Sharpton is missing a great opportunity here.

[King Coal]

If Sharpton were to make a point of forgiving Imus now, he will be able to do more good than not.

"Mr. Imus, I'm glad you understand our position now. I know you now realize how terrible it is to call refer to a young woman with hateful, racial, and nasty words. Please carry on with your show and remember the lesson of this day."

By saying that, he will make a good friend of Imus. Imus will fly right. Sharpton will appear to be forgiving and level-headed. It just makes sense for Sharpton to do so.

To me, anyway.

[MichiganVote]

1. No Way!! The guy deserves to be fired. Period.

[lectrobyte]

20. I agree. I've seen folks shown the door for a lot less here in corporate America.

[DainBramaged]

25. Of course, but all the Reich-wingers can keep their jobs!

Ever listened to Imus? Did you listen to Randi today?

Lynch Mob

Something I thought left us decades ago.

[sammythecat]

2. I completely agree

I think they would both benefit and I think we all would as well.

I say this only with the assumption that Imus truly understands the wrong he did and is TRULY sorry.

[MichiganVote]

6. So you think he's like a five year old? Come on. This is not the first time

Imus has issued his racist and sexist remarks. My kids at less than five knew better than to talk this way about anyone. Calling female players "Ho's"????? That's sick. Like to see him carry his bony, cranky, little ass up and down during a basketball tournament game.

[sammythecat]

9. I mentioned a caveat.

If truly understands the wrong and is TRULY sorry. If that is the case, I think forgiveness would enhance Al Sharpton's image and Imus himself could likely have a positive impact on race relations. IF, he is truly repentant. Only IF. I want to make that as clear as I can.

IF that's the case, then I think forgiveness would have positive results that vengeance could never bring.

[MichiganVote]

11. I suggest you look up the Imus record of racist/sexist stuff

He's been playing round like this for years and so has his producer buddy. The only thing this guy is sorry for is that he can't control the spin, bask in the limelight of turning on a whole new set of listeners like Rush the Lush, and that he didn't say even more to garner national attention.

Nah, this guy is nasty, old, and hardly worth anyone's time. He can apologize all he wants but he called a whole team of hard working,competitive, smart young women a throughly disgusting thing.

No sympathy.

[sammythecat]

13. I'm in no way suggesting you have sympathy.

I would have no sympathy either if I knew his apology was less than sincere.

Again, for the 3rd time, I want to say that a SINCERE apology is always worth accepting. And it has to be NOTHING less than sincere.

I'm not even coming close to saying whether Imus' apology is sincere or not. I have no way of knowing. He doesn't talk to me.

Please understand what I mean when I say "sincere". I'm using that word carefully and in it's true sense. That word is key to everything I'm saying about this matter.

I'm an atheist, but I firmly believe in the power of forgiveness when the sinner is sincerely repentant. I've always felt this way and I stand by it. No matter the sin and no matter the number. Period.

Sincere repentance does not come easily and Imus may very well not be sincere in his apology. He may just be trying to save his career. If that's the case, I say fire him and keep his mouth off the tv and radio.

[MichiganVote]

15. Well let me put an idea in your head...

IMO a sure sign of sincere repentance on the part of Imus or anyone who utilizes public airwaves to denigrate a team of well meaning athletes of this caliber would be for him to resign. Anyone can SAY they are sorry. Anyone can attempt to embarrass and demean an innocent group of people who in no way offended someone and then utter apologies. Imus did a terrible thing to a team of people who deserve to confront him for making them to appear less than they are, winners. If they can stand to be in the same room with him anyway. These young women worked hard. They deserve esteem. Imagine working so hard on something, losing inspite of one's best efforts and then being treated to this disgusting lack of respect on top of it. Were they asking for that?

This little joke of Imus's meant that the team suffered a loss whether Imus intended as much or not. To truly repent, Imus must give something up equally important. His job works for me.

Repentance is a great concept and I regret having to use it myself.

Shame, not just an apology, is what is called for on the part of Imus and I've yet to see it.

[sammythecat]

16. I agree with every word you said in

your first paragraph. Even the part of Imus resigning.

