NPR correct to cut ties with Juan Williams
NPR has fired senior news analyst Juan Williams, who also appears as a commentator on Fox News, for comments about Muslims that Williams made in an appearance with Bill O’Reilly.
“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,” Williams told host Bill O’Reilly during a discussion on the dilemma between fighting jihadists and fears about average Muslims.
“But when I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they’re identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous,” Williams said.
The truth is that as a commentator and analyst, Williams has been skating on his reputation for a long time, and the ice was getting thin. He had already given NPR cause for concern with previous statements on Fox, such as the time he inexplicably described Michelle Obama as “Stokely Carmichael in a designer dress.”
His denials of bigotry aside, Williams’ remarks this week validated a stereotype of all Muslims as terrorists just as a similar comment about black people — “When I get on a bus, if I see black people, I get worried, I get nervous” — validates a perception about black people as criminals.
There is no qualitative difference between the two stances. A very small percentage of black people are criminals, and a much much smaller percentage of Muslims are terrorists. But once you start defining the much larger group by the activities of that much smaller subset, you start down a very bad road.
NPR, in other words, acted appropriately.
Of course, that’s not how the incident is being taken by some on the right, where Williams is in the process of being sainted. At Andrew Breitbart’s Big Government site, the headline is “Screw Free Speech, NPR Fires Juan Williams for Muslim Remarks.” Williams’ fellow Fox News contributor, Sarah Palin, just tweeted to the effect that “NPR defends 1st Amendment Right, but will fire u if u exercise it. Juan Williams: u got taste of Left’s hypocrisy, they screwed up firing you.”
That’s nonsense. The First Amendment guarantees each of us the right to say whatever we wish, free of government interference. However, it does not guarantee us the right to be paid by NPR or anybody else to say whatever we wish. It certainly does not mean that we are free to make bigoted remarks on national television and be guaranteed a paycheck.
After James O’Keefe, the conservative guerrilla filmmaker and Breitbart’s one-time protege, launched a bizarre “seduction” of a CNN reporter recently, Breitbart cut him loose, calling O’Keefe’s antics “patently gross and offensive.” He wasn’t violating O’Keefe’s right to free speech by doing so, he was holding him accountable.
That’s all NPR has done with Williams.
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1,025 comments Add your comment
Union
October 21st, 2010
2:36 pm
so.. funny thing.. most “reporters” couldn’t get a job at npr.. jay would be fired.. ctucker.. you can report the news.. but not express any comments about it opinion wise..
Normal
October 21st, 2010
2:36 pm
jm,
It seems to me that people are “rude, impolite, and not a good person” only when they don’t agree with you…
and “Smelly socks, smelly brain. Beans for lunch” is really high class too. How are your fifth grade classes going?
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:37 pm
Bosch:
Got caught in your own trap, didn’t ya?
Bring me the evidence to disprove what I claim.
jt
October 21st, 2010
2:37 pm
Disgusted
I am just paraphrashing your leader Reid,…………..beeyatch.
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) apologized today for referring to President Barack Obama as “light skinned” and “with no Negro dialect” in private conversations during the 2008 presidential campaign”
AmVet
October 21st, 2010
2:37 pm
Reb, gotta run, duty calls.
Let me just say that that simplistic summary in the last sentence @2:34 is an opinion, nothing more.
Later, peeps.
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:37 pm
jm,
“Bosch is doing a splendid job contributing to the debate around here…..”
Yeah, jm, it appears Normal just called your hypocrisy, but anyway……
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
2:39 pm
Peadawg
October 21st, 2010
2:32 pm
“bigot”
Ah, the new card of today. You don’t agree with, you’re a bigot. First racist, now bigot. You liberals got anything else?
Tell me again where you saw that word used. I must have missed it.
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:40 pm
@@,
“Got caught in your own trap, didn’t ya?
Bring me the evidence to disprove what I claim.”
Now, you’re not even making sense — what ARE you talking about? Trap? What? Really? What the hell are you “claiming” that someone has called you an intolerant bigot?
