The Importance of Being Imus

The words spoken by Don Imus in reference to the Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team were wrong. The words, the concepts communicated of women through the words are reprehensible. The words spoken by Imus have no place in the course of human speech. In a choice of words, each person who heard or hears words as these is violated. The words violate us - each of us as people. The violation is to our human identity, to who we are and who we must wish to be as living beings. In Don Imus's choice to say or use these words, we are violated and made less for the experience. In the repetition by news sources and others, we must make sure that reporting and over-reporting does not allow any acknowledgment of legitimacy. Perhaps even the culture of Rap Music that uses similar references may find some way to evolve beyond the use of such words.

In the wake of Don Imus's statements, each of us has a choice to say - never again. It is not a matter of forgiveness, that Don Imus can say "I'm sorry." We can say we are or were sorry. There is a permanence in what was said even if we forget exactly what was said. In this, we may not be able to purge the words that were said from our consciousness because words that violate cannot be purged. We can seek to raise ourselves above what was said, heal ourselves and seek healing of each person we meet within that space in which we live our lives. We can and must make a commitment to force words and concepts out or our vocabulary and life experience. There are words and concepts that are deserving of extinction - we must add these.

With great regret, perhaps we have some need for words and events like Don Imus that make it necessary for each of us to stop - in shock, in a sense of anger and astonishment, take a step closer to that creature we seek to become and who we may wish to recognize as a human being. If Imus has any importance, it must be as a reminder - it is not what was done or said, but what we chose to do now that will make the difference.