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
Juan's psychiatrist and publicist
October 21st, 2010
7:38 pm
Thank goodness NPR made this move. Juan just got a big time raise. Juan’s star is on the rise while Joy Behar continues to flail in the cesspool.
AmVet
October 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
Instead of CNN, maybe Jay makes it to drudgereport.com where he’ll be seen by millions more?
I’ll take your word for it. I’ve never dredged up the drudge thing…
Who cares? No one listens to NPR anyway!!! Juan, they did you a favor!!
What’s that line about never let a good lie get int he way of the facts?
We recently released the Fall 2009 broadcast ratings for NPR from Arbitron, which pulls together all the listeners who tune into their local NPR member station. On average, more than 27 million listeners tune into at least one NPR show such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered or the hourly NPR Newscasts. NPR produces or distributes at least 25 shows each week to its member stations and you can see the Fall 2009 audience ratings for the NPR produced shows on the table below.
npr=Obamaradio
October 21st, 2010
7:40 pm
Guess npr isn’t “fair and balanced”, huh?
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
7:41 pm
heathen
“NPR canned Juan Williams because he was black and had a Hispanic first name,”
Nanh…that’s why they hired him…they fired him because he didn’t fit the box…
Juan's psychiatrist and publicist
October 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
I hear the Spitzer-Whatever show on CNN is doing really well…..
godless heathen
October 21st, 2010
7:46 pm
If Juan Williams had been working for the FBI in Sept. 2001 almost 3,000 people would still be alive today.
But Granny takes her shoes off and TSA twerps see her naked body image before she can fly to Ft. Lauderdale to play the ponies.
If offered eternal life on earth, I would have to decline – I couldn’t stand the stupidity.
Juan's psychiatrist and publicist
October 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
Juan is on in 14 minutes…
The big, bad, evil Fox News Bill O’Reilly show is up next.
Round 2 — FIGHT !
NPR
October 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
We’re all for free speech…….unless we disagree with your speech.
DS
October 21st, 2010
7:53 pm
Mr. Williams’ job is to give commentary and opinions. Having not seen or heard the clip, but on Mr. Williams’ reputation as a fair liberal opinion maker, I would surmise he was providing an honest opinion out as part of a genuine commentary on Muslims and how Americans view them. If he were to have stated that as a black man, when he gets pulled over by a white police officer, he gets nervous, National Propoganda Radio probably would not have had a problem with it and would have looked the other way.
By Jay stating that they did the right thing without looking into the context, which liberals supposively want others to do to them, he is showing he is blantant hypocrit as more than likely that is what he would want done to him.
Juan's psychiatrist and publicist
October 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
I’ll bet Juan doesn’t like George Soros anymore.
All things considered,
October 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
do not EVER, EVER, say anything about the peaceful, serene, compassionate, loving, caring, religion of Islam!
Mick
October 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
Alan colmes and juan williams were and are the dupes of hazzard at fox. They are capable but why do they always come off as such losers against hannity & co? They are just the washington generals to the fox globetrotters, it really is a bad circus. Their motto should be, “Thank you sir may I have another?”.
Juan's psychiatrist and publicist
October 21st, 2010
7:55 pm
DS — You haven’t seen or heard the clip and you comment here in this blog? Seriously?
Fred
October 21st, 2010
7:56 pm
Late again as ever……….
You miss a very critical fact in your article Jay. CNN is a privately (non Gov’t) owned entity. NPR is funded by tax-payer money. Two different animals.
As ling as NPR is funded by MY tax dollars, I want them the be “fair and balanced.” They won’t have a Christian flag in their broadcasts by by damn they better uphold the OTHER tenants of the First Amendment such as free speech.
I don’t see how you don’t see it this way anymore than I can’t see how anyone could argue against “anchor” babies. The Constitution is the law of the land, not a convenience to be shed at whim.
Truth
October 21st, 2010
7:56 pm
I mean, it’s not like he said Mulims fly planes into buildings, or walk into markets, and pizza parlors and blow up innocent men, women, and children. OH wait!….
Left wing management
October 21st, 2010
7:56 pm
And in other media news, Penthouse founder Bob Guccione is dead at 79.
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
DS
By all means do go and view the clip in its entirety and in context…
National Democratic Ilegal Fund
October 21st, 2010
7:59 pm
Step right up folks.
Step right up.
We got ‘em here.
Donate YOUR $money$ to keep the illegals flowing freely into to America.