"Shame, not just an apology, is what is called for on the part of Imus and I've yet to see it." Your words, and again, I agree. Very well put. I mean that.

I'd like to see Imus feel shame and sorrow, and offering his resignation would be in order as well. If you saw this happen, would you be willing to forgive?

Where you would almost certainly differ with me is that if I saw these things happen I would not only be willing to forgive but I'd also be willing help him get his job back. A "reformed sinner" can be a very powerful advocate. Many times the most powerful of all.

All my thoughts on this are of a "what if" nature. I have no way of knowing what's going on in Imus' heart, and if I had to place a bet I'd say he's more sorry about his career than anything else. But that's a guess on my part.

I still stand by my previous statements concerning a "sincere apology". And yes, a "sincere apology", by definition, would include shame. It couldn't possibly be sincere without shame. No apology could.

[MichiganVote]

17. Well here's what I think but you're surely the only one asking

I'd like to see Imus feel shame and sorrow, and offering his resignation would be in order as well. If you saw this happen, would you be willing to forgive?

--Not really. But I would like him to have to practice with this team of talented young women for say..um...the next year.

Where you would almost certainly differ with me is that if I saw these things happen I would not only be willing to forgive but I'd also be willing help him get his job back. A "reformed sinner" can be a very powerful advocate. Many times the most powerful of all.

--He has a job. He has the job of realigning his thinking. So I would suggest that he spend a portion of his time living and working in the hood. Afterall, they might appreciate his brand of character, or so he seems to think.

All my thoughts on this are of a "what if" nature. I have no way of knowing what's going on in Imus' heart, and if I had to place a bet I'd say he's more sorry about his career than anything else. But that's a guess on my part.

--Recall if you will, that he attempted to minimize his action initially. Moreover, despite Al Sharpton's pointed remarks to him, Imus recounted by crying about his humiliation. AS IF he did not bring his own house cards down on himself.

I still stand by my previous statements concerning a "sincere apology". And yes, a "sincere apology", by definition, would include shame. It couldn't possibly be sincere without shame. No apology could.

--Personally or professionally, I don't the man really gives a damn. Too bad, so sad and all that. To hear the supportive pundits defend him by citing his charitable acts flies in the face of morality. And forgiveness is all about morality. Imus has done little to offend me in comparison to what he has modeled to the youth of this country. Hypocritical.

[sammythecat]

18. I have to leave for a couple hours

but I will respond when I get back.

I'll try to make myself more clear than I have so far.

[sammythecat]

34. better late than never, I guess

I apologize for not responding when I said I would. Unexpected and unwanted events occurred that
prevented me from giving you a thoughtful response.

I seems Imus will indeed be fired and it seems to me he is probably deserving, but I don't know
his heart and the only ones who can come close to knowing will be those young women when
they hear what he has to say.

As I said, I don't believe in a God. I don't have a book or page number to refer to for guidance. I have to set my own standards. The "ideal" Jesus, however, set some standards that I admire. One is that all sinners can be forgiven. If the "sinner" has a realization of the harm done, a true and heartfelt empathy, as well as sympathy, with his victim, and a sincere resolve to never commit that "sin" again then I think he is worthy of forgiveness. Forgiveness in such a case is the noble and right thing. Anything less is giving in to vengeance and hate, neither of which can be described as noble.

This is a standard I aspire to. That doesn't mean I've always lived up to it, and it doesn't mean I
might not fail in the future, but this is the standard I would want to teach my children.

I think the OP was making the assumption that Imus had a true epiphany and his remorse and
shame was genuine. If that were the case, Al Sharpton's acceptance of his apology would have
been the noble thing to do and would have had a much more positive effect than demanding
punishment of someone whose remorse was genuine. Two days later it seems his assumption
was wrong and yours was probably right. So it looks like punishment is in order and is going to
be given.

I haven't seen or heard Imus in over 12 years and from my recent reading about his history, you're
assessment of him was accurate. His offensiveness is clearly a habit and habits are notoriously
hard to change. His apology is likely due more to self-interest than genuine understanding of the
evil and harm his words can cause.

