Selective rage against the machine

Making this IMUS thing really simple….. 

1-Racism & sexism are the surface problems. These problems have been problems long before Don Imus and rap music got their start (both around the 1970s). The problem has sublimated into less obvious, harder-to-trace issue. It’s not a conspiracy nor is violence going to solve anything. Holding past offenders accountable isn’t going to help. Spending energy and resources to place blame is also a waste of time.  Still, the issue is clouded even more by most discussions by emotionally-loaded words defined differently among different groups. Ultimately, the issue is the balance of power and the perception of that power balance.

2-Money, fame and notoriety can distract people from values. Corporations make money off shock jocks. Shareholders makes money off corporations. Music industries make money selling albums. Music artists make money selling albums. Controversy sells albums, newspapers, books, television shows, movies, and other mass media items. Controversy polarizes people into speaking out. Being offended seems to be a national pasttime. Taking people to court for whatever reason they want to seems to be another.

3-Let’s not waste time with some easy targets. Rap artists. White supremacists. Talkshow hosts. We can’t celebrate and condemn at the same time.  Just as we shouldn’t celebrate Imus, we also shouldn’t be celebrating rap artists (or any other artists for that matter) either. Anything that degrades, insults, belittles, or encourage violence against others needs to be targeted collectively.  That would include the music industry and those contributing to it, including the artists. We also need to think of the media influence in this, too. How things get presented are going to influence beliefs. The media has its own agenda, too. It comes down to holding ourselves as well as others accountable. The trick is to be able to do both.

4-The bottom line is that the choice is up to you on your role in racism and sexism. If you decide to take the mental shortcuts that stereotypes have to offer, you’ve pick your side. If you foster the us vs. them thought process, you have also picked, too. You don’t have to grab a protest sign or chain yourself to anything. You just have to speak up.

p.s. Another good rule of thumb is that if Rev. Al Sharpton thinks its a good idea, you might want to perhaps consider other stance.