As far as me going on a crusade against "nigger" being used in the Black community: I actually don't consider myself an active participant in the Black community. I don't self-identify as Black unless forced to (e.g., when filling out official forms). There are other activists who are deeply involved in the community who are trying to change things. I applaud their efforts (though, again, I think the current movement to ban the use of racial language is misguided and doomed to fail).

I also hesitate to interfere with the creation and production of art. Music--even rap--is art, and I support the right of artists to create and reflect what they view as reality. (Imus is not an artist, by any means.)

Like I've said before, Imus has a right to speak whatever is in his heart. He just doesn't have a right to say it over the air. Public airwaves are protected, regulated space. To permit his speech to go unpunished (and a two-week suspension is a slap on the wrist as far as punishment goes) is tacit permission for any other person in radio or TV to do the same.

It's wrong to use racial epithets as insults, across the board. I've never wavered in this stance. I am not being hypocritical, and I take offense of you accusing me of being so.