Juan Williams fired from NPR

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.

You know, if you examine the population of hijackers who have hijacked domestic American airliners in recent memory and flown or attempted to fly them into buildings you find that approximately 100% were of Middle Eastern descent and were Muslims.

That clearly doesn't say that all Middle Easterners or Muslims will hijack planes and I don't overtly assume that.

However, as a frequent flyer, when I fly I watch the behavior of people who are obviously young Mddle Eastern men a heckuva lot more closely than I watch young moms with their babies, Nuns, experienced flyers, etc...

If I didn't I either be really, really stupid or blind.

You know, if you examine the population of hijackers who have hijacked domestic American airliners in recent memory and flown or attempted to fly them into buildings you find that approximately 100% were of Middle Eastern descent and were Muslims.

That clearly doesn't say that all Middle Easterners or Muslims will hijack planes and I don't overtly assume that.

However, as a frequent flyer, when I fly I watch the behavior of people who are obviously young Mddle Eastern men a heckuva lot more closely than I watch young moms with their babies, Nuns, experienced flyers, etc...

If I didn't I either be really, really stupid or blind.

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.

The following Christmas holiday after 911, my wife and I was 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.

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...or maybe he was afraid of "you", the others unlike him on the plane, who might retaliate by blaming him because of what had just happened on 9-11....

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...

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.....

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?

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.:sarc:

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

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

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

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. ;-)

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.

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

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

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

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.

I wonder how Williams would have felt if O'Reilly said that he felt nervous in elevators alone with African Americans? Just saying......

And why would he feel nervous in an elevator Mango?

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.

Yep. Although I personally agree, there's an obvious conflict of interest there. The federal government shouldn't be funding a national news oranization. That doesn't make any sense at all.

NPR's president said yesterday they don't need federal funding, and seeing as how the federal government is broke, seems reasonable that money could be going to something else.

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.

Didn't that Christmas Bomber go through a check system too?

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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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Rita, any insecuroties on your part that you would like to share with the group?

The following Christmas holiday after 911Middle easterner was praying to Allah:shock:..

What's unusual about a Muslim praying to Allah? Who would you expect him to pray to?:idontno:

What's unusual about a Muslim praying to Allah? Who would you expect him to pray to?:idontno:

Umm I'm guessing walk the walk is an atheist since he didn't mention praying to anyone.

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.

..speaking of turning this into a political isue--enter Sarah Palin to keep driving it home. NPR is a great educational station for all, now we have the Tea Party wanting to make their standard "anti- intellectual" points......read on.

Don?t Let Sarah Palin Dictate the Future of NPR

The vast majority of the people I see in "Muslim garb" (whatever the hell you think that is) are women - most of whom work in the airports - and a few families traveling together who I notice/know are Muslim because of what the women wear.

Please let me know how to spot men in Muslim garb - because I was not aware they dressed any differently from other men. :idontno:

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.

I heard this statistic on All Things Considered this morning, but when I heard it in the news story, the tone to me was almost like 'defund us if you want, Tea Partiers, we'll be fine'. I do find it interesting that this whole flap coincides with my station's (WFSU) fall fund raising campaign. I'm not sure if all NPR affiliates fund raise at the same time or not, but I wonder if there will be any financial impact. My gut feeling is probably not, as the average NPR donor probably doesn't care too much one way or the other what happened to WIlliams. Do you think there is a Car Talk coffee mug in the Wasilla City Hall?!

I'm going to start a religion where you're required to go into a bank once daily and deposit a sock full of quarters. Your sacred attire is a ski mask. For the record I get nervous when I see security guards wearing latex gloves.

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

9 of 10 americans wanted the iraq war. where i stand is that i'm not afraid of muslims because i believe they are no different than anyone else. instead i think what it would be like to be a normal person and have everyone paranoid of your presence. i think that would be a living hell. I also believe mr. williams is in a unique position to understand that dynamic, and would have the good judgment to hold his thoughts to himself. but somehow the juanster was on fox news, and this all just "happened" spontaneously.