Jerry Herron, Wayne State University professor of American Studies, comments about the Don Imus controversy which led to the controversial talk show host's firing Thursday by CBS. What does it mean that Imus has joined the ranks of celebrities like Mel Gibson and Michael Richards, who have said something hurtful? \"It\'s certainly not good that people feel insulted, hurt, accused, abused by the use of language. But that we\'re talking about the things the language refers to is a good and healthy thing. ...Americans are talking about things that are fundamental to our culture, that is, we tend not to want to be close to somebody who\" isn\'t just like us.\"