Imus, Cherry and living your own life.

[dzuunmod]

So, there's this Don Imus situation. If you've been living under a rock (or maybe if you live somewhere other than the United States and just don't pay the news a whole lot of attention) you know that dude went on his national radio/TV show last week and referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos". He has

Comments

[dzuunmod]

Well, what the black columnist from Kansas City (I can't remember his name) said when he invoked the hip-hop comparison was basically that if black men (that's to say, hip-hop stars) exploit women, and refer to them in their songs as bitches and hos, people shouldn't be surprised when white people follow the example. He said it doesn't excuse it, but that when it happens, people really have no reason to be shocked.

[skaloop]

I haven't seen much of Coach's Corner this season either, as I tend to be out by then, but I think he does regularly acknowledge the deaths of Canadian soldiers. Even the ones that don't always make the big headlines. I don't think he means it as an anti-war thing exactly. More of a pro-troops type thing. He recognizes their sacrifice, but I am not aware of his personal stance on the war.

[dzuunmod]

Oh, that's what I was getting at - Cherry's definitely pro-war (I do believe he's been public even on Coach's Corner about how he's in favour of the war in Iraq, and if he's in favour of that, I can't believe he'd be opposed to Afghanistan), but it's interesting that his way of supporting the soldiers is the same as how some people in the U.S. have shown their displeasure with the war.

[wendykh]

the thing that galls me is I find his reference to them as hos way more offensive than nappy headed (since when is that racist? My nappy headed cousins would like to know the pc way to refer to their hair now btw) and no one mentions this at all. It's all a race thing.

[dzuunmod]

I've noticed that too. And I think that really does have to do with hip-hop. Whether or not people like it, what happens in rap gradually becomes part of mainstream (youth) culture.

[wendykh]

oh yeah on lifestyle choices...

my dad still hassles me about divorcing my ex. Like, he's OFFENDED we are friends. I'm like why would we fight now? we're divorced. The divorce was to end the fighting. He can't get that the REASON we get on is because we divorced. He thinks since we get on so well we gave up early. Dick.

Also, many people are appalled I intend to have more children, and yes, biological. So since you Josh are not having any, I figure I am allowed to have more than two :-P It evens out IMHO. Dicks. So not their business.

[dzuunmod]

You go ahead and have as many babies as you want. Babies don't offend me in the least as long as they're cared for. Which brings me to another reason people often feel compelled to intervene when they find out about someone not planning on having children: if someone doesn't want children, why should anyone try to convince them they should? How is that situation going to be any good at all for potential children?

[wendykh]

I don't get that at ALL. To me I want to applaud people deciding not to have children. Jesus I wish more would. Not everyone needs to parent and who the hell would want people who do not want kids to have them? Weird.

I confess while I see nothing wrong with choosing not to have children, I do get kind of :-/ about people who choose permanent sterilization at very young ages whether they have children or not. There really are a lot of sensible hormonal and otherwise options out there and I know childfree people hear this all the time, but a lot of people DO change their minds I find it very drastic.

[dzuunmod]

As the years go by for me, and I don't feel myself budging on the child issue, I've started to give some thought to The Operation, I gotta admit.

[kdbuttongirl]

Just wait till you are pregnant! (ok that's probably not a when, but an if you ever are)... It doesn't stop with the "when are you going to have children wink-wink-nudge-nudge" it extends into every thing you do while pregnant and how you raise them once they make their appearances. I used to get all kinds of unsolicited advice from little old ladies while waiting for the 144 in front of the Royal Vic. *shudder

[dzuunmod]

If my parents question me on any of this stuff, I feel that's fair game. But then, I have a very good relationship with my folks. I won't live my life for them, but if they think I'm making a mistake, they're definitely among the people who have the right to step in...

[kdbuttongirl]

yep yep. I agree -- But it is all about who *you* feel has the right to step in, no? In my case, my mom can comment all she wants, but then she has a way of getting her point across so that I feel I've come to my own conclusions without any input... but my dad, who likes to tell me what I "ought to do" has far less sway with me.

[dzuunmod]

Oh of course. Like I said, I have a really good relationship with both of my folks, so, they have the right. But I choose to give them that right.