| A cross section of articles and interviews | | | | corporation in America. It may not be a |
| about the Imus snafu has produced pretty much | | | | comprehensive list but it should do for |
| only similar results. Everyone is agreeing | | | | starters. |
| that he went too far and that if he should be | | | | |
| made to pay, then maybe Hip Hop should ante | | | | If profanity has become art, hasn't art |
| up as well. Is maybe strong enough? | | | | become profaned? |
| | | | |
| Among the fairest and most balanced offerings | | | | Does America and especially African Americans |
| on the Imus incident hails from journalist | | | | know the difference between a mere activist |
| Ellis Cose in Newsweek for the week of April | | | | and a real leader? |
| 23, 2007 in an article entitled "What Will We | | | | |
| Learn." Another offering well worth the read | | | | Are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton activists |
| is "Imus' Safety Net Failed" penned by the | | | | or leaders? |
| World Net Daily columnist Barbara Simpson, | | | | |
| April 16, 2007. | | | | Would Jackson and Sharpton be willing to |
| | | | march around network offices, media outlets |
| TV interviews are too numerous to cite even | | | | and corporate sponsors who gain from Hip Hop? |
| though not much variation is offered. It | | | | |
| seems like a replay of the same interview and | | | | Do Christians believe that the gospel and |
| it goes like this. Imus had a right to say | | | | gospel music, traditional or contemporary, |
| what he wants, networks and corporate | | | | can really stand by themselves to produce the |
| supporters have the right to bounce him and | | | | desired effect? If so why have some groups |
| why doesn't somebody call Rap and Hip Hop out | | | | borrowed from the Rap genre to present their |
| on the carpet. | | | | message? |
| | | | |
| Naturally when a race card pops up Jesse | | | | Would the networks be willing to tone down |
| Jackson and Al Sharpton are sure to pop up as | | | | the crap in rap just to give it a slap (no |
| well. Jackson is seen marching with a tiny | | | | rap intended) in the next Hip Hop |
| placard about Rainbow Coalition and Sharpton | | | | presentation? Would they be willing to cancel |
| is filmed as the magnanimous mediator of the | | | | the next Hip Hop presentation? |
| Imus apology, just what we might expect, | | | | |
| nothing new in this picture. | | | | Are African American women any less insulted |
| | | | by the rappers than they have been by Imus? |
| Not far behind these familiar scenes another | | | | Would they be willing to let their voices and |
| recurring but worn out and highly | | | | their "Hell hath no fury like a woman's |
| questionable outcome is the monotonous drone | | | | scorn" be heard on the same? |
| of the interviewers trying to assuage Rappers | | | | |
| with talk about their connection to art. A | | | | Have parents listened to what is being piped |
| lot of sycophantic gushing can't hide the | | | | into their children's brains and what is |
| fact that untold millions of people believe | | | | bombarding their sight daily by Hip Hopsters |
| that calling Hip Hop "art" is like comparing | | | | and are they willing to pull the plug if |
| Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa to Andy | | | | necessary? Do you know the definition of |
| Warhol's Campbell's Soup can. | | | | difficult? |
| | | | |
| Pop cultures' fling can produce bling but it | | | | Has anyone at all noticed that the Imus |
| takes something a little more classic to add | | | | incident clearly says that freedom of speech |
| something significant to a nation's culture, | | | | does have responsibilities connected to it? |
| something that will endure through the ages. | | | | |
| | | | Would rappers be willing to ponder the |
| Others have aptly pointed out something | | | | question of why only rap music gets a bad |
| already well known namely, that it is the big | | | | rap? Why haven't other music genres that |
| green money machine that drives Hip Hop. | | | | African Americans have contributed to or |
| Millions of bucks will also be lost by the | | | | wholly created been spoken against? Like |
| networks and sponsors as a result of giving | | | | Mississippi Delta Blues, Black Gospel and |
| Imus the boot. So that question serves only | | | | Choir music, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, |
| to raise yet another question. Why did the | | | | Dixieland, etc. etc. etc? Why doesn't anyone |
| networks and corporations suddenly go moral | | | | question that these genres are actually art? |
| on such a lopsided scale? | | | | |
| | | | Would Rappers be willing to ponder this great |
| A few voices have been heard that dare to | | | | proverb? In the multitude of words there |
| call Hip Hop artists and sponsors to respond. | | | | wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his |
| Among them has been African American poet | | | | lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19 |
| Maya Anjelou. In her customary dignified and | | | | |
| refined manner Maya gracefully lambasted the | | | | Would the rest of us be willing to ponder |
| rappers in an interview on CNN. Are there any | | | | these important words from the Saviour of the |
| other voices out there like this one? We are | | | | world? "But I say unto you, That every idle |
| waiting. | | | | word that men shall speak, they shall give |
| | | | account thereof in the day of judgment. For |
| Raising a plethora of new questions seems to | | | | by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by |
| be the main product of the entire | | | | thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew |
| controversy. These questions are useful only | | | | 12:36-37 |
| if we are willing to hunker down and search | | | | |
| for the answers and beyond that we must | | | | Rev Bresciani is a Christian author and a |
| demand that they be answered. | | | | columnist for several online sites and |
| | | | magazines. His articles are now read in every |
| Here is a list of questions that should be | | | | country in the world. |
| asked of every citizen, network chief and | | | | |