Midchuck - I agree there is a difference in the punishments - one being a free market decision as you noted, the other involves government.   What I was really trying to address is attitudes.   

Good points from Uncle Dave O, although I personally disagree when you say they are ENTIRELY different matters. Not at all, they are very similar when you boil it down. If you forget about the differences in scenarios and look at the reaction of people when it comes to differences of race and religion, I still question why people feel it is okay to joke about one but not the other.   

The more I think about this issue, the more I am trying to separate these differences. Granted that Imus had a history of saying such things (which in my mind makes the sudden change in policy more reprehensible on the part of CBS. You can't keep a blind eye and then suddenly switch only when it is favorable to your pocket without admitting your reasons.), and I do think the punishment was harsh for the student.

What I was getting at in all of this, was OUR attitudes. There seems to be a few people who do not seem to have a problem with ridiculing Muslims but feel incensed about Imus and his supposed jokes about race.

Even noting that there is perception that Muslims do not tolerate mocking of their religion. Yet when we say they make "asses" of themselves, what does that say about us? What moral code do we subscribe to when we believe in an eye for an eye?

We live in a society that tries to celebrate diversity - so long as it doesn't interfere with our lives. Of course that goes for both sides, but I think it is unfair to perpetuate stereotypes of extremists as representing the whole.   I think we have forgotten how to separate action from intent.   Did Imus mean to hurt those women? Did that student really mean to hurt fellow students? Were they both ignorant of the ramifications of their actions?   Should they be taught?

Knee jerk reactions gets us into the problems that we face. I wish I knew what the long term answer would be. Perhaps it will be when generations finally die off and new ideas take hold. No one is born with hatred.