washingtonpost.com
I respect Williams quite a bit, and enjoy his counter points on a number of commentary shows on Fox. He sort of put his foot in his mouth, but he was just being honest, and he was on a commentary show when he said it. Call me a conspirist, but I think NPR was just looking for an excuse. Their loss I guess.
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Beach Fanatic
washingtonpost.comI will make sure that I never give them another red cent in donations. Talk about the height of arrogance this about takes the cake. It is true. I called NPR to confirm it and left them a good piece ot my mind. Why any fair minded, non committal network, especially one operating on public money, would fire an employee over a personal opinion expressed on another network, is beyond my comprehension. It only shows how biased our mainstream media has become and how unbelievable they now are due to such bias.
I respect Williams quite a bit, and enjoy his counter points on a number of commentary shows on Fox. He sort of put his foot in his mouth, but he was just being honest, and he was on a commentary show when he said it. Call me a conspirist, but I think NPR was just looking for an excuse. Their loss I guess.
I am anything but a Juan Williams fan but I feel really sorry for him and this country when he cannot express his opinion and feelings when asked and loses his job for it. It should be a wake up call for all Americans as to what is really going on in this country.
SoWal Insider
I wonder how Williams would have felt if O'Reilly said that he felt nervous in elevators alone with African Americans? Just saying......
SoWal InsiderAuthor
I wonder how Williams would have felt if O'Reilly said that he felt nervous in elevators alone with African Americans? Just saying......
Wasn't he was referring to a form of dress, rather than a race? I agree there are racial overtones, but technically he wasn't making a racial statement.
Beach Fanatic
Wasn't he was referring to a form of dress, rather than a race? I agree there are racial overtones, but technically he wasn't making a racial statement.
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.
Banned
I think maybe NPR was wrong, but I find it surprising that in this day and age with heightened security that people dressed in Muslim garb at the airport would be enough to cause somebody as well informed as Mr. Williams to be frightened. Still, if he wants to proclaim his phobias and hangups to the world, he should be able to. [Edit] Correction. Juan said he's get nervous when on "airplanes". That's even weirder. By the time you are on an airplane, everybody has gone through all kinds of security checks. By that time I'm more disturbed by a baby crying, which is an accurate description of Juan Williams.
Edited
SoWal Insider
Wasn't he was referring to a form of dress, rather than a race? I agree there are racial overtones, but technically he wasn't making a racial statement.
I meant to say an African American with his pants on the ground, but got sidetracked. That's a form of dress that to some could denote a slacker, bum, gang,...whatever you want to classify someone's dress code. But, AA aren't the only one's who wear those clothes, but a majority are AA. Yes, you would be right that it wasn't totally racial, but had someone made the comment above about AA, I wonder how he would have reacted.
NPR may have gone too far in firing him, he might have issued an apology, but Islamphobia is prevalent right now and he didn't help the situation.
Beach Fanatic
What exactly is Islamphobia? Is it being aware that enemies of your country come from a certain culture? I'm sorry but I'm of the strong belief in what one former President said. "Speak softly but carry a big stick". There is certainly nothing remiss in being totally aware of what is going on around you and you are not some kind of activist if you do so.
Edited
SoWal InsiderAuthor
In general this would be a non-issue if NPR wasn't receiving federal funds. They have a number of grants, endowments, and regularly received funding from individuals and stations that air their content. I think it's time we finally cut them loose, let them go private. They aren't hurting for cash. The federal government should not be funding a national news organization, there's an obvious conflict of interest there.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
This is a perfect example of political correctness and how it is running rampant over our constitutional rights. If you give an honest opinion or an honest answer these days you run a great risk of being castigated and blackballed. I for one admit that when I see arabs on a plane I get a momentary nervous reaction. That is human nature. I also admit to the same reaction when I see blacks with gang garb on or bearded white men with motorcycle gang colors showing. We all have these triggers. IMHO it only becomes bigotry and thus wrong when you act on those triggers with no further evidence of danger or a reason for concern. I am no fan of Juan Williams but I heard the comment live and did not think anything about it. I was more concerned with his other comments that tend to excuse the left for their behavior. While he was bitten by the same bug he has defended, I still feel bad for him and think it is crazy that he lost his job for making an honest comment.
SoWal Insider
i get nervous when white people start talking about bringing democracy to brown people
SWGB
I don't understand the reaction to Muslims in their native dress. Please show me the man in Muslim dress in the following video:
YouTube - 9/11 - Airport Security Footage Showing Hijackers
YouTube - 9/11 - Airport Security Footage Showing Hijackers
Beach Fanatic
Political Correctness is a scourge on our society.Most people think things but others have the intestinal fortitude to actually say them.........kudos to Juan and O'Reilly.
SoWal Insider
When opinions are suppressed, so are ideas, solutions, and progress. Who benefits from a society whereupon no one speaks their mind due to fear?
A chilling assault on free speech.
Juan Williams Calls Firing 'Chilling Assault on Free Speech' - ABC News
View" co-host Barbara Walters also said Williams should not have been fired.
