MSNBC to Imus: You're FIRED!

[MREG2]

No...some cities are like that. I used to live in South Florida and never saw obvious discrimination...but I see it here in Central Florida, which is why I'm moving in a few weeks.

Sure...everyone gets treated badly at some point, but does that make it okay for one race to see it on a daily basis? I've been treated badly numerous times, but never because of the color of my skin....

Then yes, you need to move. Life is too short to put up with that. I wish you well!

No, but it is not just that "one" race that sees it daily.

 

[IrishMist]

Gee, IM I stand corrected. Yes, I guess I'm more focused on the topic than you subtly trying to correct me on thinking that Nova was a woman. Please forgive me. I guess I do have a reading comprehension problem.

Nova, I hope I have not offended you by not catching on to IM's references and therefore kept calling you "she" and "her".

No, IM, just as I hope no one takes my statements and thinks that I believe that racism never, ever, ever occurs.

LOL! I have black friends and work with MANY black people. I do talk to them. I <gasp> socialize with them. I laugh with them. So I do not think I'll be too surprised by their answers like you think I will. But thank you for thinking I'm so freakin sheltered that I don't know what I'm talking about.

You typed the posts, I only read them. To me, it sounded as if you were denying racism occurs, on a routine basis, all across America.

 

[MREG2]

You typed the posts, I only read them. To me, it sounded as if you were denying racism occurs, on a routine basis, all across America.

LOL! Of course. Nevermind the times I've typed that it does happen, etc. Right? Go down a few posts. Gee, I even admit that I have no doubts that it happens.

Maybe it's not just me with a reading comprehension problem.....

 

[IrishMist]

LOL! Of course. Nevermind the times I've typed that it does happen, etc. Right? Go down a few posts. Gee, I even admit that I have no doubts that it happens.

Maybe it's not just me with a reading comprehension problem.....

You know what, MREG2? That was uncalled for, and I shouldn't have said it. I apologize.

 

[Nova]

Nova, I hope I have not offended you by not catching on to IM's references and therefore kept calling you "she" and "her".

Since I don't think being a "she" is a bad thing, I can't figure out how to get you fired for your mistake.

(That's a joke. It happens all the time here and I'm not offended in the slightest.)

 

[Nova]

But if the whites do then there is hell to pay. We'll hear that we should keep our mouths shut because of what "we" did to the blacks. Heck, there is white slavery happening now.

I don't understand. Surely we can all protest slavery, regardless of the color of the perp or the victim.

Bill O'Reilly made a horrible comment some time ago about Shawn Hornbeck. That j*ck*ss is still on the air.

For what it's worth, I was far more horrified by that than by Imus' recent remarks (because of the age and situation of Hornbeck).

I wouldn't have fired Imus, but I just can't whup up much outrage for a wealthy man who - for the moment - can no longer say nasty things on TV and radio.

But it seems to me that it is only our country who still has people who won't let it go. And by that I mean, would rather sit there and whine and complain instead of working with others to make it better. It is NOT only up to the white people to fix it. And no matter what you say, I will not budge from that.

Let's face it, almost all Americans are woefully ignorant of what goes on in other countries. But any nation who has a colonial history - including England and France - has similar problems. The problems are just phrased a little differently because the history isn't precisely the same.

But as for your concern with people who "would rather sit there and whine," such people are found in all groups. Where is the evidence this is a special problem among black Americans?

They want it fixed then they need to step up and help.

Who, pray tell, are "they"? The millions of black teachers, social workers, policemen, firemen, inner-city entrepreneurs (I could go on but you get the point)?

Jackson and Sharpton protested a gratuitous and outrageous remark. What has that to do with black people refusing to help and expecting white people to do everything?

(Historically, I'm sure you know, it was usually the other way around: white people sat around while black people did all the work. But I've never heard an African American say this history justifies black inaction today.)

 

[Nova]

I have never, ever heard an African-American say..."my life is terrible because my ancestors were slaves". I have heard them say, I wasn' qualified for that job, My son is having a hard time getting into college, I really need help getting off of welfare, Why do people treat me different, I was wrongly accused, I was pulled over last night, Why do my neighbors in this nice neighborhood act like they don't want me here, My child uses decade old textbooks, My child was trying to feed us and got caught selling drugs, Why do some people think we need to get over it, when we're trying to live in peace, They would never survive a day in the ghetto, but yet they have all the answers, The police don't care about the crime around here, I made a mistake when I was younger and now I'm a convicted felon who can't find a job, We were discriminated against at the movies, the restaurant, the hotel,.....etc, etc, etc.

