Submitted by Amy De Rosa, Apr 12, 2007 16:03

This opinion piece begins to get to the heart of the Imus matter by pointing out that there is a culture of 'gangsterism' out there that hurts young men and women, and that it is that 'gangsta' talk that Imus was of course imitating when he did his usual morning talk show shtick. The question not asked here is, why didn't Imus point that out when he was called on the carpet by Al Sharpton?

Imus didn't invent the word 'ho' nor did he dream up the idea of using it to refer to women. Why didn't Imus throw the accusations and criticism right back at the 'Reverend' and ask him why he, Sharpton, is not out talking to rap artists and record producers and members of the community that he claims to represent and taking them to task for their language which degrades and debases members of the African-American community and our society in general.

The answer to the question is easy enough. Imus didn't stand up to Sharpton's bullying because, for all his swagger and iconoclastic talk, Imus is an aging-hippie turned establishment-talk-show-host. He is a main stream pundit who apparently thought that he could say whatever he wanted without reprisal from the media establishment of which he is a part. In the end, Imus is being bullied not only by Sharpton but by his own media colleagues. And, Imus hasn't stood up to the bullying because Don Imus is a coward.

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