Juan Williams Fired from NPR

[jgoose71 0]

Juan Williams is not a bigot. The people at NPR just wanted him gone because he is a Fox news contributor.

His full statement in context is valid. He said that when he gets on an airplane and there are people on there that identify them selves as Muslims first and foremost that he gets nervous.

He also went on to say that is the reality of living in a post 9/11 America. He can admit that. He also went on to say that even though we may feel these fears, we need to be careful not to let them control us and not let them cloud our judgment and unfairly target or discriminate against all Muslims for the actions of a few extremists.

This is not politically correct, but to me and to many Americans it is the truth. Here is Juan talking about it:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/10/21/juan_williams_npr_fired_him_for_making_bigoted_statement.html

NPR has since come out saying that they fired him because he wasn't being an objective reporter and was giving "opinion."

A quick google search will show lots of "objective" reporting slamming Fox news, many republicans, conservatives, Christians, and lets not forget the ever popular "How to speak tea-bag" video.... Can you say "hypocrite?"

Sen. Jim Demint is now sponsoring a bill to pull all public funding for NPR. Hopefully it will include their parent company, the corporation for public broadcasting, as well.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[RonD1120 62]

This is BS but, to be expected from NPR, the National People's Radio.

Political correctness fosters the collective paranoia. Collective paranoia is the fuel for political rhetoric. The wussification of America moves forward. Signs of the end times.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[DanG 1]

What happened to an employer's right to hire or fire as they see fit?

Don't cry for Williams, he just got a $2million contract from Fox.

- Dan G

[Andy9o8 2]

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His full statement in context is valid. He said that when he gets on an airplane and there are people on there that identify them selves as Muslims first and foremost that he gets nervous.

Actually, that's not his full comment; it's your paraphrasing of his full comment. This is the exact quote of his full comment:

"I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

So he wasn't talking about people who identified themselves as Muslims first and foremost; he was talking about people whose "garb" (clothing) made him think that they were identifying themselves as Muslims first and foremost, the result being that "I get worried. I get nervous."

Even clergy and nuns aside, Muslims are not the only people in the world, or even in the US, whose "garb" identifies their religious affiliation. Orthodox Jews. Amish. Mennonites. Indian (i.e. from India) women clothed in sarees and displaying bindi (red dot) on their foreheads. Sikh men wearing turbans. Et cetera, et cetera.

Ever since 9/11, there's been this sort of "immunity" for speaking bigotry toward Muslims that would be considered unacceptably vulgar if it were directed at people of any other ethnic group. Personally, I think that's shameful.

No, I don't think Williams is a bigot. I don't think he actually does get nervous when he sees Muslim-dressed people on a plane. Which means that when he said that on Fox, he wasn't being a bigot; he was being a whore. He was a whore pandering to the bigots that make up such a significant portion of Fox"News" 's viewership.

[Andy9o8 2]

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This is BS but, to be expected from NPR, the National People's Radio.

Political correctness fosters the collective paranoia. Collective paranoia is the fuel for political rhetoric. The wussification of America moves forward. Signs of the end times.

This is not directed at you, Ron; it's just a general observation.
In my 50+ years of life, I've come to the realization that the term "political correctness" is used as a convenient enabler for people to behave like fucking assholes.

[RonD1120 62]

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This is BS but, to be expected from NPR, the National People's Radio.

Political correctness fosters the collective paranoia. Collective paranoia is the fuel for political rhetoric. The wussification of America moves forward. Signs of the end times.

This is not directed at you, Ron; it's just a general observation.
In my 50+ years of life, I've come to the realization that the term "political correctness" is used as a convenient enabler for people to behave like fucking assholes.

You gave me a good laugh. Thanks.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[rushmc 23]

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This is BS but, to be expected from NPR, the National People's Radio.

Political correctness fosters the collective paranoia. Collective paranoia is the fuel for political rhetoric. The wussification of America moves forward. Signs of the end times.

This is not directed at you, Ron; it's just a general observation.
In my 50+ years of life, I've come to the realization that the term "political correctness" is used as a convenient enabler for people to behave like fucking assholes.