For only $2500 per person we can maintain a comfortable american way of life for every illegal that enters OUR country in order to benefit THEIRS.
Please, just write a check for $2500 to the National Democratic Ilegal Fund, and we will continue to bill you once a month to continue this worth while cause.
In exchange for your generous donation, you can expect your cash to be expedited immediately out of the US and used to promote the economies of foreign nations.
Together, we can help illegal aliens beat the system and find ways to easily collect your tax money.
Thank you, and good night.
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
7:59 pm
Fred
Good evening, Sir! And there’s that pesky Constitution again…nasty little document, ain’t it?
Jay
October 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
So Fred, take a guess: How much of NPR’s budget comes from federal tax money?
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
Bob Guch bummed two cigarettes from me round ’bout 1986 or 7 at a gig.
He was cool and his girlfriend/whatever was … Attractive.
@@
October 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
josef:
I’ll forgive you if you haven’t, but did you ever check out The Oakland School?
http://www.oaklandschool.net/
Our director and speech therapist asked me to go up there with ‘em. My initial reaction was…”dumping ground”. Not so. From the kids’ perspective, the place is awesome. They miss it once they’re gone. Stay in close touch thru e-mails which can be read on the site.
Mick
October 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
**Penthouse founder Bob Guccione is dead at 79.**
A titillating capitalist success story, only in america….
george
October 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
NPR has had it in for Juan Williams for some time. Being a regular on Fox has exposed him to millions of viewers and his comments and mostly liberal opinions have had a impact on even Fox viewers. This has always irritated the NPR crowd. He presents his views in a serious and fair manner. One would be hard pressed to name any other news analyst at NPR period. When your candle shines brighter than your boss’s…..look out.
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
JAY
I was just before looking that up…save me the trouble, how much is it? Thanks….
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:04 pm
@@
Yes, I did. We must have missed each other on that. Amazing, aren’t they! Are you going? I really would like to hear a “first person” perspective from somebody in the field….
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:05 pm
Mick says, “A titillating capitalist success story, only in america….”.
Let’s call him Mickaliban.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
when the White House criticizes Fox, Liz Cheney said that David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel were sending a “clear warning” against other networks: “It’s clear censorship, and it’s, in my view, abuse of power from the White House.”
When Boehner suggests cutting funding because he does not like the content and their acts, will Liz stand up and cry out its censorship? Hold your breath!
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
Are you gonna watch Juan’s interview Mickie?
Jay
October 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
From my colleague Rodney Ho’s interview with NPR CEO Vivian Schiller today (http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2010/10/21/first-interview-with-nprs-vivian-schiller-on-juan-williams-firing/ ):
“NPR gets no allocation from CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting). Zero. We are a private 501(c)3. We’ve had journalists call up and ask what department of the government we report to. That’s laughable. Have you listened to our shows? We do apply for competitive grants from the likes of the Ford Foundation and the Knight Foundation. As a result, some money from CPB does come to us when we win grants. Depending on the year, it represents just one to three percent of our total budget.”
Left wing management
October 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
Jay: “So Fred, take a guess: How much of NPR’s budget comes from federal tax money?”
I wonder how many people on this forum are even aware that all these breathless funding drives we’re hearing this week on NPR stations are a direct result of the Gingrich-led Republican attack on NPR as ‘biased’, which resulted in them nearly cutting the legs out from under the network. But to this day no where is the denial of this traumatic back-history more glaring than on NPR itself. Sure, it’s left leaning in a kind of watered down, uninteresting way. You get the idea they’re petrified there of being accused of being part of a ‘liberal media’, much like CNN.
Truth
October 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
How much in Taxpayer dollars does Fox receive? Is zero good for you?
Tamika
October 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
NPR took more than a million dollars from George Soros and it took less than a week to fire Juan Williams. This dingbat is not credible talking about journalistic standards to anyone. NPR is a liberal/progressive hothouse who had a reporter hope for Jesse Helms to get aids!
She suggested that Juan keep his ideas between himself and his psychiatrist! What a mean spirited, nasty, cowardly twit. I bet that line sounded really funny to her progressive cocktail party friends but it sure sounded stuid when it came out of her mouth in the real world.
Why is even one taxpayer dollar going to these progressive bigots?
j$
October 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
hi there, @@
been awhile
Mick
October 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
davi
It’s a rags to riches back to rags story. The advantages of owning properties all over the world and having a jet at your disposal to get there, is about as rich as anyone needs to be. I wasn’t knocking capitalism, just his journey…
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
Even Whoopie Goldberg says NPR shouldn’t have made this gaffe.
google it or go to youtube.
