If one thing can be said for (or against) Don Imus it is that he has been “an equal opportunity offender”! He has played the “shock jock” role perfectly – going after virtually everyone: all races, all religions, all political persuasions, all ethnic groups. You name it, and Imus at some point has insulted it. But unless I missed something I thought that is what “shock jocks” are supposed to do. They are expected to do what? Shock! Say or do outrageous things in order to get our attention and stimulate our minds. Deliberately yell “fire” in a crowded theater just to get everyone’s attention. It is important to underscore that there is no evidence nor has there even been an accusation that any Imus comments were made in anger or hatred. Or that he is "racist".

“Shock jocks” come in all shapes, sizes and philosophies. Jerry Springer has made a fortune by parading to our television screens the filth of America just so he could bleep out their obscenities and cloud over their ugly private parts. He’s a television “shock jock”. Howard Stern makes his living by reminding us of dirty words which he can now say freely on satellite radio, and by unveiling for us the breasts of hundreds – perhaps thousands – of women, many of whom could well fit the definition of “ho”. Shocking, but very profitable for Stern and his sponsors. This year, the music world has a record crop of its version of “shock jocks”. Turn on BET and MTV and you can be treated to “artists” like black rapper MIMS (Music Is My Savior) whose top-of-the-charts song “This is Why I’m Hot” has such stimulating lines as “This is why I’m hot. Catch me on the block every other day. Another bitch, another drop.” Or, later, “I hit Wash Heights with the money in the bag. We into big spinners. See my pimping never dragged. Find me wit different women that you niggas never had.” Truly inspiring, right? BET and MTV also feature some renderings by the black rap group “Ho Frat Ho!” (which I assume must be Hawaiian music – perhaps distant relatives of Don Ho.) Right?

By the way, the “ho” word was not a creation of the Ku Klux Klan, or David Duke. It was introduced by black rap world “culture” headliners like Snoop Dogg. Can we connect any parallel between Snoop’s frequent use of “b**ches” and “hos” and the Don Imus reference to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos”? Not on your life! Snoop explained this week: “(Rappers) are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We’re talking about hos that’s in the ‘hood’ that ain’t doing s**t, that’s trying to get a nigga for his money. These are two separate things.”

You can always catch Snoop’s rap on BET and MTV. You will also hear the word “ho” so many times you think you tuned into the Santa Channel at Christmastime! I should mention that both networks are owned by CBS which, of course, fired Don Imus for his use of the “ho” word. Confused? Could there possible be a double standard here?

By the way, “Nigga”, freely translated, is “Nigger” which just happens to be the title of 75-year-old black activist/comedian Dick Gregory’s literary offering, published by Simon and Schuster. I wonder if his book has been removed from the libraries of New York City and burned since its City Council unanimously decreed in February of this year that use of the “n-word” is henceforth banned in what Sinatra called “a hell of a town”! (The Council’s action was in reaction to “Seinfeld” comedian Michael Richards’s use of the word during a stand-up performance at a Los Angeles comedy club.) So, make a note: there are varieties of “shock jocks” throughout the literary and comic worlds, too. A lot of them!

Comic Chris Rock frequently uses the “n-word” in his comic routines. He’ll continue to do so despite the City Council’s ban: “Enough real bad things happen in this city to worry about how I am going to use the word.”

Will BET forbid use of “ho” or the “n-word” in its shows? No! And a Grammy spokesman added that he doubts the academy’s 11,000 voting members would support any measure that might “censor artists”.

Gregory has appeared frequently on the Imus show and opposes the Imus firing! He has an interesting take on this entire issue and in a way he may have hit the nail on its elusive head. He said: “I don’t use the “n-word”. I say ‘nigger’. I think America is mature enough to deal with all our negativities. Can you imagine how the Jewish community would react if we said ‘c-word’ instead of ‘concentration camp’, or ‘s-word’ instead of ‘swastika’?”

