The former Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman has known Don Imus since 1975, when according to Friedman, they met on stage at New York club, The Bottom Line.
Talk-show host Don Imus talks to Rev. Al Sharpton (not pictured) during Sharpton's radio show in New York, April 9, 2007. REUTERS/Chip East
Friedman has written an op-ed piece in the New York Post defending his friend Imus, and chastising a wave of political correctness, (a term first used by Joseph Stalin says Friedman), that has “trivialized, sanitized and homogenized America, transforming us into a nation of chain establishments and chain people.”
The Chicago born, and raised Texan Friedman is a musician, author, chess aficionado, and devout animal lover who created the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. He also ran as an Independent candidate for the Governorship of Texas.
The nickname Kinky was given to him in college on account of his nappy hair. The name just stuck. Friedman also performed volunteer duty during his youth with the Peace Corps on the island of Borneo in Malaysia and has been featured on numerous news and talk shows over the years.
Along with caring for his friend Imus, he also has a soft spot for the furry beasts, and founded Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, the mission of which is to care for stray, abused and aging animals; more than 1,000 dogs have been saved from animal euthanasia.
In his posted essay, Friedman bucks up Imus, who has gotten a raw deal in Friedman’s eyes:
“Take heart, Imus. You're merely joining a long and legendary laundry list of individuals who were summarily sacrificed in the name of society's sanctimonious soul: Socrates, Jesus, Galileo, Joan of Arc, Mozart and Mark Twain, who was decried as a racist until the day he died for using the N-word rather prolifically in "Huckleberry Finn."
Friedman cut to the chase regarding the reactionary Reverends, both Al and Jesse, and the kowtowing that the media has done in response to it all:
“..There will always be plenty of Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons around. There will be plenty of cowardly executives, plenty of fair-weather friends, and plenty of Jehovah's Bystanders, people who believe in God but just don't want to get involved. In this crowd, it could be argued that we need a Don Imus just to wake us up once in a while.”
Friedman defended the charitable and philanthropic actions of Imus, a fellow southwestern man who has, according to Friedman, faced down personal demons and plainly spoke his mind.
“I believe New York will miss its crazy cowboy and America will miss the voice of a free-thinking independent-minded, rugged individualist. I believe MSNBC will lose many viewers and CBS radio many listeners.”
The multi-tasking Kinky will be putting on another 'Bonefits' for his Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch at the Houston, Texas Continental Club on Saturday, May 5th.
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