This Is Just Wrong
Tim Dees
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
American soldiers and Marines are being killed in Iraq, Africans are dying in exponentially larger numbers in Darfur, the ice caps are melting, and high school graduates are functionally illiterate. Still, the top news headlines this week focused on Don Imus’ use of ethnic slurs in describing a women’s basketball team, and Calvin Broadus’ walk on serious felony charges in California. That ordering of priorities is bad enough. But I am supposed to stick to topics that have something to do with criminal justice, and I’ll extend that news cycle by a few seconds to illustrate how the Imus and Broadus situations are examples of much larger problems in our legal system and the culture that shapes it.
If the name Calvin Broadus doesn’t ring a bell with you, that’s because he is somewhat better known by his stage name of Snoop Dogg, aka Snoop Doggy Dogg. I don’t fault him for the name change. I don’t use my middle name much, either, and I sure as hell wouldn’t if it was “Doggy.” This last week, Calvin was given probation after agreeing to plead guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and transportation of marijuana. He has to do five years of probation and 800 hours of community service. I assume that the conditions of probation include a prohibition on the use of illegal drugs, but his track record isn’t too swift on that. In 2002, he told Rolling Stone magazine that he was giving up both women and drugs, but he’s been arrested at least three times since then for possession or use of marijuana.
Cal’s other exploits in the criminal justice arena include membership in the Rollin’ 20s Crips, which led to him being a guest of the California Department of Corrections for most of the three years after high school. Trafficking in cocaine may have been entrepreneurial, but the state took a dim view of it, nevertheless. Then, in 1993, he was busted for his alleged role in the murder of a rival gang member, but beat the rap. Last year, Calvin and his entourage were passing through Heathrow Airport in London when they tried to crash British Airway’s first class lounge, despite some of the group having economy-class tickets. Cal and the gang do not take rejection well, and they demonstrated their angst by vandalizing a duty free shop, throwing bottles of whiskey and injuring seven police officers. Calvin was “cautioned” at a later appearance on a charge of affray at a police station, and both the Home Office and British Airways announced that Calvin would henceforth be unwelcome on British soil or aircraft. He was recently refused a visa from the U.K. government, and said he was surprised at this, as his only intention was to share a “message of love and harmony.”
His most recent troubles stem from being found with a collapsible baton in his computer bag at one California airport (possession of a baton by a private citizen is a felony in California), and with a firearm and marijuana in his car at another. Taking a cue from an old Steve Martin routine, Calvin “forgot” that the British government had told him to get out and stay out, forgot that he was a convicted felon, and forgot that he was forbidden for the rest of his life to possess firearms. As for the baton and the computer bag, I don’t know. I own both, but I’ve never had occasion to carry or use them at the same time.
The Don Imus crossover is that Imus used a couple of ethnic slurs in a single broadcast, where Calvin has difficulty getting through two bars of a song (and since we’re talking about rap, I use the word “song” in the most liberal sense possible) without repeated uses of offensive euphemisms for black people, women, and a popular term suggesting carnal knowledge of one’s female progenitor. His favorite term for women infers that all of them are prostitutes.
Broadus says that his use of misogynistic words is artistic, because for his people, those come from “our hearts and our souls.” He also says that Imus should be fired. Actually, I’m okay with that part. But to say that a white man should lose his job for an act that is entirely permissible for a black man is outright racism. I won’t tell a black man that he can’t drink from a certain water fountain because of his color. Don’t tell me that I can’t use a certain word because of mine.
But the greater issue here is Broadus getting a deal on substantial felony charges, especially considering his colorful criminal history. Calvin is a celebrity who is a role model for many young people. His fashions, speech, behaviors, and philosophies are influences for how some fans mold their lives. When he gets a walk for serious, premeditated criminal acts, it sends a message that it’s okay for other people to do this, too, because there are only minor consequences. You’re then allowed to return to the gangsta lifestyle, puff chronic, strap a nine, and otherwise do whatever you want.
Celebrities seem to benefit from greater latitude in their conduct, when they ought to be held to greater account, if anything. Cops get hammered when they mess up, because they’re supposed to set an example for everyone else. Why does a celebrity, who makes a lot more money and has an atrocious record for complying with the law, get the sweet deal? If I can channel Spiderman’s Uncle Ben for a moment, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Why should Calvin get one, but not have to accept the other?
