Remember about a month ago when everyone seemed to have an opinion on Don Imus?  In case you've forgotten, Don Imus is the radio shock jock who was fired for using racially and sexually derogative language against the Rutgers women's basketball team.  Most people seemed to agree that his comments were, at the very least, tacky.  But many also thought that the reaction of firing Don Imus was over the line and even hypocritical. 

So although Don Imus is no longer the go-to conversation for watercooler chat, the incident is still having repercussions.  Al Sharpton, naturally one of the most outspoken against Imus, recently said of Mitt Romney's presidential run:  "As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation."

Nice.  I don't know which is more offensive - the comment about Mormons or the comment that God decides who will become the President of the United States. 

Ironically, Al Sharpton has been spending much of his time lately trying to "clean up" rap and hip hop music.  While I personally am not a huge fan of the language in many rap and hip hop songs, I tend to think that it is the individual's right not to buy music that offends them, just as it is the artist's right to express themselves however they want.  Sure, many of these songs can be distasteful, but do we really want to start legislating taste?  Is this not a slippery slope?  And isn't it ironic that Al Sharpton is standing on such a moral highground? 

Ultimately, I think that people should be able to say whatever they want, but that we all have the right in turn to think that they are complete morons and snicker about them with our friends.  That's really the American way.