North Star Writers Group

Don Imus’s firing from his morning radio job and the loss of his simultaneous MSNBC show might give the impression that the public at large is truly offended by his labeling the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy headed hos.”

But is that the case? A Web poll as of 4/14 at www.fishbowlNY.com showed that of 3,346 votes, 55 percent of online voters were against Mr. Imus’ firing and 40 percent were for it, with the rest undecided.

This was, of course, an unscientific survey, but it fuels suspicion that most ordinary folks don’t care what Mr. Imus said about the players. After all, Mr. Imus enjoyed a lucrative career spanning more than three decades of spewing crass remarks. Occasionally he’d have to offer an apology, but the flap was usually over almost before it began and quickly forgotten, except perhaps by the unfortunate targets of his so-called humor.

Mr. Imus, in other words, gave voice to opinions a lot of his audience members would love to say aloud, but either don’t dare or don’t have a convenient public platform from which to do so.

The entire brouhaha is significant beyond just another white man spouting vile, inappropriate sexist and racist remarks. Mr. Imus’ comments – and others like them – are about the powerful and privileged mocking of those who usually are not in a position to refute their tormentors. What’s made this instance stand out is that many parties have come to the Rutgers team’s defense and the mainstream media are making a big deal out of their objections – at long last.

So-called humor ceases to be amusing when it is turned against the unfortunate, the powerless and the dispossessed. That’s why blackface comedy routines were so offensive apart from the obvious racial stereotyping. Members of the empowered group, whites, had fun at the expense of a subordinate group, blacks. This is also what makes female impersonators so repulsive. Males demean females by reducing them to make-up, hairdos, dresses and high heels, when the reality of being a woman is so much more complex and momentous.

Contrary to the old nursery rhyme, name-calling can and does hurt. Turned against authority and pretension, humor is a potent weapon. It can, in fact, have the effect of equalizing power, if only for an instant. That is precisely why thin-skinned dictators and wannabe tyrants invariably ban or eliminate humorists and satirists. The former are terrified that the latter will, with a pithily pointed comment or observation, puncture their carefully constructed bubbles of lies and hypocrisy. Yes, the king/CEO/president really is a buck-naked buffoon.

The Rutgers basketball players did not deserve to be slandered in such a manner. But then, few of those who are the butt of cruel jokes merit such treatment, either. Alas, we human beings find it much safer to target the defenseless with racial or sexual stereotypes than to lambaste the powerful and influential, forgetting that there are real people, with real feelings, being tarred by our so-called jokes.

Other shock jocks and comics might be a tad nervous now about keeping their jobs while demeaning people not in a position to return fire. Rest assured, all is not lost. Just be sure to target smokers and fat people exclusively. Sad but true: These two groups are still good for a cheap laugh at their expense.

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