"If you are someone who is giving your opinion, then you're allowed to give your opinion," the news veteran said. "You may or may not agree. Therefore, I think they were very wrong."
A chilling assault on free speech.
Juan Williams Calls Firing 'Chilling Assault on Free Speech' - ABC News
View" co-host Barbara Walters also said Williams should not have been fired.
"If you are someone who is giving your opinion, then you're allowed to give your opinion," the news veteran said. "You may or may not agree. Therefore, I think they were very wrong."
margarita brocolia
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His comment did surprise me, but I don't think him stating his fears warranted being fired. He was being honest. It reflects on him and his insecurities, not on Muslims. :idontno:
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His comment did surprise me, but I don't think him stating his fears warranted being fired. He was being honest. It reflects on him and his insecurities, not on Muslims. :idontno:
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Beach Fanatic
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His comment did surprise me, but I don't think him stating his fears warranted being fired. He was being honest. It reflects on him and his insecurities, not on Muslims. :idontno:
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I agree that it speaks more to his state of mind than anything else if he really believes what he said.
I think he has been "pushing the envelop" real close to the edge lately for NPR... and this was probably the last straw for the editors.
Certainly I don't feel sorry for him; look at the contract he got from Fox. Who knows? Maybe he planned it that way...wouldn't be the first time someone had done that.:idontno:
SoWal Insider
Political Correctness is a scourge on our society.Most people think things but others have the intestinal fortitude to actually say them.........kudos to Juan and O'Reilly.as long as they say what you want to hear it's fine. isn't that how you get your news?
Skunky
I find it interesting that on NPR programming I have heard calls for 'free and open dialogues' to promote racial/cultural understanding (on Talk of the Nation, which I listen to most nights), yet Williams gets the heave-ho for making a perhaps silly yet honest (and harmless) comment about Muslims. I don't get it.:idontno: Too bad, I enjoyed his NPR presence.
Beach Fanatic
I find it interesting that on NPR programming I have heard calls for 'free and open dialogues' to promote racial/cultural understanding (on Talk of the Nation, which I listen to most nights), yet Williams gets the heave-ho for making a perhaps silly yet honest (and harmless) comment about Muslims. I don't get it.:idontno: Too bad, I enjoyed his NPR presence.
I sorta felt like that about Rick Sanchez on CNN...what did you think about that? Frankly, I would not be surprised to learn there was more to both these stories...as I said I think Juan Williams had pushed a bit too far...and Sanchez probably did too--these incidents were the final straw, but maybe not the "real" reason for the decision.
Skunky
I sorta felt like that about Rick Sanchez on CNN...what did you think about that? Frankly, I would not be surprised to learn there was more to both these stories...as I said I think Juan Williams had pushed a bit too far...and Sanchez probably did too--these incidents were the final straw, but maybe not the "real" reason for the decision.
Sanchez said some really stupid things about the Jewish controlled media. His comments sounded premeditated. Williams didn't say anything too outrageous, just a bit silly and off the cuff, but given the man's body of work, it seems like it was a really wild overreaction by NPR. There must be more to the story.
Beach Fanatic
Sanchez said some really stupid things about the Jewish controlled media. His comments sounded premeditated. Williams didn't say anything too outrageous, just a bit silly and off the cuff, but given the man's body of work, it seems like it was a really wild overreaction by NPR. There must be more to the story.
I agree (about Rick), but he always said stupid things--even during his days back in Miami--he was known for it! LOL.
Beach Fanatic
I also admit to the same reaction when I see blacks with gang garb on or bearded white men with motorcycle gang colors showing. .
They are just trying to "get your nerve".
I ran a liquor store for 15 years/
Here's a trick I learned:
Look them straight in the eye and give them respect otherwise they'll get your nerve.
I sent a biker to HOG rally in Destin today. No one else would talk to him.
Banned
William's statements to me were a personal statement kind of like saying he's afraid of heights, bridges, clowns, or the number 13.
SWGB
William's statements to me were a personal statement kind of like saying he's afraid of heights, bridges, clowns, or the number 13.
Ah ha! You call yourself liberal when in fact you're a heightist, bridgeist, clownist, and tredecimist!
SoWal Insider
I've been around people in full body burkas (if that's what Juan was talking about), and it is scary. To me, it's just plain important to be able to see anyone's face, for any clue as to what this person is all about. I've always seen Juan as a pretty straight talking guy,a bit non-consequential, if you know what I mean, but I think, once he entered the Fox camp, his credibility on NPR went steadily downhill. He was let go because almost anyone associated with Fox is associated with a "news organization" that has little respect for the facts.
Beach Fanatic
I've been around people in full body burkas (if that's what Juan was talking about), and it is scary. To me, it's just plain important to be able to see anyone's face, for any clue as to what this person is all about. I've always seen Juan as a pretty straight talking guy,a bit non-consequential, if you know what I mean, but I think, once he entered the Fox camp, his credibility on NPR went steadily downhill. He was let go because almost anyone associated with Fox is associated with a "news organization" that has little respect for the facts.
And I suppose NPR is a paragon of factual reporting? Or does FOX giving any time for conservative positions offend your liberal sensibilities?
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