If anything good is to come of this (yet another) debacle, it’ll be because of great people like C. Vivian Stringer. She has been the personification of dignity under pressure, appropriately defending her players, and remaining calm, eloquent and respectful even while appropriately angry and strong. One might have excused her at this point if she had espoused some racist thoughts toward Imus, yet she’s risen above that, to participate in what I hope will become a trend — a return to civility and working to eliminate disrespect and insult in all communities.

Idealistic as it seems, I’d prefer not to hear anyone cross the line of hurtfulness, whether it be Don Imus, Rev. Jackson, Michael Richards, rap artists, or even us while dissing Mr. Bush and Ms. Coulter and their compatriates.

It is funny though that when something like this happens - the white person has to apologize to either one of them as if they literally are talking to the entire black population. It’s rather expedient.

I almost ran over Al Sharpton when he jaywalked on a side street in Georgetown a couple of years ago. The man has the most billowy silk suits I’ve ever seen on a human being. I flipped him the bird. He was pissed. One of his bodyguards had to pull him back out of the street he’d walked into…

From Salon.com

Take a look at the punishment that the NFL put on Pacman Jones and Chris Henry. It may not change their behavior - but it may change the behavior of those behind them - and that’s the point.

There is no excuse he could possibly make for uttering those words, which don’t even make sense. And his target choice is ridiculous. Sports anchors have been fired for much less. And I think it’s the right thing to do.

I’m a big advocate of free speech, and a part of me is glad to know where people really stand on the issues. But First Amendment protection is not extended to the marketplace. His sponsors and employers have every right to take action, because he screwed up while carrying their flags. I’m surprised and disgusted that there hasn’t been more done on their end.

If you, as a corporate citizen of this country, allow an employee to put this hatred out into the world with little or no consequence, then you are implicitly saying that what he did is okay. CBS Radio and MSNBC are unbelievable. I’ve never thought much of either organization (and it’s hard for me to say BOYCOTT! since I’ve never paid much attention to their productions), but the message is loud and clear. This behavior is acceptable to them.

Money will be the ultimate arbiter here, as it always is. If his advertisers pull out, then maybe his big dumb corporate home will finally get it. If there is any pressure to be applied by the public, I’m betting advertisers is the way to go. Making the business of hate speech unprofitable to Corporate America is the only way to activate what little remains of their sense of decency.

I don’t think everyone is racist to the extent of clouding their judgment and their value to society. At the point where that isn’t true - then they deserve to be punished.