Matt Lauer and others in media say Imus needs more diversity - they should practice what they preach

[Robson]

I thought I'd choke when I thought I heard Matt Lauer say to Imus that he lacks diversity on his show. Personally I don't like Imus because of his blatant over bearing arrogance, but he is a comedian of sorts and comedians have insulted people on all levels with targeted and often racial humor. Chris Rock has it down to a science.

What I find truly insulting are the blatant sexist and racial epithets that the gangsta rappers throw out against females as a message and not as humor. There is a big difference and we should not accept that it's OK because they are black.

But getting back to Matt's remark which I found was somewhat disengenous. I challenge any of you to watch NPR, C-SPAN, all major networks, news and financial media and note the ethnic demographics of the hosts and pundits. Consider ethnic categories such as blacks, jews, hispanics, asians, white non Jewish, muslims, etc. in your observation.

After you've evaluated this for several days or a week come back and tell us what groups predominate by a wide margin and what groups are vastly under represented. Let's start here: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/

I'd be all for true ethnic diversity in our media as I see it as only fair to have a broad representation of our country on the nations media.

[stray cat]

1. Who will be the first to sacrifice their own job for the sake of diversity?

[MethuenProgressive]

2. Who will be the first to call out the rap/hip-hop industry's use of hate speech?

I've heard third grade hispanic kids calling each other the n word - I assume they didn't hear that on Imus?

[ellacott]

4. Many have called them out

It doesn't get a lot of media play. Don't presume that no one has ever said anything.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. What kind of puritanical nutjob would do that?

rap/hip-hop is entirely protected by poetic license.

That would be calling out Harry Potter on their use of witchcraft.

:crazy:

[ellacott]

6. boy oh boy, you are naive n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Really?

How so?

[ellacott]

9. Because there have been many who have gone after them

for their lyrics and message.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Yes, I know.

They're puritanical nutjobs, or opportunists playing it up for puritanical nutjobs.

[ellacott]

14. My goodness, where are you getting your information from?

They are Al Sharpton, Essence magazine, Spelman College(an historical black college) and many other organizations.

The late C Dolores Tucker was in this fight for a number of years before she died.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. Yes.

Your point being?

[ellacott]

18. We're having a failure to communicate

If I'm reading what you are saying wrong please forgive.

Did you ask who would go against the rap community and challenge them on their music?

Do you think the only persons that would confront the rap community are puritanical nut jobs?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. ...

"Did you ask who would go against the rap community and challenge them on their music?"

It was a rhetorical question. Only puritanical nutjobs, opportunists who exploit said puritans, and, I guess, old fashioned racists are upset about lyrics in rap music.

[ellacott]

20. Ok n/t

[IronScorpio5]

3. More PILING-ON...

everyone is now so morally superior.:puke:

[TahitiNut]

22. Well, it's pretty clear that some aren't morally superior at all.

:evilgrin:

[MonkeyFunk]

7. I'd have to say

Jews and Asians are pretty well-represented. Blacks and hispanics, probably less-so. Muslims not at all.

[slj0101]

10. I can only think of one sympathetic Muslim character on primetime TV.

And he's played by a British-Indian.

http://community.tvguide.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/700008613-700011869-700069819-700001799/Sayid+by+jet+engine.jpg

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. He's also a former Iraqi Republican Guard...

who specialized in torturing people, and tried to commit terrorism.

:shrug:

[slj0101]

13. Trained in interrogation by an American officer.

Touche...

And yeah, that does back up my point that the only sympathetic character on primetime TV still reflects some Western sterotypes about Muslim people.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Yes, and it's all in Susan Plechett's dream.

My point being, the character was concieved as a ridiculous Islamophobic stereotype.

[slj0101]

16. I agree, and I edited- see above.

[Robson]

21. Muslims evil, blacks good, jews good, some whites bad....but I'm sick of 24 hr NEWS

This whole episode with Imus drives me nuts as the entire motivation has been to drive eyeballs to the news media which equates $$$$ to the media.

Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me. That's the bottom line, even though I despise Imus.