No
those who pander to, use and accept political correctness are the fucking assholes.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[Andy9o8 2]

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fucking assholes.

fucking assholes.

Hey, I think we're in the wrong thread.

[wmw999 2,586]

He's just saying what he thinks. Personally, I think that "political correctness" is a term used by people who want to be able to say whatever they think without consequences.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rushmc 23]

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He's just saying what he thinks. Personally, I think that "political correctness" is a term used by people who want to be able to say whatever they think without consequences.

Wendy P.

And you prove the point I was making Wendy
PC is used by those who do not want to have a debate

Bigot, the n word and others are PC labels used to try and shut up the oposition

Disagree with Obama, your a racist


Sep of Church and state is a better example to your point

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[masterrig 1]

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This is BS but, to be expected from NPR, the National People's Radio.

Political correctness fosters the collective paranoia. Collective paranoia is the fuel for political rhetoric. The wussification of America moves forward. Signs of the end times.

This is not directed at you, Ron; it's just a general observation.
In my 50+ years of life, I've come to the realization that the term "political correctness" is used as a convenient enabler for people to behave like fucking assholes.

No
those who pander to, use and accept political correctness are the fucking assholes.

I don't know that folks who are 'politically correct' are necessarily 'assholes' but I do know, I'm flat sick of it. Good Lord! This entire nation is walking on egg shells for fear of not being 'politically correct'. It has everyone so afraid of hurting someone's 'feelings'. Some folks need their feelings hurt! It's fake! It's not the 'real world'. Everyone is 'special' and that's not the case. We need to quit it and be real about things.


Chuck

[rushmc 23]

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This is BS but, to be expected from NPR, the National People's Radio.

Political correctness fosters the collective paranoia. Collective paranoia is the fuel for political rhetoric. The wussification of America moves forward. Signs of the end times.

This is not directed at you, Ron; it's just a general observation.
In my 50+ years of life, I've come to the realization that the term "political correctness" is used as a convenient enabler for people to behave like fucking assholes.

No
those who pander to, use and accept political correctness are the fucking assholes.

I don't know that folks who are 'politically correct' are necessarily 'assholes' but I do know, I'm flat sick of it. Good Lord! This entire nation is walking on egg shells for fear of not being 'politically correct'. It has everyone so afraid of hurting someone's 'feelings'. Some folks need their feelings hurt! It's fake! It's not the 'real world'. Everyone is 'special' and that's not the case. We need to quit it and be real about things.


Chuck

+1

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[NewGuy2005 53]

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What happened to an employer's right to hire or fire as they see fit?

Don't cry for Williams, he just got a $2million contract from Fox.

Exactly. That's why I suspect the whole thing was intentional on his part.

[wmw999 2,586]

So are you saying that words shouldn't have consequences? How about if someone says something that offends you? How about if it's something that offends your wife or daughter?

I know there are things that I find unacceptable to hear that most people don't mind. I solve the problem by staying away from people likely to talk like that.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[wmw999 2,586]

Would the country be better off if people could just call the President a nigger? How about Condoleeza Rice -- she's a nigger too, right? Ann Coulter is a twat, and David Duke is a bigot.

Or is bigot a good thing then, because you get to say whatever you feel like without consequences? I'm so confused.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[loumeinhart 0]

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Would the country be better off if people could just call the President a nigger?

Black people call themselves nigger in my neigborhood but I'm not allowed to because I'm white

[rushmc 23]

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Would the country be better off if people could just call the President a nigger? How about Condoleeza Rice -- she's a nigger too, right? Ann Coulter is a twat, and David Duke is a bigot.

Or is bigot a good thing then, because you get to say whatever you feel like without consequences? I'm so confused.

Wendy P.

I am not saying words do not have consequences Wendy

The examples you give here are to the extreme.

But, you think I should be able to dictate what is said because I let myself be offended? Then I guess I should just say I am offended when you support gay marriage and then you should just shut up because I am offended

There is no end to the PC bullshit. And it not and never has been about being offended. It is about controling the dialog.

You want to call these people that name? Go ahead. I think you would be an asshat to do it but it is a free country

The PC crowd wishes to change that fact

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[wmw999 2,586]

You are allowed to. There are consequences. You can also pick your teeth openly, spit on the sidewalk in front of someone, belch out loud, smack someone on the ass.

