But is it ever appropriate to comment on a woman's looks on-air? What if she isn't in the entertainment business? What if she is in politics? My personal take is that it is completely acceptable, as long as that is not the only characteristic you look at when judging a person.
We all have different sides to our being that makes up the whole. Men and women have a sexual side, but that is not all they have. They also have an intellectual, political, professional and social side as well. So, if you judge a woman (or a man) only by her (his) looks, then you are hopelessly shallow and almost certainly sexist. But if you pretend not to notice if they are attractive or not, then you are almost certainly lying.
I wouldn't be telling the truth if I told you I never considered whether Terri Hatcher was attractive. Same goes for Margaret Thatcher. But my conclusions on that front don't effect what I think of their acting or political skills.
So, is it ever appropriate to discuss whether you find people in the political or professional sphere attractive or not? I admit that I'm too scared to offer up women choices in the current atmosphere for talk show hosts. So, I will go with male politicians as my examples here.
And, finally:
(Photos: Getty Images, AP)
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. who is sexier, cenk or jill?
Sadaqat at 8:53PM on Apr 11th 2007
2. Stupidity and racism go hand-in-hand, and both are allowed in this country (so long as assault and other violent and otherwise illegal acts are not included). I prefer to know if someone is stupid and racist ahead of time, before finding out later. Let them show their cards right up front! As for me, I already know that most of the comedians on BET (Black Entertainment Television) are racist idiots, and so I don't waste any of my time listening past the first racist mention of "white folks" by those idiots. Fair is fair. Free speech is allowed in this country, and if you don't like what someone says, don't listen to their mess and move on.
NancyY at 10:34PM on Apr 11th 2007
3. Ok, did Imus mess up?? Yes, I think he did BUT not any more so than a player on "The Amazing Race" did last Sunday night. It seems to me that his extremely inappropriate comments regarding two fellow players has simply been viewed as "humorous" TV and let slide!! For those of you that don't watch this show , I will quote what this player said, repeatedly, not just once. He called two players he was racing against " those dirty street hookers". Maybe I have a misguided sense of what is acceptable and what is not, but to me this was just as offensive as the comments Imus made but allowed to completely slip under the radar, why?? Because the girls were white?? Because he was not a radio personality?? Who will ever know?? Even though this show airs in primetime when millions of viewers watch it, I have not heard ONE thing mentioned about it. Wake up people and stop being so darn hipocritical!!!!
Karla at 11:39PM on Apr 11th 2007
4. Yes, What Imus said was stupid. But as an African-American, I must ask this question: While we have all of our civic leaders to call for him to be fired, are we also going to go to the record companies and call for them to fire all the rap artists that say a "whole lot WORSE"?? I mean, this is racial but it's racial on both sides. Truthfully, the black community is insulted because a "white man" said it. But can I get "us" to be insulted enough when we hear it on our radios and see them on TV instead of spending $15.00 - $20.00 for our children to listen to their CD's and watch their videos making them believe that it's "ok" to say those things as long as we say it to each other. It's wrong regardless of WHO says it and we need to STOP IT!! Again, he needs to be reprimanded and he has been. He apologized which is alot more than I've heard ANY rap artist do so LET IT GO!! If we're going to complain and protest about one, we need to do it about ALL OF THEM!! "Regardless" of their race. Most of my brothers and sisters won't agree with me, but it's the TRUTH!
Sharron at 8:35AM on Apr 12th 2007
5. IF IT'S BLACK, STAY AWAY!
ALLEN BURTON at 8:39AM on Apr 12th 2007
6. Imus did make a mistake and needs only apologize to the people he made the remarks about. All these people coming out of the woodwork condemming him have made slurs against others ,sometimes racial ,sometimes personnal. But as it is said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".