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:41 pm
And when all else fails, Bosch declares ignorance.
Typical.
jt
October 21st, 2010
2:41 pm
Bosch and @@ should get a room.
sheeeeesh.
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:42 pm
Bosch:
Just so you know…my pearly whites are on full display.
If nothing else, you’re amusing.
Union
October 21st, 2010
2:43 pm
wow.. seemed to walk into a firestorm of tension today.. off topic.. health care reform gonna cost people again.. this time.. cash right out of the pocket.. tack on the amt.. (thats for you married folks @ 70k).. well.. things are gonna get kind of expensive..
npr says juans comments were not the cause for his dismissal.. just his making comments.. go figure.. should have fired him before now.. he does it every day.. fyi.. in regards to his comments.. ppl think things like that everyday..
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:43 pm
“And when all else fails, Bosch declares ignorance.”
Where? Your line of reasoning has gone off the cliff — I’m just trying to clarify what it is your “claiming.”
thomas
October 21st, 2010
2:43 pm
Bosch,
I see that you are pondering who gave Del the authority to speak for the left.
I would assume that it was the exact same person who granted you the position of voice for the republican/conservative/right?
you did type this right? and i’m not taking it out of context.
again your open hypocricy is fun to watch if nothing else.
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
1:37 pm
“I thought you guys were all about personal responsibility. What happened?”
They never were, it’s all a smoke screen.
Why does it bother you when others speak for the left, but you seem more than comfortable to speak for others yourself?
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:45 pm
jt:
I’m more than happy to step aside in the interest of you and other bloggers.
Ah Wienerschnitzel.
(IHSH)
jm
October 21st, 2010
2:45 pm
Bosch / Normal – the dynamic diotoms. I love your selective memories and completely non-factual accusations.
Oh you know, like saying “chuck” is silly for inserting HUSSEIN all the time. Or other stupid comments. I’m sure Santa will bring some tinker toys for you to play with soon enough….
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2010/10/12/atlanta-at-center-of-stem-cell-progress-debate/#comment-417317
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:45 pm
thomas,
I don’t do passive aggressive and if you can’t recognize sarcasm, then really, what’s the point?
jm
October 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
Bosch is a whiner….
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
Oh, and jt. I wasn’t calling you a wiener.
jt
October 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
For @@ and Bosch——————-
Opposition is not necessarily enmity; it is merely misused and made an occasion for enmity. To actively hate or argue is just a latent desire for love-making.
Sigmand Freud
I can feel the love and it is wonderful.
jm
October 21st, 2010
2:47 pm
@@ – Don’t confuse Bosch. He’s a flat-earther conservative.
Del
October 21st, 2010
2:48 pm
Everything is off topic anyway. Did y’all see where Bubba, AKA slick willy wasn’t so slick as he lost the Nuclear Launch card for two months. No one new until it came time to change the codes and he had to fess up. Little Jimmy managed to send the card off to his dry cleaners in a suit. Sure makes us secure having Democrats in the White House. They need to check Obama he’s probably given it to the Iranians.
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:10 pm
Taking a personal inventory, I’m a fan of Whoopi, Juan Williams and Dr. Charles LaMont Hill…all left…all black.
Geez! I’ve been called an intolerant bigot by jay’s leftist. True or false?
Peadawg,
I found the post above with the word “bigot” in it. Is that the one you were referring to?
Thomas,
You may want to compare the post of Bosch’s that you cite with the one Bosch is referring to from Del. There is an ever so slight and extremely subtle difference between the two that can be easily missed if not first placed side by side.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
Why does it bother you when others speak for the left, but you seem more than comfortable to speak for others yourself?
Bosch made a personal observation — he didn’t “speak” for anyone.
jm
October 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
jt – Jay should start a dating section for @@ and Bosch. Although, it would need to resemble a porcupine dating website….
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
“so slick as he lost the Nuclear Launch card for two months.”