TGT
October 21st, 2010
8:11 pm
AmVet: I didn’t say it, He did (as I noted).
mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama - BEND OVER, Here comes the CHANGE!
October 21st, 2010
8:11 pm
Pelosi Confident Democrats Will Keep Majority — and She’ll Remain Speaker – She must think she’s in Egypt – da NILE. 12 more days for the TRUE WITCH! mmm, mmm, mmm…
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:11 pm
BTW…
http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/14010361
Jus loves me some fierce advocacy!
Asok
October 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
I was recently asked, “Who buys this newspaper, anyway?”
Fewer and fewer people very day it seems. To wit:
“The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s circulation continued to plunge in the six-month period ending March 31, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported Monday.
The Atlanta daily’s daily circulation fell 24.7 percent to 195,582, while Sunday circulation dived 13.9 percent to 397,925.”
Somehow, a 25% plunge in circulation in 6 months doesn’t exactly strike me as good news for the AJC. It’ll be fun to see third quarter results. Nonetheless, with the drivel like this churned out by hard-core leftists like Jay Bookman, it’s easy to see why the death spiral.
Margaret
October 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
Ms Schiller is a tool, an obedient puppy for her far left masters. The firing of Juan Williams is just proof that free speech no longer matters to the left.
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
If you ain’t watching his interview right now you’re a chicken.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
8:13 pm
Paul: But…. isn’t it another case when the terrorists/murders are not just Muslim, but who also state the reason for their murders was based upon a widely-held jihadist philosophy that has had them at war not with just the West, but also with mideast governments who they feel are not correct practitioners of Islam?
I don’t think so. I”m with Bosch on this one – murder is murder is murder. A rose by any other name is still a rose…….
markymark @4:04: HUH??…just how many people do you think died on 9/11?
Did you happen to see the and injured part of the sentence? Just asking…….
Lil' Barry Bailout
October 21st, 2010
8:14 pm
In wake of NPR controversy, Fox News gives Juan Williams an expanded role
The cable news network signs the analyst to a new three-year contract for nearly $2 million. Meanwhile, conservative figures blast the public radio network for its response to Williams’ comments about Muslims.
—————————–
Bite it, libbtards.
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
JAY
Thanks…
And left wing, I despise Newt myself, but he does make a respectable contribution to public broadcasting…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
Truth… you miss the nuance. If Lizzy wants to complain about censorship when the WH criticizes Fox and Fox does not receive any fed money (assuming your statement is correct, I have not researched all direct and indirect money), then a “government” threat is cut funding for “speech” is not censorship? Don’t think you can have it both ways? Oh that is right, this is the season of double standards from the Republicans.
Candy and Nuts
October 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
I guess NPR better heed the demands of the right wingers here and turn over all those government funds. And make it fast too.
Jay
October 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
Just guessing here, but I’d bet Fox does end up with some federal money. It probably gets advertising revenue from public awareness campaigns for things like the Census, etc. Presidential candidates in the primaries and general elections who tap into public financing probably dump some of it into buying time on Fox.
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
Oh really? MediaMatters called for Mara Liasson to be fired from NPR because she appears on Fox News also.
Coincidence?
Mr Soros… You’re quite irritating but predictable and less powerful than you think.
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:19 pm
David
i plan to catch in on repeat later this p.m.
Margaret
October 21st, 2010
8:19 pm
IF NPR wants to run a left wing monoculture that does not allow different points of view and take money from George Soros then it dang sure should give back every single federal, state or local tax penny it gets. Who cares if it’s only a little of its budget. NPR made its bed, now lie in it.
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
Keep this blog alive…. this is good for another 24hrs….
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
I hope Boehner follows through….proposes a bill to cut funding from NPR and then the Dems amend it to cut any funding (direct or indirect) from Fox……why I am sure Lizzy and friends would say “its only right.”
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
JAY
An interesting point there! I got tickled the other day when you and the AJC were being brought to task as Dem mouthpieces…the ad running at the time was for Deal! For those who’ve never worked in the industry, the fight between editorial and advertizing generally results with advertizing on top!