These are examples of things I have heard from the people living in the worst of situations....there are always exceptions, but unfortunately this is life for the majority of the people. Even if they do succeed and achieve success, I can tell you one thing...they will work twice as hard to prove themselves and they will still be under constant surveilance because of the color of their skin. That's a fact.........

I love this post! :clap:

(Cheetah, you won't forget us when you move, will you?)

 

[Cheetah]

I love this post! :clap:

(Cheetah, you won't forget us when you move, will you?)

Thanks Nova:blowkiss:

Don't worry...I'll be around, lol.

 

[Nova]

Thanks Nova:blowkiss:

Don't worry...I'll be around, lol.

People always say that and then you never hear from them again. Story of my life...

(I have abandonment issues. Broken home, etc.)

(BTW, my mother lives in Gainesville and my aunt and uncle live in Orlando. I'm from Fort Lauderdale myself.)

 

[Cheetah]

People always say that and then you never hear from them again. Story of my life...

(I have abandonment issues. Broken home, etc.)

(BTW, my mother lives in Gainesville and my aunt and uncle live in Orlando. I'm from Fort Lauderdale myself.)

I'm in Orlando now, we moved here about a year ago and I hate it :=(

So we are going back "home" to West Palm Beach...I love the South Florida area, it's just so different up here!

 

[White Rain]

Here's another racist comment (IMO) from a black celeb, Dave Chapelle:

"The bottom line was, white people own everything, and where can a black person go and be himself or say something that's familiar to him and not have to explain or apologize?" he told Esquire magazine.


Once again, us whites are accused of holding a black person down. What's he been asked to apologize for??? Anyone know?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266743,00.html
Now that he's back on the standup circuit, Dave Chappelle has a lot to say.
The comic, who walked out on a $50 million deal to continue his TV show and briefly took a respite in South Africa, shattered the Laugh Factory's endurance record by taking to the comedy club's stage for six hours and seven minutes on Sunday.
"He was absolutely amazing, for six hours making people laugh," the club's owner, Jamie Masada, said Tuesday.
Masada said the previous record of three hours and 50 minutes was accomplished earlier this month by Dane Cook. But until then the mark had stood at two hours and 41 minutes since Richard Pryor set it in 1980.
Chappelle walked out on the third season of his hit Comedy Central show last May, leaving fans and industry observers to question his motives and even his sanity.
He has said since that he didn't feel he could be himself on the show.
"The bottom line was, white people own everything, and where can a black person go and be himself or say something that's familiar to him and not have to explain or apologize?" he told Esquire magazine.
He has since returned to the standup circuit and released the documentary "Dave Chappelle's Block Party."

 

[Nova]

Here's another racist comment (IMO) from a black celeb, Dave Chapelle:

"The bottom line was, white people own everything, and where can a black person go and be himself or say something that's familiar to him and not have to explain or apologize?" he told Esquire magazine.


Once again, us whites are accused of holding a black person down.

I believe Mr. Chappelle was speaking hyperbolically to make a point.

He wasn't blaming you so try not to take it personally.

 

[Nova]

I'm in Orlando now, we moved here about a year ago and I hate it :=(

So we are going back "home" to West Palm Beach...I love the South Florida area, it's just so different up here!

I prefer South Florida, too, but in fairness, I grew up in the South and can't claim to know the central area all that well. Have a good move!

 

[White Rain]

I believe Mr. Chappelle was speaking hyperbolically to make a point.

He wasn't blaming you so try not to take it personally.

I'm not taking it personally, but the truth is whites, as a whole, (imo) ARE being asked to apologize for stuff. And since people like Imus ARE apologizing, I want to know what Chapelle feels like the white community has asked him to apologize for, whether he was asked outright or whether he was hyperbolizing or not.

 

[Nova]

I'm not taking it personally, but the truth is whites, as a whole, (imo) ARE being asked to apologize for stuff. And since people like Imus ARE apologizing, I want to know what Chapelle feels like the white community has asked him to apologize for, whether he was asked outright or whether he was hyperbolizing or not.

I haven't read the article, but if I had to guess, I'd wager Mr. Chapelle is talking about the experience of being a visible minority in this country. He means explaining or apologizing for just being themselves in contexts where being black is to be "different."