Where is this nonsense coming from? Was Rush bored today?
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
jt:
Last comment. You are mistaken.
I make love to man, not a wimp like Bosch.
He is everything I detest in a man, which is why I question his manhood.
jm
October 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
Del 2:48 – yes I saw that. Hilarious in a not so funny way.
@@
October 21st, 2010
2:51 pm
Oops! make that a man, not man in general.
I’m out.
jm
October 21st, 2010
2:51 pm
DDR – Bosch doesn’t speak. Grunts are all about all he can muster. Other than the B word.
Southern Comfort
October 21st, 2010
2:54 pm
I missed all the hubbub, so I don’t know if this has been said, but Juan Williams is a fraidy cat if he gets nervous just because he sees someone in Muslim dress. I would be too embarassed to admit something like that. I listened to the full segment, and his entire point wasn’t as bad as he started out. If I were NPR, I would have fired him for being a scary little punk. What’s next, being afraid of grandma if she has a tattoo?
JohnnyReb
October 21st, 2010
2:55 pm
So the peanut farmer lost the nuke codes. That finally explains his loss of confidence speech!
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
2:55 pm
jm – come on!!! where is all this attitude coming from? Bosch is a good guy – just because he and @@ sometimes get into a tiff doesn’t mean he’s some sort of neanderthal! Besides, before me and @@ had a “come to Jesus moment” I didn’t get along with her either. However, the longer I’ve been involved in this blog, the longer I’ve noticed that even though she and I don’t agree on lots of subjects, (the government, the war on terror, pre-marital sex….); she has a deep religious base and is involved in doing lots of charity work (just like me) withi her church; so in essence, we’re more alike then we are disimiliar.
The more you “talk” to someone on this blog, the more you’ll see just HOW much alike you really are. (Except for things like taxes, etc).
md
October 21st, 2010
2:56 pm
“Little Jimmy managed to send the card off to his dry cleaners in a suit.”
Did the suit get dirty when…………………nah….
jt
October 21st, 2010
2:56 pm
@@
“I make love to man, not a wimp like Bosch.”
As an amateur phycoanalyst, that is not what I am seeing.
It is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, To repress these feeling may be destructive.
Get to know your id Ma’am. It is your friend. Do not repress your repressed libido.
Bosch, put down your cats and man-up. You have a duty to perform.
Ya’ll let me know if you need anymore advice. It is free.
Thank you.
Peadawg
October 21st, 2010
2:57 pm
“Tell me again where you saw that word used. I must have missed it.”
If you hit ‘cntrl F’ in your browser in page 2 and search for bigot, you get 15 spots. Page 1 – 17.
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
I make love to man,
WAIT!
DON’T LEAVE!……
…….
……..
DAMN!
As Ragnar would say, “Juan must be quick or Juan miss out.”
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
Debbie,
“Bosch is a good guy – just because he and @@ sometimes get into a tiff doesn’t mean he’s some sort of neanderthal!”
Thanks!
Off to the doctor! Later folks.
Del
October 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
jm, yeah funny but scary. Bosch missed it though when he isn’t on jay’s blog, he’s under his bed playing with puppies, so he misses quite a bit of the real world.
Union
October 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
“so slick as he lost the Nuclear Launch card for two months.”
“Where is this nonsense coming from? Was Rush bored today?”
actually.. abc..
md
October 21st, 2010
2:59 pm
“Where is this nonsense coming from? Was Rush bored today?”
That would be General Hugh Shelton – Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff……….under Clinton.
Any other questions??
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
2:59 pm
Peadawg
October 21st, 2010
2:57 pm
“Tell me again where you saw that word used. I must have missed it.”
If you hit ‘cntrl F’ in your browser in page 2 and search for bigot, you get 15 spots. Page 1 – 17.
But which liberal were you referring to that invoked its use.
Normal
October 21st, 2010
2:59 pm
Bosch,
jm a leg humper, whodathunkit?
