Weighing in on the Don Imus issue

There seems to be a changing environment regarding race/religion etc.
A couple of years ago, we had settled into a sort of tacit agreement that
hip-hop lyrics, as long as they were primarily performed by blacks, could
be demeaning and vicious as they were part of the "culture".
Hate crimes were charged frequently with white on black violence.
With the Imus flap, the issue has risen in wider circles and may lead to
a real dialogue about language and it's use/misuse.
Less tolerance for hurt feelings, especially amongst those younger than
baby boomers would be the driver, in my opinion.
It will be interesting to see if true change is in the offing or we all revert
back to our own culture's bias' and slang.