These are behaviors that require context for most people. So is calling someone a nigger.

Can't stand it that someone has a right that you don't? Well, did it ever occur to you that you have "rights" (or privileges) others might not?

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[wmw999 2,586]

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The examples you give here are to the extreme

They wouldn't have been 50-60 years ago.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rushmc 23]

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The examples you give here are to the extreme

They wouldn't have been 50-60 years ago.

Wendy P.

We are talking today

Correct?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[loumeinhart 0]

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Can't stand it that someone has a right that you don't? Well, did it ever occur to you that you have "rights" (or privileges) others might not?

I really don't care. I've been called names in situations where I'm the minority and in addition to not being offended, It was my choice to be in that environment anyway.

[wmw999 2,586]

Today is a piece of a continuum. Everyone out there is trying to use the language to their own ends, and would love it if the language were to support them. Fag, queer, nigger, terrorist, feminist, cracker, raghead -- these are all pejorative terms (when used by some people, in some contexts).

It depends in part on how one defines words. To me, "nigger" is a pejorative term for black people. To someone who is black, it's an in-family term. Saying that Obama is using race as a basis for his decisions, and saying that it's par for the course for a black person, does seem to equate certain behaviors with race. Isn't that what racism is about? It's just as racist to say that McCain got the cracker vote because he was white. Yeah, it's more acceptable right now because Americans have a general sympathy with the underdog, and as a class white males still hold the most power across the board. Look at police departments, executive pictures, officeholders, and get back with me on whether that's true or not.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[DanG 1]

All speech has to be taken in context. If I walked up to you on the street and said, "Hey, asshole," you'd probably be pretty pissed. If you call your best friend on the phone and he answers with, "Hey, asshole," you'd probably write it off as friendly banter.

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Black people call themselves nigger in my neigborhood but I'm not allowed to because I'm white

You most certainly are allowed to. You just have to face the consequences of your speech being taken in context. Just like anybody else.

rushmc keeps bitching about speech being restricted, but can't provide any evidence of it actually happening. People are allowed to say anything they want, they just have to realize that there are always consequences. If someone wants to say racist things, no one is stopping them. Calling them a racist is not restricting their speech, it's just more speeech that needs to be taken in context.

- Dan G

[rushmc 23]

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Today is a piece of a continuum. Everyone out there is trying to use the language to their own ends, and would love it if the language were to support them. Fag, queer, nigger, terrorist, feminist, cracker, raghead -- these are all pejorative terms (when used by some people, in some contexts).

It depends in part on how one defines words. To me, "nigger" is a pejorative term for black people. To someone who is black, it's an in-family term. Saying that Obama is using race as a basis for his decisions, and saying that it's par for the course for a black person, does seem to equate certain behaviors with race. Isn't that what racism is about? It's just as racist to say that McCain got the cracker vote because he was white. Yeah, it's more acceptable right now because Americans have a general sympathy with the underdog, and as a class white males still hold the most power across the board. Look at police departments, executive pictures, officeholders, and get back with me on whether that's true or not.

Wendy P.

All what you say here has a point. But, that is not really the point is it? What we are talking about is using the PC code words to try and shut other people up because they have become sensitized to being called a bigot, or racists or something else.

McCain and the cracker vote? It is racists? Sure but the PC crowd does not care now do they. These labels and terms are selectively applied to support the PC crowd agenda.

Don’t matter if whitey is offended now does it.

(give me a break)


Perfect example of this was those trying to change school mascot names because some one was offended by that mascot

Fortunately, most people did not put up that crap.

The PC crowd is the biggest threat to out freedom of speech. Why? Because they think themselves so smart no one can or should disagree with them so, label them to try and shut them up

Oh, and dont try the underdog crap with me. That is a whole nuther topic of those crying that they are the victim to get the handouts and special treatment

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[loumeinhart 0]

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Look at police departments, executive pictures, officeholders, and get back with me on whether that's true or not.

Yes. Maybe it has something to do with this:

US 2008 (from Wiki)
white population 228.2 million
black population 37.6 million