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I find myself in the uncomfortable position of having to agree with you Luke. At least in the sentiment, if not the particulars of your reasoning. This isn’t really a free speech issue as no one, including MSNBC, has questioned Imus’ right to call the Rutgers Team “Nappy-headed Ho’s” (at least when he’s not on the air!). The real issue is the response it has drawn, and how vividly it highlights the chilling effect that political correctness has had on public discourse. When so-called “leaders of the black community” make hay over ridiculous incidents like this, it destroys their credibility, and the credibility of those who are addressing the real and serious consequences of discrimination in America. These buffoons think that by prescriptively controlling the language we use in this country, they can somehow control our thoughts and feelings and thus, magically erase centuries of painful history and bad blood. It’s not only antithetical to the principles of democracy, it’s patently absurd! No one is going to erase racism from the human heart. And, for that matter, none of us should want to. Racist views, whether we find them offensive or not, still constitute a valid philosophy. The only problem with this philosophy is that it contradicts the most fundamental principle underpinning our body of laws - namely, that “all men [and women] are created equal”. But the solution to that problem is not to try to censor any expression of racism, but rather to more vigorously uphold the rights ordained in our constitution… by combating real instances of discrimination -in employment, wages, housing, education, etc- and ensuring an equal opportunity for each to rise according to their own merits and the strength of their character.

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