——
SoCo,
I’da fired him when he became a Fox contributor, that showed he had no class at all.
jm
October 21st, 2010
3:01 pm
For the uninformed Bosch
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/president-bill-clinton-lost-nuclear-codes-office-book/story?id=11930878&cid=ESPNheadline
Paul
October 21st, 2010
3:01 pm
The premise of the thread appears to be incorrect.
According to NPR’s CEO Schiller, Juan Williams’s firing had nothing to do with what he said about Muslims. She said he’s a journalist and he often makes opinionated comments. She said NPR’s journalists are supposed to elicit opinions from guests and analyze them, not offer opinions. That’s why he was fired. Even though it happened on Fox, not NPR.
I hope she’s not selling bridges from Brooklyn…
DDR and others
Why does Tim McVeigh’s name come up nearly every time there’s a discussion about militant Islam?
md
October 21st, 2010
3:03 pm
“Bosch is a good guy” – that needs to stop buying his paint brushes at the Walmart paint dept and go to the art supply store and buy the little ones…………..
His broad brush bigotry gets a little old……….
Peadawg
October 21st, 2010
3:03 pm
Rally,
I was referring to Finn @ 2:01. But seriously, the word, “bigot” gets thrown around as much as racist used to. Ina few months it’ll die down and they’ll think of another word.
jm
October 21st, 2010
3:03 pm
DDR – I don’t respect people you like to use the B word, especially as liberally as Bosh. Sorry. I have standards. Personal insults of Bosch’s caliber have no place in a civilized world (which Bosch clearly does not inhabit).
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
3:03 pm
What’s next, being afraid of grandma if she has a tattoo?
It’s not one of those tattoos that does things when you flex your muscles, is it. Those are scary.
Normal
October 21st, 2010
3:04 pm
Why does Tim McVeigh’s name come up nearly every time there’s a discussion about militant Islam?
Because he had the secret Koran decoder ring?
Union
October 21st, 2010
3:05 pm
if you slow down when it rains.. does that make you a rain hater?
md
October 21st, 2010
3:05 pm
“I’da fired him when he became a Fox contributor, that showed he had no class at all.”
Did you ever watch him on Fox?? Usually presented the liberal/progressive viewpoint, much like Alan Colmes………….
But, I guess the playbook says something about bashing anybody on Fox………..
President Hussein
October 21st, 2010
3:06 pm
Several years ago, Nina Totenberg suggested that Sen. Jesse Helms or his family members contract AIDS for his promotion of conservative values. Williams gets fired for his personal feelings. Totenberg still has her job. NPR now had no black journalists. Liberals are either the biggest racists or bigots against people who are against liberal ideology
Southern Comfort
October 21st, 2010
3:08 pm
Normal
He has a right to work for whomever will hire him. I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is being afraid of someone just because of friggin’ clothing. He’d probably crap his pants if he had a spend a day in the office with me.
After this, I can only think of scared little punk when I see him now.
Off topic news:
It’s bad when the president has to cancel a trip to a major Indian tourist attraction just because of conspiracy theorists.
thomas
October 21st, 2010
3:08 pm
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
2:45 pm
So when you speak for anentire other group it is sarcasm, when another poster, you don’t agree with, does it they are speaking for that group?
I’ll ask again why do you bitch and moan everytime someone says something you don’t agree with about an entire group, but you are unable to hold yourself to the same standard?
again from yesterday….
Bosch
October 20th, 2010
3:40 pm
“Ah yes, the MSM.”
That’s so lame. Wingnuts don’t like facts, so they blame everything they don’t like on the “main stream media” — when are you guys going to realize that’s stupid lame cop out?
appointed spokesperson for wingnuts?
Are you sure all wingnuts feel this way?
sarcasm again?
TGT
October 21st, 2010
3:08 pm
It must be nice to be a Muslim in the U.S. where pretty much all you have to worry about are negative stereotypes–opposed to a Christian in a Muslim nation, where you pretty much fear for your life/property/etc.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
3:09 pm
Paul – I like to bring him up because he’s a terrorist. I’m an equal opportunity terrorist bringer upper.
