Could there possibly be a scrap of flesh left on Imus’ bones? Apparently so, because the media’s still munching on ’em. If the British press, with its fixation on the Royals, weren’t even worse than ours, I’d be embarrassed to be an American.
Shame on every newsperson and news outlet that gave the story more than the 30 seconds it deserved. Shame on me . . . and you . . . for paying attention to it.
Still, Imus’ remarks serve a useful purpose: they bring us back to reality.
In my lifetime – literally – America integrated the military, made school segregation unconstitutional, passed the Civil Rights Act, and opened the polls to everyone. Black men and women moved into leadership positions in business, medicine, education, politics, sports, and the military. I’ve lived in other countries. Believe me, we’ve done more to integrate minorities than any other society. This has led us to believe we’ve changed, shed old prejudices, become a better people.
The Rutgers team achieved greatness. They displayed strength, intelligence, dedication, grace, and discipline . . . everything we admire. Then, in their moment of triumph, a nationally syndicated talk show host pisses all over them. Why? Because they’re women. Because they’re black.
Maybe we haven’t changed that much. Maybe we haven’t changed at all.
Kurt Vonnegut died this week. Here’s something he wrote:
“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies – ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’ ”
– God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, 1965
Did he live in a fantasy world, or what?