Women have said the same thing about functioning in male-dominated contexts in a society that judges women based on male perceptions. And they have created women's groups, etc., as a place to be themselves away from those judgments.

Gay people sometimes do the same, for similar reasons (though personally, I'm not fond of homogeneous groups).

Whatever whites may be asked to apologize for (and whether or not that request is fair), I believe Mr. Chapelle means something different.

 

[Cheetah]

I'm not taking it personally, but the truth is whites, as a whole, (imo) ARE being asked to apologize for stuff. And since people like Imus ARE apologizing, I want to know what Chapelle feels like the white community has asked him to apologize for, whether he was asked outright or whether he was hyperbolizing or not.

In all fairness, I think you totally misunderstood what he was saying. It is well know in the black community that they don't own alot. Sure, some have land and small businesses, but in general the majority is owned by white people. I mean really...that is a fact, there is nothing racist about it :=)

In the ghetto, which is where alot of black people live.....they have their own styles, grammer, etc. They can't just go anywhere and be themselves, say what they want, dress how they want, etc... It's not acceptable in mainstream society..so they are forced to "explain" and "apologize".

Anyway.....relax, it was a joke.

 

[Nova]

Okay, now I've read the article.

What I believe he refers to is the problem of being true to his own viewpoint as a minority performer while serving a corporate structure that is largely white and concerned with attracting white viewers (because there are more of them) to the show.

Every performer in a mass medium struggles with the conflict between individual perspective and the demand to appeal to the masses, but the conflict is intensified when the performer shares a significantly different background than his corporate bosses and the most desired demographic.

Mr. Chapelle doesn't say his bosses or his viewers were racist, and there's no reason to assume that's what he meant.

 

[philamena]

Sorry, but an open discussion doesn't work that way. I didn't ask you to delete your post and I don't have to ignore it. On the contrary, I am obligated to respond to such posts by you and others; I can't just let ridiculous assertions go unchallenged.



I will happily take your word that you and your folks don't go around committing hate crimes. But unless your forefathers were beamed down from another planet, and very recently, I don't believe they were exempt from racial prejudice. No more than mine. (My folks were liberals relative to most of their neighbors during the civil rights struggles of the 1960s South, but to say they had no racial prejudices would be thoughtless, at least.)

Nova,
I've been reading here at WS for a long time (ie years) and I am well aware of your opinions on a few topics. I am NOT going to get into a pissing match with you. Don't call my assertions ridiculous, I am entitled to my opinions and you're entitled to yours. I made a statement and I stand by my statement. You don't know my family and what they may or may not have endured while living in the south.

 

[White Rain]

In all fairness, I think you totally misunderstood what he was saying. It is well know in the black community that they don't own alot. Sure, some have land and small businesses, but in general the majority is owned by white people. I mean really...that is a fact, there is nothing racist about it :=)

In the ghetto, which is where alot of black people live.....they have their own styles, grammer, etc. They can't just go anywhere and be themselves, say what they want, dress how they want, etc... It's not acceptable in mainstream society..so they are forced to "explain" and "apologize".

Anyway.....relax, it was a joke.

If it was a joke, I for one didn't think it was funny. Actually, I do see that it could be a joke, but still the point is, I feel like everything is blamed on white people. And the comment sounded racist to me, and I said it was IMO.
So you say blacks don't own alot..I guess that's the white man's fault...get turned down for a loan, it's because they are black, can't get a decent job, it's because they are black, can't have their own business, can't get ahead in life, can't go to college, don't have enough money, all because they aren't white....
And of course they can go anywhere, say what they want, dress how they want, it's a FREE COUNTRY. There are plenty of things that aren't accepted by society but that doesn't mean we can't do them.

 

[White Rain]

Okay, now I've read the article.

What I believe he refers to is the problem of being true to his own viewpoint as a minority performer while serving a corporate structure that is largely white and concerned with attracting white viewers (because there are more of them) to the show.

Every performer in a mass medium struggles with the conflict between individual perspective and the demand to appeal to the masses, but the conflict is intensified when the performer shares a significantly different background than his corporate bosses and the most desired demographic.

Mr. Chapelle doesn't say his bosses or his viewers were racist, and there's no reason to assume that's what he meant.

I never said that Chapelle DID say that. Don't put words in my mouth.