Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics The Media Juan Williams NPR Fiasco

I know this is older news but if it was discussed earlier I missed it.

Personally I like NPR but his firing was ridiculous and not a feather in the cap of NPR. Honestly--we all have certain reactions to many people we meet in the course of our lives. To not admit that is being a little dishonest methinks.

Interview

I disagree, there are certain limitations that any journalist is expected to abide by. I would like to know what would happen if a "journalist" was to express the opinion that when they stepped on a plane, and witnessed someone holding the bible they got nervous. Or if someone stepped on a plane and saw a black man. How would Juan have reacted to that kind of statement? The firing was justified and good riddance to Juan Williams. The mistake NPR made was to slither on their stomachs after they made the decision because a couple conservatives on fox news got their panties in a wad.

I think it is obvious that the CEO and other "suits" running the business have their knives out for the guy. He probably was not 'black' enough for them.:-)
Yours,
Issodhos

Is he a "journalist"? Anyway, we know what Jessie Jackson's reaction was when he heard footsteps on the sidewalk behind him and he turned to look and was relieved that it was a 'white' guy and not a non-'white' (a.k.a. 'black'). If the "journalist were also 'black' and, at minimum, a modern liberal (what other kind of NPR journalist is there:-)) it would be considered an expression of personal angst and a remnant of historic imprinting. And, in all probability, if the Bible holder was a 'white' male, and the Bible was a Christian version, and the "journalist" was anything other than an American 'white' heterosexual male, NPR would cheer the journalist and go to great lengths to rationalize why the "journalist" responded as s/he did. Such is my opinion -- your milage may vary.;-)
Yours,
Issodhos

Do I consider Juan Williams a journalist? no, does he? I believe so. Jessie Jackson is not a journalist so not sure how that would compare. I'm also not going to get into a hypothetical debate on what NPR may have or not have done. Bottom line, Juan Williams was a paid "journalist" for NPR, he made a racist statement on Fox News. He was fired for it, which was legal and right. He now is a paid "journalist" with Fox News so he is being paid and is finally in the arms of his right wing compatriots. Personally I'm sick and tired of seeing NPR allow itself to be beat about the face with uninformed statements from the right about their "liberal" bias. Face it the conservatives won't be happy until every media outlet in this country is just like Fox News.

Red--I don’t want to make more of this than necessary but I would not consider Williams remarks to be “racist.” If you listened to the interview closely I linked, Williams distinctly referred to the way they were dressed and not who they were. So I would associate his reaction with a sort of “uniform aversion.”

If they were the very same people dressed in snappy western style suits and clean shaven I doubt he would have looked twice. Or even reacted in any way. They would have been invisible to him.

An aside. I think Williams reaction was mainly silly because it is doubtful any terrorists worth their Semtex would attempt to hijack a jet dressed in full Arab (or any non Western flavor)) regalia. If that were the case we would have absolutely no concern about jets falling from the sky. They really aren’t that stupid.

I understand the difference you seem to think exists, but I still respectfully disagree. Judging someone on how they dress is just as racist as judging someone for the color of their skin, or for their religion. As a journalist he should know better because statements like that only give permission for people to feel free to judge someone because of how they dress, and what religion they choose.

OK then. But I want to challenge you with this one thought. Let's say you were standing in line somewhere--anywhere--and then walked up right beside you a full bird colonel (or any flag officer) of the US Marines, dressed in full uniform with a slew campaign ribbons and metals glistening. I don't care his/her skin color.

Or a fully patched up, tattooed, teeth missing, head scarred and leathered biker.

Would either elicit any reaction in your psyche?

I sat behind two women in burka's and a man in full muslim garb on a plane around the anniversary day of 9/11, I have tats and have worked with many "scary" looking people with them, all but a couple were pussycats and I have respect for anyone who puts on a uniform.

I'll end this with this thought. If it's acceptable for someone to be "nervous" by looking at a muslim in traditional dress, then is it acceptable to claim a woman deserved to be raped because of the way she was dressed? Both are judgments based solely on the appearance.

Well Red-a biker wouldn't scare me anyway and family members have been in the service. I was trying to come up with an analogy and they weren't very good.

But I do think many of us make snap decisions about the way someone appears. I know I do at times--then try to deal with it in a rational manner. Williams silliness played right into the hands of Fox however and for that I am annoyed.