Del
October 21st, 2010
3:09 pm
Paul, because they’ve been trying to assume that McVeigh was a Christian because he was white and there’s no record that he was ever a Muslim. They contend that Christians are evil killers and Muslims have been misunderstood and discriminated against.
md
October 21st, 2010
3:10 pm
“What’s next, being afraid of grandma if she has a tattoo”
Depends…..where was it first applied to her body and where and what does it say now??
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
3:12 pm
Peadawg,
I believe Finn was referring to Juan’s “Muslim” comment which might just come across as bigoted to some folks. Anyway, that’s just my impression of one person labeled “liberal” (i.e., Finn, by you) calling out another person labeled “liberal” (i.e., Juan, by many) and I could be completely off base in my interpretation.
thomas
October 21st, 2010
3:12 pm
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
show your blind ignorance again for us all to see please…..
Bosch made the comment “THEY” never were, its all a smoke screen.
Seems as if he is making a declarative statement that “they” indeed feel a certain way.
There was absolutely nothing to indicate it was his opinion as it was made as a statement of fact without any context to allude that it was Bosch’s opinion.
But keep licking he may give you a treat.
JKL2
October 21st, 2010
3:13 pm
Fox contributor getting fired by NPR. Never saw that one coming. I’m sure they’re on the phone with Rush Limbaugh right now. Have to keep up the fair and balanced image…
Southern Comfort
October 21st, 2010
3:13 pm
It’s not one of those tattoos that does things when you flex your muscles, is it. Those are scary.
Depends…..where was it first applied to her body and where and what does it say now??
Ok. Maybe I could have used a better example.
paleo-neoCarlinist
October 21st, 2010
3:13 pm
JB, I tried to post this twice on CT’s blog this AM, so I will negotiate the moderation mine field as best I can. NPR’s ‘editorial values’ aside, I think it is a sad day when any American, regardless of position (talking head, journalist) is sanctioned for being honest/candid. had Williams said; “you know, I was a Boy Scout for 10 years, and I have to say, whenever I see a canvas rucksack all by its self, I worry.” he might be regarded as the next Richard Jewell (I’ll let you and ajc management decide). the truth is, right brain or left, bigot or not, humans perceive things and immediate go into “risk management” mode. while I would suggest much of the “risk management” in 2010 is infected with fear-based, neo-con, war-mongering what if nonsense, the fact remains, terrorists blow up liberals just as they blow up neo-cons; and more imporantly, like it or not, much of the info we the People consume in order to form opinions and risk management strategies comes via the media (NPR, Fox News, and every outlet in between, including the internet). so, you’re a parent, and you see a middle-aged white male in dirty clothing, hanging around the jungle gym at the playground where your 6 year-old is playing with friends. what do you think? you’re the security guard at a bank and you see a man in a full length trench coat enter the lobby on July 3rd, when it is 89 degrees and sunny. what do you think? just because Williams “thinks” unthinkable thoughts, doesn mean he reacts irrationally. does he call DHS or the TSA every time he sees a Muslim on a commercial flight? doubtful.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
They contend that Christians are evil killers and Muslims have been misunderstood and discriminated against.
Wrong. The subject was TERRORISTS – if you’re going to name them, name them all. Why is it that when McVeigh is brought into a conversation about terrorists some people get all up in arms because he was white and (supposedly) Christian?
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
3:16 pm
Personal insults of Bosch’s caliber have no place in a civilized world (which Bosch clearly does not inhabit).
What caliber of insult do you accept.
jm
October 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
As Andy Grove said, “only the paranoid survive.” Applies to people as well as business.
When a “Juan Williams” lives (or saves others) by taking action to stop a terrorist and a “Whoopi Goldberg” dies out of PC correctness, it will be a sad, but validating day for natural selection.
