Duke Lacrosse and Rutgers Basketball

As I listened to Robert Johnson, the Founder of Black Entertainment Television tell me that Don Imus needed to be fired because Black America just wasn't going to let what he said go unchallenged...I contemplated just when the world decided that only minorities were allowed to be outraged by injustice?

In March of 2006, 46 Duke Lacrosse players -- all division one athletes, members of a highly successful program coming off an NCAA final appearance, but predominantly white, had a party. Unfortunately, these young men -- winners all -- exercised poor judgment and hired two exotic dancers to entertain them during their spring break from college.

We all know the rest of the story. Reverend Jesse Jackson offered to pay the tuition of the victim. Despite all protestations to the contrary, this black victim (whose own companion that evening said it was a "crock") was presumed honest -- and the players were presumed guilty.

Fast forward to Don Imus, whose life and career has been built bashing and mocking people on the public airwaves (Note: Until this incident, he was considered a hero to the public airwaves as he did not move to Satellite radio where, like Howard Stern, he could rant on whatever topic he chose). Don Imus has ended his career because he made extremely inappropriate comments about young division one athletes on the Rutgers Basketball team. Their coach, Vivian Stringer, has come publicly and called for justice for her team. She is a hero.

Mike Pressler, the Duke Lacrosse coach -- who was not present at the party -- was hoisted onto Reverend Jackson's petard by a liberal media and faculty and fired by Duke for what an (ironically but now publicly acknowledged) African American woman who had the DNA of 3+ men on her person said his students did. (Now -- that's a black ho -- right? )

Imus IS a symptom of a larger problem -- but the problem isn't just about the way the main stream media and liberals are offended. It's about how they pander to minorities. You cannot go crazy that Don Imus uses what is clearly "hip hop" references to athletes, but then ignore the fact that Al Sharpton was part of the "rush to judgment" in the Duke Lacrosse case. WHO was there in the main stream media to defend the WHITE LACROSSE PLAYERS -- who were accused of a crime and put through a sham process to secure black votes in a polarized Southern town.

Doesn't this irony bother anyone? Don Imus made a stupid, back-handed reference to a team of basketball players. He didn't crusade against the tatoos or the hairdos -- he made an old-man stupid racist remark. These girls were not hurt except by the repeated reference to his comment on every news program. Did any of these girls HEAR Don Imus's show that morning??? Doubtful.

Did Al Sharpton care who he hurt when he championed Tawana Brawley? Did Jesse Jackson rethink his offer to pay for college for Chrystal Mangum, the Duke accuser? Who did HE hurt?

Don't hurt the feelings of black basketball players with a stupid and callous comment on a drive-time radio program -- ruining their moment of glory. But go ahead and destroy the LIVES of 3 Duke lacrosse players and end the career of their 16-year coach.

I don't get it. Can anyone help me through this?