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The political race is no more than a popularity contest, with
millions of dollars spent to create a perfect image. *
- Laura Guerry, student
Truth, not flash and spin should be guide
By Laura Guerry
Guest Writer
dictatorluura@gmuil.com
This past Saturday,
I woke up at 6am and
braved the expected
storms to hear Senator
Barack Obama speak at
GA Tech’s Yellow Jacket
Park. I, like the estimated
twenty-thousand other
people who attended
(which is grossly over
estimated), was eager to
hear something new from
a politician.
Browsing through
his second book, I began
to think that this man
could bring something
different to the White
House. It isn’t simply
My take: Imus is backlash for rap degradation
By Jonathan Ashby
Guest Writer
1 think we all know
what transpired last week
on April 4,2007. The overly
controversial comments
of Don Imus’s references
to the Rutgers University
women’s basketball team
as “nappy-headed hos”.
I also remember Imus
making reference to the
girls as some “rough girls”
and highlighting their
“tattoos”.
I have sat back and
listened to everyone’s
assessment of the situation
and opinions on what
should have happened or
how the situation should
have been dealt with. Well
first and foremost he has
been fired and publicly
scrutinized, but I am not
writing to focus only on
Imus because I feel he has
suffered enough. He had
his radio position stripped,
a position he has had for
years, but we all know he
was really fired because all
of his advertising pulled out,
therefore making it an easy
business decision. I
think Imus has become
everyone’s focal point to
blame for a problem that
has been evident in my eyes
for years and let’s not forget
about his crew who are just
as guilty of degradation and
sexism. Imus is just a small
part of the problem, but a
The West Georgian is now accepting
applications for the Editor-in-Chief
position for 2007-2008.
To apply, pick up application from the
Mass Communications
Office, Humanities Bldg. Rm. 152.
because he would be the
first racial minority to
occupy the Oval Office,
although I certainly don’t
think it would hurt. I am
in agreement with many
Americans that something
needs to give, and we want
a change in our politics.
Out with the tradition of
ignoring ordinary citizen
issues, and in with a fresh
approach to honestly
address societal concerns
with a critical eye of
current policies.
With an energetic 45-
minute speech. Senator
Obama called for national
unity to fight for pressing
issues. For Obama, these
issues include the need
for universal healthcare.
good start.
I also think about
the radio industry that is
egregious towards women.
Name one woman radio host
with a Don Imus following
or status. Furthermore,
the fact that Imus has
made a career of dissing
women and minorities
highlights a bigger picture
for me. I immediately
think about who could be
listening to Imus every
morning for amusement
as he degrades African
Americans, handicapped
people, homosexuals,
Japanese, Jews, and Native
Americans! I think it
highlights that money is
power and there are a lot of
racists still in our backyard.
Years of controversial
comments and nothing is
done because he has power
and friendships that help
keep someone in power.
I continue to hear,
“well if we are going after
Imus, then why not hip
hop artists or Gangster
Rappers.” Well wake up
call, people have been
going after rappers for
years now, but it can never
pick up enough traction
because that industry
is a worldwide cultural
phenomena that transcends
race. Trust me people are
going after rap, but it does
not get the support it needs
and the media back doesn’t
back it. I know that rap
setting a solid plan for
our future in Iraq and
developing more policies
that cater to the lower
and middle classes. In
discussing the Iraq war,
Obama made it clear he
did not support going
in with no plan and had
spoken out against the
war. I find this interesting
since Obama was not
eligible to vote against
the Joint Resolution 114
in 2002. To those in the
crowd who did not know
this, they must surely have
gotten the impression that
he did indeed vote nay,
but wasn’t yet a senator.
Sadly, try as I might,
I realized that Senator
Obama isn’t much
does not send all the right
messages and does degrade
our women, but is it fair
that the media has changed
the whole blame on Rap or
Hip-Hop? No it is not fair
at all, it involves more than
Gangster Rap. What about
“Punk Rock,” “Heavy
Metal,” “Rock,” “Marilyn
Manson followers,” and
the infamous “Howard
Stem?” What about all
these different genres of
music and people who do
not have anything positive
associated with them.
Do these types of music
and people send the right
messages or uplift women?
