From Classbrain.com

Political Cartoons
Imus Fired
By Cartoon: Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons, Project: Cynthia Kirkeby, ClassBrain
Apr 13, 2007, 20:27 PST

© Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons 2007


Don Imus Is Fired

Considered a "comedian," Don Imus has made a living being intentionally offensive on his talkshow since 1979. His recent firing from both his radio program and his TV broadcast, came after a storm of protest over calling the young women of the Rutger's Basketball Team "nappy headed hos."

One of the critical questions that has been raised by the protests over his show, is whether saying something is comedic makes it okay to make offensive and racist remarks. It appears that this time, it's not. Although the public and his employers have put up with racist and offensive remarks on his show for decades, picking on amateur female players seems to have been the last straw.


Questions to Ponder

  • It seems that its become popular to make very racist and offensive comments under the guise of comedy or music, but should it be tolerated?

  • Why do you think this particular event made the public particularly angry?

  • Do you think music and comedy should be able to use offensive speech without impunity?

  • Did you think the original penalty of two weeks suspension was enough, or do you think his employers were justified in firing him?


Learning Links

MSNBC drops simulcast of Don Imus show
Source: MSNBC

Imus options: Radio? Retirement?
What does Imus do now? He has not only lost his TV simulcast, he's lost his radio show as well.
Source: MercuryNews.com

Imus And Beyond
A look at the pattern of Imus' racial and bigoted comments over the years, showing that the Rutgers incident was not an isolated occurance. Source: Tom Paine Common Sense

MSNBC pulls 'Imus in the Morning'
Advertisers pull out of the sponsorship of Imus in the Morning and cause the network to cancel the show. Source: CNN



© Copyright 2004 by Classbrain.com