Calvin Broadus’ charges were in state court, and both the marijuana and the firearms charges can be prosecuted in federal court without a double jeopardy issue. It was no problem to do this to the cops in the Rodney King incident. The U.S. Attorney could step in and render some justice, but his office is probably overburdened with cases where cops violated the interests of innocent and defenseless illegal aliens.
Do not look down upon women,and they are parts of society,they need to be respected and should have rights to do something what men can do. Don Imus must opplogized to women. I mentioned it on EbonyFriends.com and many friends agreed with me.
After reading the article and discussing it with some friends on EbonyFriends.com . we all think maybe someone think it is wrong but another will think is good.
Tim:
As my web-oriented colleagues might say: “+1″….
Our problem today is that of Political Correctness. Which roughly translates to pandering to minorities regardless of the silliness of the issue.
I have no use for Don Imus. Even less for Broadus. And we won’t even get into my views on Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Imus stepped over a line, perhaps. He’s been way over “my” line for years…. But the reaction is nonsense….
“Oops - shouldn’t have said that” ought to be more than sufficient.
Regards,
Stu.
I’m glad to see someone willing to speak up. It seems our society and governing bodies have double standards for those they want to have them with.
Lets not forget about the athletes that continue to break laws and use drugs but are allowed to continue to preform and show our young people they can always come back to the forefront. It’s time to “Take the bull by the horns” and make some great changes in the way our system does things. We should be harder on those in the public eye and set the example that needs to be set for the kids of today that will be running our country tomorrow. Acknowledge the good things that are done by those who do them and punish the ones that think they are above the law. Lets make examples out of them for our children to see that we as a nation will not tolerate bad, wrong or illegal behavior, regardless of who your are, the color of your skin or the size of your bank account.
To link Don Imus’ comments with a form of artistic expression that you obviously do not understand is repugnant.
Well said. 18 year old Americans dying in Iraq as if it’s no big deal, and yet some old man’s comments are the focus of society. Sometimes you get sick of being American, at times like this.
Great points. Why hasn’t Al Sharpton put any effort in changing the language of “rappers” to better the image of black females? It’s simple, because he too is racially motivated. Snoop Dogg is a bigger role model to the younger black generation than any police officer is, you think the country (especially the U.S. Attorneys Office) would take a stand in holding him responsible for his actions more than anyone else. The country has clearly evolved into a place where money and fame can get you out of anything. All you have to do is throw in the “racist” card in the mix and you are home free, just ask O.J.
Amen to that! Why is it only racism when a white person says these things. It is sad, that the black people, as a whole, still have such hatred and racism within their hearts.
And people wonder why law enforcement in California is so difficult….
Tim Dees, thanks for the great columns, I always ensure that I read yours above all others and agree with all of them. Keep up the good work, Thanks!
Amen.Agree
AMEN,AMEN,AMEN!!!!!
Snoop has a right to smoke weed and carry a gun, and say whatever he wants. As long as he doesn’t shoot anyone.
Once again, right on the money. The idiocy of our society [and liberals], continues to amaze me on a daily basis.
Don Imus was not fired because of a racist slur- he was fired because advertisers were starting to pull out.
Calvin Broadus gets to walk because he makes alot of green for alot of whites and blacks.
It’s not about law or order or justice-
It’s about money
As a former badge it no longer surprises me when celebrities walk away with no more than a slap on the wrist. Most ex-cons would be hauled back to finish their original sentences plus get time added for any new charges. But not celebs like Snoop Dog. It makes a joke out of our criminal justice system.
You said: “But to say that a white man should lose his job for an “act that is entirely permissible for a black man is outright racism.” I marvel at the lack of logic in many of the white arguments and recounts of these recent distractions, including yours. You are either a racial strife monger, deluded and arrogant or just evil. It’s not that Imus is a white man calling women hos, it’s because he’s in a regulated industry. The FCC controls the airways but doesn’t control the music industry. It’s that simple. You just happen to be attacking a black artist, and like a child, you are whining.
But it’s really deeper than that- you cannot stand the fact that a white man lost his job over calling black women names (and I heard the entire appalling session). Yes snoop is wrong about calling black women hos but why are you protesting now? Hypocrite. It’s not about the black women at all, is it? It’s about a white man being held accountable, even though he held himself accountable. What do you tell your children?
