| Among the fairest and most balanced offerings on | | | | every citizen, network chief and corporation in |
| the Imus incident hails from journalist Ellis Cose in | | | | America. It may not be a comprehensive list but it |
| Newsweek for the week of April 23, 2007 in an | | | | should do for starters. |
| article entitled "What Will We Learn." Another offering | | | | If profanity has become art, hasn't art become |
| well worth the read is "Imus' Safety Net Failed" | | | | profaned? |
| penned by the World Net Daily columnist Barbara | | | | Does America and especially African Americans know |
| Simpson, April 16, 2007. | | | | the difference between a mere activist and a real |
| TV interviews are too numerous to cite even though | | | | leader? |
| not much variation is offered. It seems like a replay | | | | Are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton activists or |
| of the same interview and it goes like this. Imus had | | | | leaders? |
| a right to say what he wants, networks and | | | | Would Jackson and Sharpton be willing to march |
| corporate supporters have the right to bounce him | | | | around network offices, media outlets and corporate |
| and why doesn't somebody call Rap and Hip Hop out | | | | sponsors who gain from Hip Hop? |
| on the carpet. | | | | Do Christians believe that the gospel and gospel |
| Naturally when a race card pops up Jesse Jackson | | | | music, traditional or contemporary, can really stand by |
| and Al Sharpton are sure to pop up as well. Jackson | | | | themselves to produce the desired effect? If so |
| is seen marching with a tiny placard about Rainbow | | | | why have some groups borrowed from the Rap |
| Coalition and Sharpton is filmed as the magnanimous | | | | genre to present their message? |
| mediator of the Imus apology, just what we might | | | | Would the networks be willing to tone down the crap |
| expect, nothing new in this picture. | | | | in rap just to give it a slap (no rap intended) in the |
| Not far behind these familiar scenes another recurring | | | | next Hip Hop presentation? Would they be willing to |
| but worn out and highly questionable outcome is the | | | | cancel the next Hip Hop presentation? |
| monotonous drone of the interviewers trying to | | | | Are African American women any less insulted by |
| assuage Rappers with talk about their connection to | | | | the rappers than they have been by Imus? Would |
| art. A lot of sycophantic gushing can't hide the fact | | | | they be willing to let their voices and their "Hell hath |
| that untold millions of people believe that calling Hip | | | | no fury like a woman's scorn" be heard on the same? |
| Hop "art" is like comparing Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona | | | | Have parents listened to what is being piped into |
| Lisa to Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup can. | | | | their children's brains and what is bombarding their |
| Pop cultures' fling can produce bling but it takes | | | | sight daily by Hip Hopsters and are they willing to pull |
| something a little more classic to add something | | | | the plug if necessary? Do you know the definition of |
| significant to a nation's culture, something that will | | | | difficult? |
| endure through the ages. | | | | Has anyone at all noticed that the Imus incident |
| Others have aptly pointed out something already well | | | | clearly says that freedom of speech does have |
| known namely, that it is the big green money | | | | responsibilities connected to it? |
| machine that drives Hip Hop. Millions of bucks will also | | | | Would rappers be willing to ponder the question of |
| be lost by the networks and sponsors as a result of | | | | why only rap music gets a bad rap? Why haven't |
| giving Imus the boot. So that question serves only to | | | | other music genres that African Americans have |
| raise yet another question. Why did the networks | | | | contributed to or wholly created been spoken |
| and corporations suddenly go moral on such a | | | | against? Like Mississippi Delta Blues, Black Gospel and |
| lopsided scale? | | | | Choir music, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Dixieland, etc. |
| A few voices have been heard that dare to call Hip | | | | etc. etc? Why doesn't anyone question that these |
| Hop artists and sponsors to respond. Among them | | | | genres are actually art? |
| has been African American poet Maya Anjelou. In her | | | | Would Rappers be willing to ponder this great |
| customary dignified and refined manner Maya | | | | proverb? In the multitude of words there wanteth |
| gracefully lambasted the rappers in an interview on | | | | not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs |
| CNN. Are there any other voices out there like this | | | | 10:19 |
| one? We are waiting. | | | | Would the rest of us be willing to ponder these |
| Raising a plethora of new questions seems to be the | | | | important words from the Saviour of the world? "But |
| main product of the entire controversy. These | | | | I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall |
| questions are useful only if we are willing to hunker | | | | speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of |
| down and search for the answers and beyond that | | | | judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, |
| we must demand that they be answered. | | | | and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. |
| Here is a list of questions that should be asked of | | | | |