IMUS: Are Black People Too Sensitive or Is There A Double Standard?

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In light of Radio personality Don Imus' flap over insensitive jokes, the question arises, Are Black people too sensitive? Should blacks have been better able to laugh off these comments as a race? Should many of them not get so upset, asking for Mr. Imus' ouster? Imus comments, among other things, calling the Rutgers university women's basetball team "Nappy headed hoes" is not the first time ugly or inappropriate comments were hurled at black people. There have been many comments throughout time that have received notetriety. One big difference in this case is the jokes were directed at college students who were struggling to achieve a goal against great odds. The goal was trying to win an athletic competition, for which these girls had struggled hard. They were not public figures or politicians but young girls a few years removed from high school. Would it be okay for Imus' to have made these comments about 15 and 16 year old high school girls? I think not. Would you have seen this much debate if Imus had made these comments about the Jewish state or a group of fragile young jewish girls? The Uproar and termination would have been swift. The history of Black people in America can never be foegotten in the equation. Many are trying to turn this story around to make the point that leaders such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and others should not be the ones leading the charge to get Don Imus removed because of their history. If the playing field were level maybe those charges against them would have had a point. But because of the inequity of racism in this country, the chances for leadership for African Americans are limited. The problem is not that Jesse and Sharpton are speaking out but that black people don't have more speaking out because of the vacuum of power that has always been there. Yes others have said many dispaging things but the difference is power. Black rappers, entertainers and others do not have a consistent stage from which to vent lke Imus does. When a black person does cross what was considered the line like Arsenio Hall did many years ago by having Minister Farrakhan on his show, they suffer the consequences. When Hall had Farrakhan on his show, even though many objected, you see he was removed even though Hall's show was rated number 1 at the time. Fair or not , the winds of power shakes its rattle and is loathe to change without incredible cost. If you look at Imus comments in context, they were vicious and inconsiderate and have no place on a "common" stage today. I believe the real point about this case is our society is not strong enough to look past such raucus comments. Ten years ago, these comments probably would not have brought as much emotion. But with the advent of 9/11, the war going on, gas at an all time high and the stresses of today in our society, it seems everyone has a short fuse. We as human beings are looking for things to give us an escape from these stresses, not mean spirited attacks on our mind and soul. And these comments did not help.