The Judge Report

Well, I hadn’t planned on weighing in on the Imus controversy, that being kind of a hot topic and me being something of a public figure and all, but I got dragged into it yesterday on my radio talk show.

Personally I’m shocked, SHOCKED that a radio host would let slip an expression like nappy-headed hos, whatever that is. Or is it hoes? Do the style manuals explain this one yet?

So here’s the problem. My 92 year old regular caller wants my opinion on the whole thing, and I offer several, including that no one should listen to Al Sharpton on anything, let alone issues of justice and race.  I think, however, that Imus is a jerk and I don’t look kindly on people who make scatological references about young women, particularly when they are complete (and innocent) strangers.

But I’m still tip-toeing around the whole thing, knowing that there are literally dozens of people out there listening to my show and that ANYTHING I say might be misconstrued.

I’m being oh so careful.

And it doesn’t help that my caller keeps referring to the controversial shock host as “Amos”.

Now, I don’t know about you, but aside from one of the Bible’s minor prophets, the only other Amos I ever heard of was another radio guy who with his partner Andy started up a cab company in Chicago and moved it to Harlem.

Well, I must confess that some thoughts crossed my too-quick-witted brain that if uttered would have kept me forever off of MSNBC simulcasting, but I resisted, praise God, and my broadcast options are still open.

But my tongue is mighty sore today.

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All that Amos stuff reminds me of a caller a couple of years ago who asked, “Is it true them AY-mish people don’t pay no taxes?”

“No,” your reasonably well-informed host replied,”I don’t believe that is true. The AH-mish people pay taxes just like the rest of us.”

“Well, I think yer wrong.  Tell me, how can I get to be one of them AY-mish?”

“I’m not sure, Ma’am, but if there are any AH-mish people listening on their car radios, I hope one of them will give us a call on his cell phone and let us know.”