Not a fun, but real, truth.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
thomas: There was absolutely nothing to indicate it was his opinion as it was made as a statement of fact without any context to allude that it was Bosch’s opinion.
thomas, i didn’t know you were psychic!! That’s amazing!! From your computer screen, probably hundreds of miles away, you can ascertain what Bosch was thinking!! Wow!! Quick, what’s the winning numbers to the lottery?
Southern Comfort
October 21st, 2010
3:19 pm
paleo
I can’t speak for everyone else, but as for me, he’s a scared little punk if he’s afraid of someone’s dress. My question for him or anyone who’s afraid of someone’s dress:
How many pictures have you seen with any of the 19 guys fron 9/11, the Times Square dude, the fruit-of-the-looms guy, or any of the people convicted on terrorism charges here in the US for actions on US soil dressed in traditional Muslim dress?
Del
October 21st, 2010
3:20 pm
Paleo,
Good analogy. I’m sure they didn’t really believe that Williams was denigrating the entire Muslim faith with his comment.
md
October 21st, 2010
3:22 pm
Personally, I’ve been on some long haul flights overseas and had similar thoughts – it is fresh in our minds for the most part, and getting on a plane many folks do wonder “is today the day”.
Never thought that way before 9/11……….it was a mind altering event. So yeh, I look around at possible “candidates” and no, they do not all look “Muslim”, because what exactly does a Muslim look like?? One must remember that the Detroit bomber didn’t come from the same place as the 9/11 bombers.
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
3:22 pm
I always thought that the word thought had an accepted interpretation. It’s a good thing I come here regularly otherwise I might have gone on thinking that thought had that accepted interpretation and if I had mis-used it then someone might think me ignorant or something, I think.
El Jefe
October 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
All Hail the ever tolerant Left wing, elitist bigots.
Paul
October 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
DDR
“Paul – I like to bring him up because he’s a terrorist. I’m an equal opportunity terrorist bringer upper.”
I should have been more specific. Why does ‘Christian’ tied to ‘Tim McVeigh’ come up (ref Whoopi Goldberg and BOR on the View) when Muslim terrorists are discussed?
Southern Comfort
October 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
no, they do not all look “Muslim”
And to add… If they mean harm, they do not look Muslim by design.
Paul
October 21st, 2010
3:28 pm
Del
“because they’ve been trying to assume that McVeigh was a Christian because he was white”
Trying to assume? I’d say it’s pretty clear that’s what has actually been assumed. Because he was a young, white, American male?
jm
October 21st, 2010
3:31 pm
Lost “biscuit”. In Monica’s bra?
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
3:34 pm
I should have been more specific. Why does ‘Christian’ tied to ‘Tim McVeigh’ come up (ref Whoopi Goldberg and BOR on the View) when Muslim terrorists are discussed?
casual observer brought up “terrorists events” that took place agains the US. Yes, he did add the word “muslim” to these events, however, by my way of reading it, the main subject was the terrorist events. Since the main subject were terrorists events, I made sure he didn’t forget McVeigh.
PS: I forgot to mention the Unabomber, The Columbine Kids, That guy who was in the Texas school Book Depository Tower, The SLA, and the LA Cops.
Del
October 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
Paul,
I didn’t fully read DDR’s post on McVeigh, so I wasn’t referring to her in mine. I’ve seen more than a few times when the subject on here focused terrorists acts where the perp’s were clearly radical Muslims like for example Ft. Hood, someone from the left would attempt to bring up McVeigh and hold him up as a Christian. Of course there has never been any evidence that he was a Christian much less a practicing Christian.
Dusty
October 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
Err…who? Juan Williams?
Folks, please turn off that radio. Seems it upsets all of you. Freedom of speech upsets you! And if there is one among you who has not made an ugly remark about someone whether it be skin color or religion or “looks” , please step forward and receive your halo.
In the meatime, Bosch. That was a rude remark to @@. Please aplogize as any gentleman would do. Being “down in the dumps” is no excuse.
