's championship basketball team. The sidekick mentioned that they were tough, and had tattoos, and even used the word "ho". Then Imus goes off the cuff, "They got some nappy-headed ho's, I'm going to tell you that". After this blurt, he continues talking.

Naturally, I thought to myself, "what an idiot! Who says this stuff in 2007?" I thought it was completely dim-witted and inappropriate. But then I also pondered what the reaction might be. I genuinely thought that MSNBC, and his radio people, would say "we do not share these sentiments" etc., etc.

The public reaction has been swift, ferocious, and rancorous. Last night, CNN seemed to have non-stop coverage of Imus, pausing only for the Anna Nicole Smith baby paternity announcement (the photographer is the father, by the way). I personally counted no fewer than 8 African-American pundits last night, each with their own searing attack. This fed into further commenting, equally as scathing against Imus, each seemingly trying to out-do the other. Now the basketball team is involved. It is now all out.

Here's some quick hits of what I'm hearing and reading. Try to read each one twice, and make the second reading of each quote slow and deliberate.

Essence Carson, team captain
"We were stripped of this moment (of our successful season)"
"he has stolen a moment of pure grace from us"

Mike Wilbon, my ESPN podcast host
"he is a bigot"

Rev. Jessie Jackson
"This was not a slip of lip. This was a point of view,"

Player Matee Ajavon
"I can't really say if we have come to a conclusion of whether we will accept the apology."
"I think this has scarred me for life"

Rutgers president Richard McCormick
"young women (were) unfairly attacked"

Head coach, C. Vivian Stringer,
"(This was an) attack on not only her players, but on all female athletes and women in general."

Aja Ellington, the mother of Rutgers center Kia Vaughn
"My child won't sit in his presence for an apology at all."

Rev. Al Sharpton
"We can only accept his apology if we accept his resignation" (not sure where this notion of "conditional forgiveness" is in the Bible, by the way)
"...to attack a whole group of people in the most ugly graphic terms [is] straight out racist."

Wow. This is some serious smack! Did you catch the language? I honestly don't recall this reaction with the Michael Richards or Mel Gibson rants.

Okay, back to me. I'm officially "concerned" with this reaction. Now before you go painting me as a racist, let me explain my concern. This was a reprehensible remark, inexcusable, worthy of sanction. But guess what. This will not be the last one. There will be another slip, other offensively chilling comments. Will the reaction be the same then? If the next remark is even more offensive, how do you amp up the demand for sanction? Ask for the offending person to be lashed? Beaten? Clearly you cannot. This spontaneous mob mentality that we're all sinking into is quickly appearing unbecoming, and almost insincere. Consider requesting alternate types of sanctions rather than the rubber stamp "Fire him" approach. Put Imus's feet to the fire, but do it smartly, without losing your message in the noise.

America, my advice: let there be a week of "cooling off". Let Imus meet with the ball team, let the team speak publicly. After a week, let the mainstream public have first go.

Don Imus, my advice: go to a Rutger's game next year, and make good on your "black representation on your show" promise. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

But, then again, if you take my advice, it wouldn't make for very good TV.