Perry at 10:01AM on Apr 12th 2007
7. What price did Jesse Jackson pay for using the word "hymietown"? Nada! Nothing! The more idiots like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton show their hypocrisy, the more they guarantee the perpetuation of racism. Racism towards the likes of Jesse and Al is well deserved. They personify the "n" word.
marty at 10:55AM on Apr 12th 2007
8. The bigger issue is the insult to women. It assumes calling a woman a ho is just a joke. It's not. In this country prostitution is illegal. And Imus slandered these women saying they were lawbreaking money taking sexual deviants. I have a 15 year old daughter who plays basketball and I would never be amused by anyone calling her a ho. It's sexist and and just another case of letting "boys" of all ages know that it's ok if you meant it as a joke.
Eileen Fish at 10:58AM on Apr 12th 2007
9. Women and men , especialy women spend countless billions trying to make themselves look better. And accept com;liments and even solicit them and whn alone we whisper n each others ear, playfully bite eachother onthe neck etc. WE put themon the pedestal and they love it there. By the way there are 2 sexes , I spent all of puperty most of my adulthood searching for women and the oblect of my desire. Who is the asshole who want to change this?
bob U. at 11:11AM on Apr 12th 2007
10. MSNBC just dumped the only program anyone watches on that channel I will not have anything to do with this channel any more. I turned on Imus this morning and got David Gregory sitting there making excuses for the cowards that run that station.Maybe you guys should start a show called Al Sharpton in the Morning and see how many people tune in.Don Imus made a stupid mistake.You fools made a very foolish decision based on a bunch of whinng Black Empoloyees.You fired the wrong guy.I'm done with MSNBC See Ya,Not!!!!!!!
Michael at 11:30AM on Apr 12th 2007
11. Sharon in comment #4 hit the nail right on the head. When are we going to stop the rappers from making their sexist comments about all women? And quite frankly, I'm tired of black people being able to tell white folks to "get your white ass out of here," yet if a white person said the same thing to a black person (saying black ass), all hell comes down on them. Re: Ismus: I believe Ismus is an idiot and has put his foot in his mouth before so he deserves what he got. In the same news report, Obama made a comment that his own daughters are dealing with the issues of sexism and racism. I sure hope he doesn't let them listen to rap!
Diana at 11:40AM on Apr 12th 2007
12. I completely agree with Sharron above. It's disingenuous for black men to get upset about the comment just because a white man said it. It's sexist and wrong no matter who says it, and if rappers weren't constantly degrading women this way, it never would have occured to Don Imus to use this language - although of course he would have found another way to insult them. Women of all races should boycott any rapper who degrades women, and not allow our children to listen to this crap.
Since Imus thinks it's appropriate to judge women by their appearance rather than their accomplishments, I'd like to add that he is the ugliest SOB I've ever seen in my life. How could anyone watch him on TV, except to make himself feel better about his own looks?
Cathy Cox at 11:49AM on Apr 12th 2007
13. I think this world would be a better place if every would not use racial slurs, but that is not going to happen.I believe this attitude starts from home and you can't teach a old dog new tricks. People, let go and let god.
monique at 11:52AM on Apr 12th 2007
14. We need to know "sexy" in terms of sexist liberal, or conservative politian. Read following to help you understand.
What kind of political standards do the American people want from a Presidential candidate? A candidate who is liberal left-wing activities to reflect the standards of no right or wrong, all shades of gray, and reflect the culture of the intellectual elite who think “they know what is best for you” and employ political campaign strategist to shape public opinion to their views and promise voters whatever they want.
Political conservatives are more accepting of Christian believers who stand on principles of what is “right” and what is “wrong” for morals and personal conduct. You cannot have it both ways, or make it "fuzzy" with shades of liberal gray. As in science, we have “right” and “wrong” answers and as in religion we have a higher moral authority in one living God. U.S.A. is based on one Nation under God and a personal religion based on the Holy Bible.
Alan Klaus at 1:49PM on Apr 12th 2007
15. Don Imus'comments were deplorable. He knows it, he has apologized profusely. Time to give him the benefit of the doubt.
And for him to be castigated by the deplorable Al Sharpton (the Tawana Brawley affair) whose guilt in that matter seems to be forgotten, is totally incredible.
Worse yet are media people who bow to his rants,
Imus was wrong...no question. Enough
g.lyons at 2:42PM on Apr 12th 2007