Hey I’M HAPPY. My DSL has disconnected about 20 times in the last ten days. Shhh it is now on …ooopss…oh no….red lightt on the modum…ahhhhhhh……
Optimist
October 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
Hey Jay you made the CNN ticker, bravo and I agree!
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
Good grief, all this talk behind my back…I’m flattered.
My doctor’s appoint isn’t for a few more minutes.
Anyway, thomas,
When I refer to wingnuts, it’s really no one person in particular. I’ve been blogging here for a while, years actually, and it’s kind of like the wingnuts and moonbats are a persona — that’s blog talk.
And in those comments I never said that someone or a real group as in leftists BELIEVED one way or another. You can infer that sure, we all make that reference sometimes, but again, as Del actually wrote earlier as to what and how a group believed, I thought I’d make an off hand comment about it.
As Debbie mentioned earlier, the smoke screen comment was a personal observation — that is not a statement as to how I think someone believes or not.
~~~~~~~~~~
md,
Calling me a bigot is rich considering one of your posting themes is to brand all welfare recipients as lazy and unworthy.
jm
October 21st, 2010
3:38 pm
Think NPR has opened a bureau in Cologne?
NPR correct to CUT TIES with Juan Williams
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/travel/news/willkommen-castration-with-kiss/story-e6frezi0-1111115444027
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josef nix
October 21st, 2010
3:38 pm
Okay, I’m late to this ballgame, but I went and listened to what Williams said and in which context. I cannot for the life of me see what it was that got NPR’s panties in a wad in that. First, he came out castigating the knee-jerk anti-Islamist in well chose and coherent terms. I respect that. Second, I don’t care what anybody says, we do, too, do a pause when we see someone in “Muslim dress.” We do it when we see a Chassid, an Old Order Amish or what have you. Our reaction, whether we give voice to it or not, is “why are you doing that.” I know Muslims who feel much the same way on seeing their co-religionists “making a point” as I do when I see a Chassid in kaftan. I’ll be the first to come out condeming the bloody French with their burqa ban. But that doesn’t mean that I think it’s a good idea either.
I am reminded here of what Granddaddy said when I was questioning the traditional wearing of the yarmulke and trying to decide whether or not I should. His comment was, “by all means, if you want to, but you might as well put a sign on your b*tt that says ‘kick me.’ You can’t get too upset if they do, now can you?”
Optimist
October 21st, 2010
3:38 pm
I want Juan to eat his words every time a white woman clutches her purse or crosses the street when he approaches.
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
3:38 pm
Dusty,
As Anita Hill said yesterday, I apologize to no one.
How’s your day been? I hope well.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 21st, 2010
3:38 pm
Well, I don’t know if I’d be afraid if a Muslim in Muslim garb got on a plane with me. See, I never fly because I can’t have my Ford F-450 with me, and when I did get a chance to go on a small plane with another guy, @@ said she’d just duck into her house if she heard a plane, instead of laying out by her pool buck-nekkid.
I guess it would depend on if Southern Comfort was doing his job and searching everybody for weapons before they got on a plane. I got my doubts. The guy is on this blog more than I am. I doubt he searches very good when he’s got his mind on blogging. He’d probly overlook a M-60 machine gun somebody was carrying across his shoulders in the line to get on the plane.
Y’all can fly. Nobody’s stopping you. Me, I’ll just drive to where I’m going.
Optimist
October 21st, 2010
3:39 pm
By the way Jay, you made the CNN ticker, bravo!
Rally to Restore Juan's Sanity
October 21st, 2010
3:39 pm
What scares me the most is when I am sitting on an airplane and this guy gets on dressed in traditional Muslim garb except for the airline pilot’s hat that he’s wearing. If I see him heading for the pilot’s seat, I’m outta there.
jm
October 21st, 2010
3:40 pm
Bosch “My doctor’s appoint isn’t for a few more minutes.”
Get a brain scan while you’re there. In particular, have them check your frontal lobe.