Why do YOU pretend to not know this? My growing hatred for the warped psychotic minds of white people like you grows daily. Why do you call evil good and good evil and then pout as you racialize this entire outcome. Stop defending Imus, he himself did not.
If Imus had said this about your wife or daughters, or any other white women, what would have been your response? Further, Eminem calls women hos and bitches and talked of killing his mother, after calling her a bitch. Where is your column about that? That’s what I thought. So there, see, white men can be vile and vulgar and misogynistic anytime they want, when they are RECORDING ARTISTS.
The problem is you people think you are little gods and that you can say or do anything to blacks without reproach. It was illegal for blacks to testify against whites, to look them in the eye and to protest ill treatment. I see some things have not changed. You disgust me.
The world is finally showing you people that you are not always going to get away with your hate mongering. Stop the white whine and learn from one of your own, Tim Wise. No wonder the kids in this country are illiterate- it’s because of their parents moral bankruptcy and hypocrisy. Arrogance and ignorance go hand and hand, as your diatribe demonstrates. Further proven by this arrogant piece is the paradigm that emotional intelligence, and not IQ, determines action and reaction. Get off the lynch mob train and clean up the white community.
“I won’t tell a black man that he can’t drink from a certain water fountain because of his color. Don’t tell me that I can’t use a certain word because of mine.” What is wrong with you saying something like this? Do you call yourself a Christian? I was just wondering. Who are you to tell a black man or anyone else they cannot drink from a water fountain? What does that mean with respect to advertisers watching out for their bottom line? How do you people look at yourselves in the mirror? Pride, pure and simple. You might as well say, In my day we used to…N…knew better than to …Sheesh. Some things never change. And you are/were a cop?
Eminem should be fired as well as the rest of the so called rappers. If Imus did it, they shouldn’t be allowed to say it either. That is racisim. Lets see, I can say it and not get in trouble, but you can’t say it. Whats fair for on is fair for the other.
DeeDee seems to either innocently misread, or has some agenda. Tim said nothing about “telling a black man…” He said that he will /not/ tell a black man. Unfortunately, like in many things, Tim’s words will be used by those with an agenda in ways that have no bearing on the words or message given.
I think Don Imus is a good starting point. Let’s go after Snoop next. From now on let’s fire, ban, boycott, remove from office, anyone that makes any type of biased comment or action regarding race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, handicapp or political position. We can make an impact against overt racism by hitting them all in the “bottom line”. I call on the leaders of every segment of American society to stand up against intolerence of any form regardless of that segments political or societal objectives. Let’s eliminate overt bias and bigotry and hatred from the United States even if we sometimes have to stand side by side with those that we do not necessarily agree with on other issues. Let’s make it a national endeavor and maybe if it lasts for a generation or two it will be removed from the American mindset of our future generations.
An effort of this magnitude would breed solidarity beyond the differences that separate us. But, whom among us has the will to throw away our own personal fears and hatreds? Whom among the leaders within our nation has the courage to step beyond their safety zone? Whom among us will dine with the leper, the prostitute and the tax collector?
A tempest in a teapot. Imus will have the last laugh, he will get a bigger contract from one of the satellite radio outifts, and I will continue to enjoy him there. I think America would be a much better place if whites could openly admit they dont like blacks and vice-versa. These little media dramas that crop up just highlight the obvious, no amount of PC BS is going to help us get along. It only fractures us more deeply.
Tim it is so much more than black and white, it is a cultural decline. The fact that we tolerate that behavior form anyone, black, white, red, or green, indicates that our society needs to reinforce the morals and ethics that our parents and schools were supposed to have instilled in us.
This is about money AND reverse racism. Do got canned because of money, ads pulled. Sharpton is a criminal ( been arrested 22 times) but he is black, so he gets a free ride. The ride is not really free though, because he and others like him are holding themselves back. He really has NO credibilty, not from anyone with any common sense and breif prior knowledge of him. Al was manufactured by Jesse Jackson, another criminal. Al is a “preacher” with no church, he talks out both sides of his mouth and is FAR more of a racist thatn Don Imus. Blacks make up about 12% of our population, yet they make up 82% of our prison population. Black unwed mothers are at about 70 % compared to 18% percent white women. That is fine if you can afford your kids. Look the fact is Blacks are holding BLACKS back. Keep holding the whites to a higher standard and keep giving the blacks a free ride and tell me what you expect.