Left wing management
October 21st, 2010
8:23 pm
Posted above at 8:12: “Nonetheless, with the drivel like this churned out by hard-core leftists like Jay Bookman, it’s easy to see why the death spiral”
Chuckling at this a little bit. “Hard-core leftists”? And you get the idea that these people really believe this stuff. Now that’s one of the real interesting – and slightly unsettling – barometers of the age we live in.
TGT
October 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
Williams gets fired for saying he feels anxious around Muslims in traditional garb on an airplane. Yet newspaper editors, including almost certainly those at AJC, ACT out of that very same fear by refusing to publish an IMAGE of Mohammed, etc. and yet Williams is skewered, by the VERY SAME LIBERALS! Amazing.
Lil' Barry Bailout
October 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
Juan Williams has been expelled from the bubble. NPR is one step closer to ideological purity.
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
Heh, heh! Right there’s an Isaakson ad as we speak!
j$
October 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
bring back Andy.
Allow I Report/You Whine to post here again!
Andy!
Andy!
Andy!
Andy!
Obviously, the ajc like npr, is going to squeweltch out anything they don’t like.
the ajc is slipperyer than a bag of snakes!
@@
October 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
josef:
I’ve already been.
The kids are given the individual attention that’s crucial to their success. They also function as a unit…a kind of support system for one another. They have chores, responsibilities that include caring for livestock, housework, independent living skills.
Fascinating! Rarely did any of the kids talk about their families. It was all about their peers. It’s almost as though the school IS their family.
Our Director of Education thinks BIG. So does our school’s founder.
We’ve got a woman who does a phenomenal job of raising funds. With her, all dreams can come true.
Left wing management
October 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
Margaret 8:19: “IF NPR wants to run a left wing monoculture that does not allow different points of view and take money from George Soros then it dang sure should give back every single federal, state or local tax penny it gets.”
Keep your shirt on, Margaret. As I suggested above, NPR bends over backwards sideways and forwards to make sure no one gets the idea that they’re a Left wing ‘monoculture’. And believe me, the results are quite, uh, sanitized, shall we say. I listen to programs such as Diane Rehm (unavailable in Atlanta on the airwaves) quite regularly and she very regularly gives time to voices that are quite friendly to the right wing to say the least.
AmVet
October 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
I keep reading inane comments like free speech no longer matters to the left.
Is this merely evidence that intelligent speech no longer matters to the right?
josef, I saw on PBA tonight a clip of a speech where the CiC was spouting some PC nonsense about taking his time to ensure that DADT was overturned “correctly” on his watch. Such decisive leadership is most inspiring.
Truth
October 21st, 2010
8:28 pm
I’m sure Fox would be just fine without 1 penny (direct or indirect) of Government money. Doubt you could say that about NPR. The good Big Government way—If it moves, tax it; if it keeps moving, regulate it; if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Candy and Nuts
October 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
I think folks like Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, John Bolton, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum should join forces with someone, like FOX for instance, and fight back against this outrage from NPR by refusing to go on any other show other than FOX. Maybe they can even get Juan to join them. It would just serve NPR right to lose access to any of those folks and those of us in the viewing audience would just have to suffer if we chose to keep watching that NPR.
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
TGT
They do not act out of fear. They act out of respect for the faith of those for whom the depiction of the Prophet is a strict no-no.
@@
October 21st, 2010
8:32 pm
Hi, JayNot or J$ if you prefer.
It has been awhile. I catch you on Fridays though.
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:33 pm
23.3% of NPRs finances come from corporate sponsors. 11.1% comes from grants. The new Congress can and most likely de-fund them of their 11%.
The public can raise hell to the sponsors just like Soros does against Fox.
NPR’s Ombudsman is the public’s representative to NPR. Read the Ombudsman’s blog and share a comment there, or call 202.513.3245
NPR
635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
8:33 pm
@@: DDR: What you are witnessing between Bosch and I is NOT a “tiff”
Sorry. My bad.
Let’s just call ‘em terrorists with a “distinction”. Muslim terrorists. Environmental terrorists. Left-wing Terrorists (Weather Underground), White Separatist Terrorists (STORMFRONT), Black Nationalist Terrorists (Black Panthers), Anti-Capitalist terrorists, Animal Rights Terrorists (PETA), Gay Rights Terrorists (ACT UP), Anti-Gay Terrorists.
Deal!
Imma Lib
October 21st, 2010
8:35 pm
Well, at least we’ve got good talk radio like Air America. Oh wait!…..
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:36 pm
AmVet
And may I quote you on that the next time somebody comes in here claiming you’re an Obamista?
