Imus, The Media Monopoly, & Hypocrisy In America

A heavily covered news item in the past week has been the reaction to comments made by syndicated radio host Imus, culminating in this veteran radio personality's firing after his employer's claim that his referring to female college basketball players as "nappy-headed hos" was something they did not wish to be associated with. Imus' street talk was not out of character, and there are many transcripts of past comments he has made that would be insulting to various minority group... and his comments haven't previously aroused such a reaction.

Media conglomerates such as Viacom (owner of CBS, which broadcasted the Imus show) market numerous music recordings, movies, and other entertainment materials that contain far more coarse and insulting language than Imus but which they will continue to sell and profit from. Imus had recently called the honchos at CBS "money-grubbing Jews," and this incident ironically seems to lend credibility to his comments, for there are a disproportionate percentage of persons with a Jewish background in the media and a main motive of decisions is certainly profit rather than ethics or enlightening the public. We have no real knowledge of what went on behind the scenes of Imus' firings, but the fact that the media has focused the public's attention so heavily on the story alerts me to the likelihood that there is some agenda of powerful people involved. Imus apologized to the women he made his comments about and was still dumped from the airwaves.

Reverends Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton were quick to pounce on Imus, yet they are typically selective about what minority "victim" issues they draw attention to. There are much greater and more genuine issues for them to focus on yet they pushed this to the point of Imus being fired even after his apology. Jackson and Sharpton have been identified by some independent journalists as connected to organized crime and government dirty tricks operations. The late Sherman Skolnick was one of the first to expose Jesse's activities, and his successors at Cloak & Dagger Internet Radio have made allegations that Sharpton is also a tainted activist. Considering their history one may wonder if they were rewarded by someone for fostering the Imus issue.

Another interesting allegation comes from the news site www.whatdoesitmean.com, where information alleged to come from European intelligence sources indicated that Imus had threatened to expose information about lies behind the Iraq War and the 911 terror events. His comments to Tim Russert during an interview seemed to imply such a threat of disclosure. Thus, the source cited claims that he was fired due to his threat to add to the ranks of public figures challenging the 911 coverup. The recent exposure of 911 Truth by Rosie O'Donnell has drawn attention to the topic and thus raised tension among the power structure that is entangled with 911 and other criminal enterprises. Tom Delay, former Republican Congressman and convicted racketeer was quick to suggest that Rosie O'Donnell should be next to be fired.

Not only are there desparate criminals seeking to silence speech that could expose them, but there are also insecure minorities and victimhood promoting groups that are quick to support censorship. Many Jewish groups (mainly Zionist groups) viciously attack anyone who criticizes Israel or Jews, regardless of the basis for such criticisms. In many countries people are now jailed for merely questioning the details of the established consensus about the WWII Holocaust... even though there is solid evidence that a number of accepted details of what happened during the Holocaust are either inaccurate or unsubstantiated.

There are also women who don't want any derrogatory speech about women used... even though they seem to have no problem with male-bashing and insults directed at men, as well as suppression of evidence that domestic violence is often directed at men by females and not as one sided as widely taught. Similarly, some blacks want to be protected from insults about their race but often don't condemn insults about whites or the language used in their own community that is what people like Imus may mimick. Many blacks still blame whites for their communities' problems while failing to face their own role in perpetuating class differences. There are certainly those who oppress minorities and create difficulties for them, but that is not an excuse for self-sabotage or for seeking to get "affirmative action" that results in reverse discrimination. Two injustices don't add up to fairness. It only encourages social conflict.

As a society, we must have free speech and a willingness to explore all viewpoints and perspectives to increase understanding. When there is censorship we can start to investigate who wishes to impose their views or protect themselves from the effects of open discussion. When we can't allow others to think and speak freely we expose our own insecurity and immaturity. By hiding ourselves from varied ideas and viewpoints we sustain the limitations of our own existing awareness and understanding. If our current ideas and views are valid and well-constructed then we shouldn't fear others presenting conflicting ideas or information. We need to expand the range of debate on issues, not narrow it, as is customary in conventional media.

Ever notice how issues are debated with only 2 views represented, in most cases? We have around 300 million people in America, so why would there only be 2 views? Why does the media only report on 2 political parties with only occasional exceptions? If everyone's thinking alike then no one is thinking, as Ben Franklin once said. Rosie O'Donnell was correct in describing the media monopoly in America... and the firing of Imus reveals further evidence of hypocrisy among those controlling the content of media. Unless Americans learn to question all supposed sources of authority and research and form their own views rather than following shepherds (who are often themselves sheepishly spouting someone else's propaganda construction), then the demise of the country is a fait acompli, a done deal; for those who build empires and suck up the wealth and resources of that society don't concern themselves with the effects of that society collapsing into chaos as long as they have new worlds to plunder.