I don’t think so, but all I
continue to hear on the
news is “blame Hip-Hop!“
That is completely unfair, if
you are going to blame Hip-
Hop, blame “Punk Rock,”
“Heavy Metal” and all
types of music and people
that do not send the right
messages. It seems like
every time in our society
you say ban “rap” you get
this huge following as if
it is the only reason why
our women continue to be
degraded.
For example, think
about “Girls Gone Wild,”
a million dollar industry
fueled by putting white
women on camera acting
like fools, but that’s okay,
right? The producer of
Girls Gone Wild makes
29 million dollars a year.
Opinion
different from other
politicians in regard to
how he plays the political
game. The speeches and
press conferences are
plagued with half-truths
and omitted information
that the public should
know to make an
informed decision. Many
say to break the cycle
and speak completely
honest on issues would
be political suicide. I
disagree, because I think
the American people
are longing for someone
different. Someone who
can lead the people to a
better tomorrow not by
keeping them out of the
informational loop, but
guiding them to a well
I am tired of people only
blaming rap! What about
Marilyn Manson, the
devil worshiper who has
millions of followers, who
slit their wrists, and lose
their virginity to his music!
I want someone to tell me
something that is positive
about Mr. Manson. I don’t
ever hear mainstream media
blame “White America” for
anything when it comes to
sexism or racism.
Another example
would be Howard Stem;
here is a guy who is just as
famous and controversial as
Don Imus, but has remained
on air for years. I have to
admit the FCC has been
on him for years, but that
means nothing to him or
the station funding Howard
Stem because the huge
fines are next to nothing
when you calculate how
much money he makes his
company. For years now he
has brought many women
on the show to showcase
their body parts, talk
CAMPUS EVENTS
Wednesday, April 18
• Charles Beard Lecture & Reception: How to Become an Information
Center of Excellence, Richard Meyer, Library Conference Room, 2 pm.
Wednesday, April 18
• UWG Theatre: Crumbs from the Table of Joy, TCPA, through 4/21,
7:30 p.m. Also on 4/22, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: adults, $10; seniors, $7; UWG
students, free
Thursday, April 19
• Spring Fling 007 Style, Love Valley and patio, 5-9 pm
Thursday, April 19
• Norman Rockwell dedication, Rooms 4 and sof the Education
Center, 3-4 fan
Thursday, April 19
• UWG Film Society Screening, “Hustle and Flow”, TLC room 12(X).
7pm.
Thursday, April 5
• Blood drive, UCC, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Friday, April 20
• Poetry Gala, see Sharron (sedwards@westga.edu; 678-839-6512)
in TLC 2255 today to RSVP! Tickets are caily $lO for students. (They are
$35 for everyone else.)
The event will be catered and includes an open bar for those over 21.
educated opinion based
on accurate facts.
Fact has become
intricately tied to opinion
rather than evidential
support. The political
race is no more than a
popularity contest, with
millions of dollars spent
to create a perfect image.
Do Americans really
want a perfect image? I
absolutely do not want
the perfect image from
any politician I vote for.
Perfect is impossible and
to achieve that illusion,
many things must be
ignored, covered up and
shaped to fit the agenda
of winning the election.
It is this tradition that
needs to be broken.
about sex, and their wacky
careers. All he wanted to
see was their body parts.
He has no morals and is
also degrading women, but
does he get the blame? No,
good old Hip-Hop does
though!
That man and his cast
are deplorable, and stand
for nothing that helps
put our society in a good
light. In sum, all I want is
fairness. If you are going
Disclaimer
The opinions in this section do not
necessarily reflect the views of the
University of West Georgia, the staff
of the West Georgian or the Mass
Communications department.
It
Give me a politician
who speaks as honestly
as possible, admits
their own shortcomings
and explains to me
why I should vote for
them despite their
imperfections as a human
being. No one is perfect
and those that admit it
get a better response than
those who try to hide
it. I have a message for
Senator Obama, should
he really want to get my
vote- tell the whole story.
I make rash decisions
sometimes out of
frustration, now give me
a flaw of yours so I know
you’re different from all
the others.
to blame Hip-Hop, be fair
at the same time and blame
all the other forms of music
and avenues that do not
uplift our women or put
then in a good light! All
Don Imus’s need to be and
will eventually be fired.
Don Imus has highlighted
a problem that everyone
knew existed, but just
ignored because the money
is too good!