I do note, however, that no big deal is being made of this in certain circles…that jacka33 is still getting a free pass…
@@
Thanks for the info and keep me posted on how the effort goes hereabouts…
Belinda
October 21st, 2010
8:36 pm
If free speech matters to the left why are the lefties out in force defending NPR?
Maybe you could argue that free speech matters but only when you agree with it?
Off Topic
October 21st, 2010
8:37 pm
Do we or don’t we still have tens of thousands of soldiers in Iraq?
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
8:37 pm
Oh wait @@, the Black Panthers were never terrorists, they never committed a terrorists act on anyone — most were arrested and LABELED terrorists way before even the planning stages were half way through.
Off Topic
October 21st, 2010
8:38 pm
#2 — Is the damage from the Oil Spill in The Gulf all better?
Off Topic
October 21st, 2010
8:40 pm
#3 — Can The United States secure her own borders against drug and human smugglers?
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:42 pm
J$
I want Andy back, too! Life’s just not been the same without him…we need more lesbians here….
j$
October 21st, 2010
8:42 pm
@@, thank you for this. Simply beautiful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c6Btxs8r0A
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:42 pm
Belinda
For the record, I’m a leftie and I ain’t defending NPR…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 21st, 2010
8:43 pm
The US is a “her”?…Hmmmm..looking at Florida, I would suggest the US is a him/
Left wing management
October 21st, 2010
8:44 pm
Belinda 8:36: “If free speech matters to the left why are the lefties out in force defending NPR?”
I’m a leftist and I’m not lifting one finger to defend them. I’m at best cool towards their decision.
j$
October 21st, 2010
8:45 pm
“We need more lesbians here…”
Well. you always Redneck Convert…
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:45 pm
Uh oh… Beck is on too…
NPR is in a meltdown. Whoopie say no?
Scout
October 21st, 2010
8:45 pm
Scenarios:
1) I am a black man. I am traveling at night in Mississippi and see a BBQ place and since I love BBQ I stop. I notice I am the only black man in there but I order and eat my meal. As I leave the restaurant, I have to walk right by a pickup truck that has just arrived with three “Bubba’s” in their deer hunting camouflage getting out and a huge Confederate Flag on the grill. Knowing that most white people are not racists, is it right for me to feel a little nervous and to swing a little wider to walk to my car?
2) My wife and two teenage daughters have gone to a movie at night. At the end of the movie we walk back to our vehicle. The parking lot was very crowded when we arrived and we had to park at the very last row where there is very little lighting. Two vehiciles down from our car four Hispanic looking males wearing what appears to me to be gang colors/clothing and sporting gang tattoos are committing “mopery with intent to creep” also known as loitering. Knowing that most Hispanic people are not gang members, is it right for me to feel a little nervous and to take extra precautions like getting in the car quickly and locking the doors?
3) Green Martians have landed on earth and infiltrated our population. Most of them are very peaceful but a few of them have developed a bad habit of eating humans alive. While out jogging in the park I spot three of them jogging up behind me. Knowing that most Martians are peaceful vegetarians, is it right for me to be a little fearful and to increase my pace?
I could go on and on but I think (if you have any common sense) that you get the picture.
4) A police officer receives an emergency dispatch that a bank is being robbed at gunpoint. No description of the suspect is given. The officer just happens to be right around the corner from that location. As he silently drives up toward the bank he sees a woman exit the bank and run south. A second or two later he sees a man exit the bank and run north. Since he can’t chase both, he decides to confront the man and determine if he is the bank robber.
Is that a sexist action on the part of the police officer ? Why or why not ?
5) White male Irish terrorists have been attacking the United States for 20 years due to our support for Great Britain. They have become particularly adept at crashing airplanes into various buildings across the U.S. You are taking a business flight from Los Angeles to Japan. While you wait in the terminal area you hear four white males sitting behind you whispering to each other in a thick Irish brogue. Knowing that most Irish people are not terrorists, is it racist for me to be nervous and take another flight?
Only Response so far:
Peter:
“Hey Scout 5:08 …..take another flight you are paranoid, but down a few more cocktails first cause that was silly !”
Peter – thanks for responding. So I would be paranoid but not racist is that correct?
P.S. Having served as a Federal Air Marshal for four years I can assure that in that scenario (based on my training) four Irish sounding males whispering to each other before a flight to Japan would have drawn the attention of law enforcement. At the very least, it would have gotten all four of them a pre-flight interrogation, additional screening, rescreening of checked luggage and and additional identification procedures.
