As I write, CBS Radio has recently announced that they're firing Don Imus from his radio show, and, I suppose, that's the end of this particular controversy. Or not. For, in reality, the discussion's have just begun, because this issue didn't really begin with Imus, and it won't end with him either.

Last week, Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton said that this pattern of saying something derogatory and inflammatory, then apologizing the next day and moving on with life has got to stop at some point. As a diversity and management trainer, I fully agree. Here's the thing. If this was the very first time Mr. Imus had said something off kilter and then apologized for it that would be one thing. But he has had a long, documented history of saying these sorts of things, then getting off by apologizing the next day. At some point, one has to recognize that the lessons aren't being learned, and then it's time for the next step.

For instance, at your company, there's one guy who's always hitting on every woman that passed by his door. He's always saying inappropriate things to these women, and says very sexist things to others in the presence of women. Do you allow this guy to apologize on a daily basis to his managers for this behavior and they keep letting it go, or do they, at some point (hopefully quickly) have to take action and possibly have to remove this person from their employ?

That answer is simple because, lo and behold, there's a law. Well, in this particular case, there are people who have complained to the powers that be, in this case the FCC, and it's possible that the radio station will have to end up paying a fine, though I don't know how possible this is. Also, the company had many major sponsors pull their ads, not only from his show, but threatening to pull their ads from all of the programming of the owners of this show.

Ah yes, in the end, money is king once more, and it's amazing how bad press can bring one's mind back into alignment with the rest of the world. A news anchor on CNN Headline News tonight kept asking different correspondents if CBS was firing Mr. Imus for the right reason. In their minds yes; the right reason was money. Money issues will always trump issues of racism or sexism, and that's what companies have to deal with when their employees act up.

Of course, being a minority myself, I know another incident is on its way, probably within the next couple of weeks. And we'll be revisiting this story once more.