Rusted Sky

Shunning Imus by Baldilocks is a very good analysis of the whole mess. She also has some commentary re black women's hair. As they used to say (and may still) in the SCA re uncomfortable period costuming (Full Elizibethan England outfits in Georgia's summer) "Beauty Knows No Pain." Youch.

However - It really does kind of worry me that Al Sharpton wants to pretty much decide what's acceptable speech and what isn't. Frankly, I think the man's in love with the sound of his own voice, and this mess with Imus has given him a gig he'll milk for as long as he can.

Update: It looks like Imus isn't going to go quietly into exile. Well, more power to him - he's apologized, but he doesn't plan on grovelling, and he shouldn't. But I wonder if those who want him silenced realize that they have no hold on him any more, with the loss of his show - and he's got the attention of the nation for however long it lasts. He's got nothing to lose, and he's apparently got quite a bit of cash, plenty of contacts, and a whole lot of media savvy.

That's a dangerous combination, when pushed too far.

I think Sharpton and Jackson may have pushed things just a bit too far... and if I were them I'd stop fanning the flames they've been so diligently throwing fuel into. What they've done hasn't been to anyone's benefit, except theirs.

J.