I still try to stand by my standard for forgiveness, but in this case, I believe, your call was the right call.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. ABSOLUTELY NOT! IMUS knew what he was saying was racist and hateful.

Sharpton should hand him his ass and demand he be fired.

[bmbmd]

4. I agree with you.

Teach the right how to forgive. Not gonna happen, though.

[stirlingsliver]

5. If This Were The First Time, Perhaps....

If this were the first time Imus has said something truly objectionable, then perhaps an apology would suffice.

But Imus has said truly disgusting things over and over and over again.

He is kind of like The Greaseman -- a guy who used to be on radio UNTIL he made a very crude racist joke.

He had made other offensive jokes, and had apologized, but the one that was over the edge got him fired.

Imus, too, should be fired.

We just should NOT tolerate such hatred and racism.

[partylessinOhio]

7. Crucify Imus but let the Divider carryon as usual? Who did Imus kill or

order to be killed.

Priorities are out of order here. This country is so dumbed down they will follow anyone like sheep.

Who has demanded the firing of those on the right that have spewed hate for at least the last fifteen years? WHO?

MSNBC is suspending Imus' program for two weeks. They should not have caved just as CBS should not have caved on that big gun Texan newsman.

How many more will be destroyed by this hatred in America?

Rappers call women ho's in every rap song - and who complains about that? In fact rappers have dumbed down the use of the awful label but Imus or you or me better not ever say that word.

Edit: Thanks for pointing out my errors, was typing fast and left my pc without checking the spelling. Upon return I saw the error and the message below.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. don't know if you were trying to make a point, but.....

you spelled "rappers" incorrectly, twice. Just sayin......

[LibraLiz1973]

14. I agree with you about the country being so dumbed down they follow

anyone like sheep.

That this story is still getting everyone in a rage while men like John McCain are lying on tv saying Baghdad is pretty good right now.......... BARF.

This Imus story is like the new Anna Nicole.

[ecstatic]

8. lol... I like Sharpton, a lot, but this isn't about Sharpton

This is about a hatemonger being allowed to constantly spew hate over the airwaves of major networks.

[CatWoman]

12. Hey Hon

:hi:

[King Coal]

19. Hi Cat!

:hi:
Oye, como va,
mi ritmo?

[theboss]

21. What have I learned from this?....Sharpton has a radio show

Who knew?

[a kennedy]

22. Yeah, it's on this station......

http://www.wolam.com/ELS/elsMainMenu.asp?LIP=1 I listen to "The Black Eagle" everyday it's great for getting the African American point of view. Love it. :applause:

[Toots]

23. " Imus will fly right"

:rofl: :rofl: Are we truly that gullible here?

[King Coal]

24. I guess you are Tootsie. I told you once that "gullible" wasn't really

a word, and you said, "Really? It's not a word?"

"hi"

If Sharpton made a point of forgiving Don, how do you think Imus would reciprocate? Do you really think he would continue to make racist remarks? It must suck to think that.

[Forkboy]

27. Why would it suck to think that if someone has repeatedly done something they'll just stop?

What must really suck is putting faith in someone who has repeatedly done these things.

[LSK]

29. I guess you missed the Clarence Page / Imus story

:eyes:

[Forkboy]

26. The only flaw in your theory is thinking Imus would fly right afterwards.

He's done this stuff before and keeps doing it.He couldn't fly right if he was a trained pilot.

[King Coal]

30. Be nice, Fork.

[Forkboy]

32. Awww...do I have to?

*kicks ground*

[LSK]

28. disagree

Sharpton has drawn a line in the sand and is saying that it ends now.

These shock jocks seem to think they can get away with this shit and that has to change.

[FredScuttle]

31. I have a bridge in Brooklyn you may be interested in....

"Imus will fly right"....lol. Like the dozens of other times he or a member of his subhuman crew insulted a minority group in America?

[AuntPatsy]

33. The only problem with that scenerio is that he is guilty of the same

in the past, its apparent he has not learnt his lesson and actually has proven he could care less, he is only repentent now simply because he could lose his job. He is by no means a young pup and knows better but cares little;