The Marcolian Online

May 3, 2007

Jon Moffett’s Two Cents
Jon Moffett
jrm001@marietta.edu

“Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
To many people who call the United States home, these words are held sacred. Second only to the Bible (or other similar religious texts), the Bill of Rights lays out the foundation for what it means to be an American. They protect our rights and allow us to live freely without having to worry about oppression or discrimination. Unfortunately for us all, these very freedoms are under attack.

By now, I’m sure all of you have been familiarized with the situation involving Don Imus and the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball team. Imus made some comments and came under extreme criticism for them. He was then terminated by CBS, the station who broadcast his radio program. First of all, the termination was more because of several key sponsors pulling out of the show, and not directly because of what he said. The firing of Don Imus was the greatest disservice done to this country since the Watergate scandal.

What Imus said may have been inappropriate, ignorant, and could even be considered racist by some. But you know what; he had every right to say it. Everyone has every right to say it. I’m sick of people feeling that they’re being offended or discriminated because someone said something that they didn’t agree with. Well guess what, if people stopped saying what they felt because it was offensive or unpopular, this country would never have been formed.

I’m not condoning what he said, but I am condoning his saying it. You see, you don’t have to agree with what someone says in order to agree with their right to say it. If one person or a group of people find something offensive, that sucks, but life goes on. People are going to say things you don’t agree with, that’s life. But does that mean that they shouldn’t say it?

I know that one of the big arguments is that Imus is a member of the media, and should be responsible for what he says or does. Well that may be true, but as Americans we have one of the greatest freedoms of all; the right to choose. Turn off the radio, turn the channel on TV, or better yet just ignore the man.

On September 11, 2001, Osama Bin Laden and his radical followers declared war on the American way of life. The events of that day directly changed us. But just because a group of crazy terrorists knocked down a couple of buildings doesn’t mean they destroyed our lives…yet.

Don Imus is a moron. He says stupid things and makes himself look like an idiot. But you know what; let him look like a fool for what he says. The day we stop people from expressing their rights is the day America fails.


• Campus News • Viewpoints • Sports • Arts & Living • Greek wrap-up • Ask Marc • Spotlight • New faces at MC • Meet our staff • Staff profiles • Letters to the editor policy • History of the newspaper • Benefits of advertising • Ad rates		May 3, 2007 Jon Moffett’s Two Cents Jon Moffett jrm001@marietta.edu “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” To many people who call the United States home, these words are held sacred. Second only to the Bible (or other similar religious texts), the Bill of Rights lays out the foundation for what it means to be an American. They protect our rights and allow us to live freely without having to worry about oppression or discrimination. Unfortunately for us all, these very freedoms are under attack. By now, I’m sure all of you have been familiarized with the situation involving Don Imus and the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball team. Imus made some comments and came under extreme criticism for them. He was then terminated by CBS, the station who broadcast his radio program. First of all, the termination was more because of several key sponsors pulling out of the show, and not directly because of what he said. The firing of Don Imus was the greatest disservice done to this country since the Watergate scandal. What Imus said may have been inappropriate, ignorant, and could even be considered racist by some. But you know what; he had every right to say it. Everyone has every right to say it. I’m sick of people feeling that they’re being offended or discriminated because someone said something that they didn’t agree with. Well guess what, if people stopped saying what they felt because it was offensive or unpopular, this country would never have been formed. I’m not condoning what he said, but I am condoning his saying it. You see, you don’t have to agree with what someone says in order to agree with their right to say it. If one person or a group of people find something offensive, that sucks, but life goes on. People are going to say things you don’t agree with, that’s life. But does that mean that they shouldn’t say it? I know that one of the big arguments is that Imus is a member of the media, and should be responsible for what he says or does. Well that may be true, but as Americans we have one of the greatest freedoms of all; the right to choose. Turn off the radio, turn the channel on TV, or better yet just ignore the man. On September 11, 2001, Osama Bin Laden and his radical followers declared war on the American way of life. The events of that day directly changed us. But just because a group of crazy terrorists knocked down a couple of buildings doesn’t mean they destroyed our lives…yet. Don Imus is a moron. He says stupid things and makes himself look like an idiot. But you know what; let him look like a fool for what he says. The day we stop people from expressing their rights is the day America fails.
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