“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” — Benjamin Franklin
Here’s a story from the BBC, marginally related to my last post, about CBS Radio doing the only ridiculously consistent action they could and suspending two DJs for making offensive jokes. CBS Radio, if you didn’t know, is the same company that fired Imus a few weeks back.
On the heels of the Don Imus controversy, many conservative commentators pointed out that language like that used by Don Imus (and often much worst, actually) is rampant among pop culture, especially hip-hop, and why weren’t the same forces going after Imus with such gusto spending equal effort stamping out that form of offense?
In some respects, it’s a valid criticism. While Don Imus was making his infamous barbs against the delicate sensibilities of the Rutger’s women’s basketball team, at about 6:30 in the morning, I’ll wager that at least one other radio station was playing some music (most likely hip-hop) with lyrics more offensive than anything I or Imus would probably even understand; even if the words were bleeped out or altered, as is often the case on radio.
Today on CNN (and later, in this story from the BBC), I see that Russell Simmons has stepped up to start actually talking about this topic (or maybe he’s just using the issue to get publicity for his new self-help book?). In his CNN interview with Kiran Chetry, Russell put himself into the unfortunate position of calling for radio stations and publishers to ban certain words above and beyond the FCC’s infamous “7 words” (which I believe is something of an urban legend anyway), but at the same time, claiming that he is absolutely opposed to censorship.
It was unavoidable that the media would be saturated by news (by which I mean 10% news and 90% commentary) about the Virginia Tech. shootings. I hesitate to make my own comments here as there’s so much already being said about it, but on the other hand, not too many people read my blog, so to hell with it. 
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From the BCC (emphasis mine):
President George W Bush’s concept of a “war on terror” has given strength to terrorists by making them feel part of something bigger, [international development secretary] Hilary Benn has said.
…
“The fight for the kind of world that most people want can, in the end, only be won in a different battle - a battle of values and ideas.”
Personally, I prefer the term “Crusade against Islam”.
MHD is showing Gorillaz: Live in Harlem again. I have to remember see one of their live shows if I ever get the chance.
Update 2-23-2008: Here’s some snippets of the show, courtesy YouTube.
Gorillaz - El Mañana
Gorillaz - Hong Kong (feat. Damon Albarn)
What's On The Internets?