Both Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who spearheaded the drive to get Imus fired from MSNBC and CBS, have not shown much restraint in their speech over the years. Both have used the “n-word” frequently. Jackson referred to Jews as “Hymies” and to New York City as “Hymietown.” When a storm of protest erupted, the Nation of Islam’s radical leader Louis Farrakhan, an aggressive anti-Semite and a long-time Jackson ally, issued a public warning to Jews: “If you harm this brother (Jackson), it will be the last one you harm.” Sharpton has called Jews “diamond merchants”, has referred to “Greek homos”, and has claimed “white folks were in caves when we (blacks) were building empires”. Not all was without consequence. After Sharpton denounced the “white interloper” who owned Freddy’s Fashion Mart in Harlem, the store was torched by some of his followers killing seven people. So, there are plenty of “shock jocks” in the political and religious world (did I forget to say “Reverends” Jackson and Sharpton). Then they put on their Holier-Than-Thou robes to go after Imus. And here let’s make a big note that most if not all of their statements were made out of either anger or hatred – or a combination of the two.

So, in a virtual sea of Do As I Say Not As I Do – filled with hypocrites and double standards – can we extract any sense at all in this controversy? Apparently, if you are black, you have free reign of the First Amendment – whenever, wherever and however – no matter what race, religion, sex, ethnic group or political persuasion your target might be. A black website, BlackRefer.com, offers this gem: “Q: How are women and linoleum floors alike? A: You lay them right the first time and you can walk all over them for the next 20 years.”

Non-blacks need to be very careful using any terms that might be considered “offensive” by any minorities lest you be branded a "racist" or “sexist”. By the way, it IS okay for other minorities to take a slap at themselves. “Q: What’s a Jewish American Princess’ favorite position? A: Facing Bloomingdale’s.” That’s just one of many Jewish jokes at http://judaism.about.com/library/2_humor/bldef-joke_jewishmothers.htm a Jewish website published by About, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company.

Let’s look down the road a bit. What on earth are we going to do with “Classists”? I mean people like Jeff Foxworthy who have lumped an entire class of Americans into what he calls “Rednecks" … and then proceeds to ridicule them? (e.g.: “You might be a redneck if you consider the fifth grade your ‘senior year’.”) Offensive? Classist? Interestingly enough, his biggest and most receptive audiences are rednecks! They love him, and his humor!

What about people who live in trailers (“trailer trash” according to Springer)? Or just walk through the boroughs of New York, and listen to the names used for Italians, Irish, Jews, Puerto Ricans, and virtually anyone and everyone else. The Speech Police are going to be VERY busy.

I'm not an Imus follower, but that's irrelevant. I view his characterization of the Rutgers ladies as stupid and highly inappropriate particularly when you contrast it with their very classy way of handling the situation which was stellar. His commercial sponsors had a right to withdraw their support and, if we don't like their decision, we have a right to stop buying their products and services. That's the way the system is supposed to work. (I'm surprised that companies haven't learned yet that associating themselves with "shock jocks" is rewarding but comes with a huge risk.)

In a way, America is at a First Amendment “crossroads”. We can let the firing of Imus mark the beginning of a new era where we punish any and all speech – no matter what the media, or intent – if it is deemed “offensive”. If we do so, let’s not be hypocritical. Let’s not just go after some because they are using “the public airwaves”, and let others off the hook because their song was played over cable, or their show is on satellite radio. If we are going to establish a tight Taliban-like rule of “goodness” on speech in America, for God’s sake let’s be consistent. Say goodbye to Imus, but also say so long to Jackson, Sharpton, Snoop, Gregory, Rock, Springer, Foxworthy, et. al. And, in the process, let’s blow a farewell kiss to the First Amendment.

Or, we can follow Dick Gregory’s advice, grow up, and be mature enough to take the verbal licks that are hurled at us because of our heritage, sex, religion, national origin, or economic status. The young ladies at Rutgers accepted Imus's apology, and we should do the same. Hopefully, there will be some lemonade that comes from this lemon. Maybe we can all learn to take more control of our own tongues and begin thinking more of the consequences of our words. We might just emerge as a better society with our cherished right of Free Speech intact and thriving. As a kid, when I was taunted by a jerk, I remember responding: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That turned out to be pretty effective.