As a result, your position that the situation is “silly” is ludicrous and flat wrong.
I can assure you it is done in multiples EVERYDAY.
O.K. Jay and the rest of you cowardly liberals I’ll give you one more chance to engage in some honest debate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aY8cRXs4-Q
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:47 pm
KUTGF – yes “her”.
AmVet
October 21st, 2010
8:47 pm
Candy, that very partial list does confirm what a laughingstock that Fox News motto is.
It should be “Republican, But Not Honest Enough To Admit It.” Kinda unwieldy I know, but perhaps our conservative friends have some better suggestions?
C’mon cons, even you have to admit what a farce Fair and Balanced is, right?
Put those acerbic tongues to good use…
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:49 pm
r u watchn AmVet?
AmVet
October 21st, 2010
8:51 pm
Yep, mystery meat,
Phillies up 3 – 1. Lincecum’s getting hit hard…
TGT
October 21st, 2010
8:51 pm
josef: “They do not act out of fear. They act out of respect for the faith of those for whom the depiction of the Prophet is a strict no-no.”
Riiight, because newspaper editors have SO much respect for religion in general.
There is NO WAY editors shy away from depictions of “the Prophet”–or other Islamic no-no’s–if not for the threat of violence. (And because such threats have been acted on in the past.)
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:53 pm
I like Scout’s post at 8:45
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
8:57 pm
After 790 comments and a fair chunk of time, does Bookman still support the termination of Mr.Williams?
josef nix
October 21st, 2010
8:58 pm
TGT
The AJC’s editorial policy has been respectful of religion. So has Jay. Where else could, say, me, Scout, Dusty, Doggone and so many others have our free wheeling “Sunday School” discussions? Where else could the virulent atheists chime in as well? The pages of this journal are full of stories on this, that or the other congregation’s latest doings…
Abrazos
October 21st, 2010
8:59 pm
“I think folks like Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, John Bolton, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum should join forces with someone, like FOX for instance, and fight back against this outrage from NPR by refusing to go on any other show other than FOX.”
Pretty sure that’s already happened. And don’t forget Christine O’Donnell (”I’ve got Sean Hannity in my back pocket”), Sharron Angle, Michele Bachman, Joe Miller and the rest of the Tea Party elite who won’t appear on any other channel or network. They’ve already quarantined themselves inside the warm and cozy Fox News incubator of love.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
8:59 pm
OK Scout I’ll play. Here’s a scenario for you:
I am a female who has been sexually harassed by her boss, her male friends, and the males in her family. I am walking down the street late at night and see a man wearing a priest’s collar and carrying a bible coming towards me on my side of the street. Across the street from me is a male, dressed as a fairy, carrying a “FREE MANDELA!!” poster while smoking a cigarette. To the right of me, standing beside a car, is a man yelling at his wife and kids for talking while he was driving. Directly behind me is a man, who looks insane, who keeps saying that he is Bill O’Reilly and he didn’t actually sexually harrass those female employees, he just settled out of court because he didn’t want to disappoint his mother. My question to you is: If I start running at a north by northwest angle, how soon can I get to safety? OR should I feel safe because everyone knows that Bill O’Reilly was hatched and not birthed by a human?
Only serious answers please.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
9:02 pm
josef: “We need more lesbians here…”
hee hee heee……..
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
9:02 pm
Debbie needs to lay off the xtasy.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
DebbieDR….the answer is Donut, right?
stands for decibels
October 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
Who cares? No one listens to NPR anyway!
I’m thinking this is probably a fairly representative sampling of intellijunce from the angry wingers.
night, all.
DebbieDoRight
October 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
Keep up the good fight – You are CORRECT!!!!
Candy and Nuts
October 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
I’ll even get bold here and take it a step further. I think folks like Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, John Bolton, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum should sign an exclusivity agreement with FOX. That’ll show those other folks like NPR. They won’t be able to get any “balanced” to go with their “fair” and it will just serve them right. The way they treated poor Juan and singled him out like that.
My middle name is David
October 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
pettifogger [ˈpɛtɪˌfɒgə]
n
1. (Law) a lawyer of inferior status who conducts unimportant cases, esp one who is unscrupulous or resorts to trickery
2. any person who quibbles or fusses over details
[from petty + fogger, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Fugger, name of a family (C15-16) of German financiers]
pettifoggery n