Response to Al Sharpton on Don Imus

Don Imus is an idiot and should be taken outside and slapped repeatedly for his racist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team. I will settle for a two week suspension without pay and I applaud CBS, Imus' radio employer, for meting out that reprimand. I am satisfied that the issue has been handled. What I want to focus on is the knee-jerk grandstanding by Al Sharpton in insisting that Imus be fired for his remarks. Sharpton smelled a spotlight and was drawn to it like a moth to a flame, or more appropriately, like a fly to horse manure. Sharpton has done about as much to advance the cause of Black people in the last ten years as Dave Chappelle has; maybe its time for Sharpton to take a little trip to Africa himself. The man ran for President. Quick, somebody tell me what his plans are to do improve the less than 50% on-time graduation rate in many of America's major cities? What is his plan for improving health care? What about the majority of Black children being born out of wedlock? My point is he and other so-called "Black leaders" (when was that election, did I miss it?) like to run willy-nilly here and there grabbing headlines, making bold demands for the firing of a lone idiot and doing nothing between these excursions to affect real change in the lives of the people they are purported to lead. Black people don't listen to Imus, check the Nielsen ratings; and I doubt Imus does even as much as his buffoon role-model, Rush Limbaugh, to sway public opinion. Sharpton simply saw an opening to have his name attached to another public embarrassment, something at which he has become quite adept. We need to start focusing on what is important in our lives and to our quality of life and putting energy into attacking the childish taunting of one moron will not make one bit of difference. Focus on the positive, Al, take time to go and congratulate the achievement of the women, as basketball players and as college students. Put some energy into creating new jobs and new business opportunities. Celebrate the achievements of all our people to the point where our excellence shines so brightly that it cannot and will not be tarnished by anyone, let alone a Don Imus.