13 Apr, 2007
CBS fires shock jock over racist slur
US radio host Don Imus was dumped by CBS Radio today in an inglorious end to a 30-year career that erupted in controversy over racist and sexist comments about a women's college basketball team.
The move came one day after he was jettisoned by MSNBC, which had broadcast his radio show on television and after several major advertisers backed out after he called the mostly black Rutgers University team "nappy-headed hos".
"Nappy" is a slur describing the tightly curled hair of many African-Americans, and "ho" is slang for "whore," usage of which has exploded in hip-hop music and popular culture.
"From the outset, I believe all of us have been deeply upset and revulsed by the statements that were made on our air about the young women who represented Rutgers University ... with such class, energy and talent," CBS president and chief executive officer Leslie Moonves said in a statement.
Imus was not immediately available for comment.
CBS said the cancellation was effective immediately. The show was carried on 61 stations across the United States.
CBS Corp unit CBS Radio made millions of dollars annually from the show and had originally said it would suspend him for two weeks starting Monday while it mulled what action to take.
No rash talkin!
Do your words cut or heal?
Proverbs 12:18
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture say about trash talkin?
All right, I know the verse uses the word "rash", not trash. And it is saying that these "rash" words can be like a sword thrust, not some vulgar verbage on the airwaves. But you get the connection between today's media headline story and God's Story.
Proverbs 12:18 really doesn't need explanation. In the context of the theme of wisdom in Proverbs, our words to others will show us to be a fool or someone who is full of God's wisdom.
Don Imus is trying to apologize and offer healing words to the Rutgers basketball team but the damage has been done. And he's done.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Answer this question honestly: Do your words bring hurt or healing to others?
- Talk some words to Jesus right now. Thank Him for the practical truth of His Holy Word. Confess any way in which you have been hurting others with words, whether to their face, behind their back, or online. Thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask His Spirit to help you fill your mind with God's Truth, so that you'll be full of wisdom and express words of Christ-like love toward others. Ask Jesus to use your words to bring healing to the lives of those who are hurting.
- Memorize today's verse as a reminder for how God wants you to talk to others.
- If someone has hurt you with words, ask God to give you a Christ-like attitude of forgiveness toward them, even if they never apologize.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- If you have hurt someone with your words, go apologize and ask for forgiveness. It will be an example of someone who has a new story through following Christ, which is part of God's Story. It may give you opportunity to learn more of their story as they respond to your apology.
- This one may seem even harder. At school or at the work place, when you see someone "thrusting a sword" by trash talking someone in a hurtful way, intervene in a calm way without playing the role of judge. Just try to be a peacemaker while standing up for someone who is being picked on. Get ready, because this may really open up some conversation about your story.
- Use the Don Imus story to discuss with others the need to use words to build others up rather than putting others down.
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