Did Don Imus deserve to be fired?

[Defiant]

I'm not allowed an opinion? Everyone else is allowed theirs...You specifically said to "feel free to go with it", and that is my contribution to the discussion, take it or leave it.

[Theresa]

"Feel free to go with it" regarding racism. I was clear. I'm not playing with you, we've done this before, I'll not do it again. Your comment about Donald Sutherland had nothing to do with either racism, or Don Imus. So far this isn't a warning. Let's keep it that way.

[La Forge]

Real quick, on the subject of using racial words within your own race. I would think people would find the n-word offensive no matter who is saying it. I do. I would never call a black man the n-word ever. Yet, I hear black people call each other it (jokingly) and it isn't offensive. I do the same thing, kind of. I'm white. Me and my sister call each other "crackers" and "honkies". Why? Because, I don't find those words offensive. Yes, they were meant to be offensive, but...they carry the same weight as the n-word does for black people. So, me calling my sister a cracker is a bit different than a black person calling another black person the n-word (as cracker isn't that offensive of a word), but, as someone out, it is still a double standard. Why can a race call each other a racial slur, but, if another race does it, then it is offensive? I don't understand it. Maybe people shouldn't just say any racial slurs at all. That'd fix the problem. However, people are people and there are always bound to be bigots and racists, so, sadly, that problem won't be going away. There seem to be a lot of double standards in society today.

[Republican_Man]

Personally, while I recognize the n-word holds less weight than "cracker," I am quite offended when people of any race call white people such terms. I've never called a black person the n-word or negro and I haven't called a white person cracker, either, and it's going to stay that way. I find all such terms to be brutally offensive; the same goes for when anyone - male or female - calls a woman the b-word.

[La Forge]

I understand that. A slur is a slur, no matter who is saying it. Personally, though, I just find the "slurs" of "cracker" and "honky" not all that offensive, but, I perfectly understand what you are saying.