Union
October 21st, 2010
3:41 pm
josef.. it was in juans contract.. there will be an atty involved in this for breech of contract at some point and juan will win. (just forward thinking)
Paul
October 21st, 2010
3:41 pm
DDR- Del – thanks.
Del – “there has never been any evidence that he (McVeigh) was a Christian much less a practicing Christian.)
Bingo. I’m away from my computer or I’d post the link RW-(the original) cited tracing the history of “McVeigh the Christian Terrorist” line. Evidently some on the Left in the journalism/opinion trade haven’t learned the skill of fact checking.
Hi Bosch!
Man oh man, you’re stepping in it all over the place, aren’t you?
From while you were out:
“The premise of the thread appears to be incorrect.
According to NPR’s CEO Schiller, Juan Williams’s firing had nothing to do with what he said about Muslims. She said he’s a journalist and he often makes opinionated comments. She said NPR’s journalists are supposed to elicit opinions from guests and analyze them, not offer opinions. That’s why he was fired. Even though it happened on Fox, not NPR.”
Del
October 21st, 2010
3:41 pm
Bosch,
Thought you were able to recognize sarcasm.
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
3:42 pm
Paul @ 3:28 — I think it’s because when people list those atrocities as casual observer did — they single out that the murderer was a Muslim — not that they were simply murderers and murdered a bunch of people, but they identify the murderers as Muslim.
It’s really not fair to compile such a list of murderers who happen to also identify themselves as Muslim without doing the same for murderers who murder people here as well, and identify themselves also as Christian.
You agree?
paleo-neoCarlinist
October 21st, 2010
3:42 pm
SoCo, I am familiar with Williams, but I only read the transcript, and I don’t know, maybe he was playing to the (O’Reilly) audience, but I think his “feelings” were genuine; even if his comments were not appropriate (if that makes sense). I am sure you are aware of the James Woods 9/11 hijacker connection. A couple years ago I saw a person in Muslim attire with a cell phone in a very crowded public place. I didn’t call 911 or freak out, but it does make you wonder, and I even noted my “suspicion” to my date. And two weeks later, a 911 call by a neighbor – to report a ’suspcious person’ on my street resulted in an arrest and conviction for murder (is not Williams a former DC Police Officer)? we live in a strange time. as I said, there is so much information and we each have to consume it and digest it, almost in real time. but back to the orginal point, the fact that he was “fired” for being candid, I don’t know what to make of that. it doesn’t reflect well on NPR in my opinion, but that’s just me.
Doggone/GA
October 21st, 2010
3:42 pm
“opposed to a Christian in a Muslim nation, where you pretty much fear for your life/property/etc.”
I get it…you think we should be more like them. Muslims should not be able to live here without fearing for their lives, property, etc. How “american” of you.
jm
October 21st, 2010
3:42 pm
Bosch – a rectal exam for your mouth would be handy too.
Southern Comfort
October 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
jo nix
I agree with you to a point. Clothing does not bother me at all. I crossed that line long ago. When you are familiar with people from different backgrounds, that kinda does away with the fear of the unknown. If I were afraid or expressed fear in what people wore or looked like, I would not be able to function at work. I can’t answer or speak for everyone, but that’s my view.
At the same time, I’m cautious about everyone. Until I can ascertain your intent, I give everyone the 10-foot rule. That’s just due to the nature of my job. Cynicism and skepticism is the way we operate.
Paul
October 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
Optimist
“I want Juan to eat his words every time a white woman clutches her purse or crosses the street when he approaches.”
The ‘I have reached a stage in my life that if I am walking down a dark street late at night and I see that the person behind me is white, I subconsciously feel relieved’ remark was from Jesse Jackson.
Bosch
October 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
Del,
I am, good grief — it’s a blog.
— I know you didn’t actually MEAN it, but for some reason it’s always bothered me when people, in a negative way, as you did, say what they believe, to me, it’s prejudice.
Now, I certainly have my prejudices, I’ve made no qualms about my distaste for dumb asses before. The problem with that is that it’s all a matter of perspective and relativity.