Juan Williams fired from NPR

[walk the walk]

So, did you make any attempt to engage him and see what the situation was?
Could have been his first flight; he could have just lost his job, or his family, or his fortune...

somehow we must get beyond this stereotyping and at the same time remain alert to the possibility of any real problems--most of which will come from people who are dressed to blend in; not, stand out...

It was 3 months after 9/11....It was still very fresh and painful unlike today.....

 

[walk the walk]

as long as they say what you want to hear it's fine. isn't that how you get your news?

Rasmussen poll shows 9 out of 10 Americans agree with Juan and my outlook as well....where do you stand?

 

[poppy]

The following Christmas holiday after 911, my wife and I were flying into Chicago,we had a middle eastern man sitting behind us.The middle eastern man had forgotten his briefcase back by the bathroom before the flight and needless to say,that was a uncomfortable feeling.After he retrieved his briefcase,I was suspect,remember this was just after 911 and everyone was on edge.The man never really showed his face and kept a news paper in front of him.As we are getting ready to land,the wheels touchdown and then we lift back up(a touch and go),this was very nerve racking to say the least and the Middle easterner was praying to Allah:shock:.You cannot make this stuff up.We landed safely but in hindsight,the middle easterner was either truly terrified himself or it was a dry run(suitcase near the bathroom). We never will know for sure but I can relate to Juan as millions of Americans do.

It was 3 months after 9/11....It was still very fresh and painful unlike today.....

And you sat in your seat and did nothing except shiver in fear, how brave of you.

 

[walk the walk]

And you sat in your seat and did nothing except shiver in fear, how brave of you.

So I assume,you would have leaped over your seat and choked the man?

 

[beachFool]

In all this hullaballo about muslim gard, let's don't forget that convicted terrorist Timothy McVeigh was a clean-cut white boy.

 

[30ashopper]

What I find interesting is some people were very quick to criticize a protester(s) in New York City, who were against the mosque being built near the Towers, who made assumptions about a man with garb on similar to what a Muslim or Mideasterner might wear, but don't take issue with what Williams said. All of a sudden, political correctness has become such an affront on society. Personally, I do not feel that this has anything to do with political correctness. IMHO, it has everything to do with castigating people.

Andy, no, I do not think there is anything amiss in being aware of what is going on around you, but there's a difference between street smarts and lumping people into categories based on skin color, clothing, religious beliefs, and then making assumptions. I don't feel this is healthy to our society, and certainly not an example that should be made for the youth of Country; which is why I can see the rationale for firing Williams. I've never seen NPR as just a media news outlet, but also an educational and intellectual outlet, similar to PBS Broadcasting.

There are numerous reports out there today showing that as long as the commentator's views are firmly planted on the liberal side of the political isle, they can pretty much say anything they want on NPR and not get fired.

I think you're defending an organization that places politics first. The whole situation is kind of ironic when you think about. How does that saying go? NPR is "Fair and Balanced", or was that Fox News? I get the two mixed up. ;-)

 

[futurebeachbum]

In all this hullaballo about muslim gard, let's don't forget that convicted terrorist Timothy McVeigh was a clean-cut white boy.

That's why I'd tend to be more nervous about white guys around Federal Buildings, but not on airplanes. They don't tend to be as interested in suicide.

 

[Koa]

Williams says that he was NPR's only black journalist and they fired him. Where is the NAACP?

 

[poppy]

So I assume,you would have leaped over your seat and choked the man?

No, unlike you I refuse to let my life be fear based so I would have continued to read my SkyMall.

 

[AlphaCrab]

I think I have to agree here. I have NPR for Breakfast and Lunch (and MSNBC for Dinner), but I really think they were wrong in this instance. I just made a call to NPR to complain.

I still feel NPR was wrong. Period. Phase 2 of this issue now has the extreme Right wanting to remove the 1 to 3% of NPR's operating budget, which is federally funded...now this part is pure pre-election politics.