The Firing of Juan Williams From NPR

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

Lots of NPR stations carry the Tavis Smiley show.

And "Tell Me More"

[Shawnee123]

So then you agree it is counterproductive to point, scream, and run away from Juan Williams? Oh, wait, no that's not right. He's the one we're "supposed to" be upset with. Sorry, I got confused because I don't have my political correctness handbook with me. It gets pretty complicated when you have to carry around a list of what your opinions are "supposed to" be.

Oh, don't be so testes.

Actually, I haven't chimed in on the political correctness or lack thereof of Juan or NPR. I have merely put in some other ways to look at things. Does this meaningful dialogue not jive with the kind of meaningful dialogue you seek?

Being defensive is the first way to assure we'll never get anywhere.

[Spexxvet]

And Mr Williams notes that NPR now has zero black on-air talent

That is incorrect. Michel Martin looks black, to me

[Shawnee123]

Well, we must make the distinction between "light-skinned" and "dark-skinned" blacks. Following that: Beige-ish Muslims in Levis don't bother us a'tall.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

noise

Go join a jokey thread.

[Shawnee123]

Eh, bite my apple. Then, say something useful.

[Spexxvet]

Weekend Update

"I don't judge a man by the color of his skin; I judge him according to the size of his nostrils."

[Lamplighter]

NPR did not fire Williams for being Black.
His own race has nothing to do with this event, except at the level of hypocrisy.

It would have been worse for NPR to ignore his comments
just to keep him as "the only Black" commentator... even tho he isn't.

[Undertoad]

Mr Williams noted that he was the only black male on air at NPR and I misquoted him.

Mr Smiley works for Public Radio International, not NPR.

The point is, for all the lip service given to the importance of diversity of people and views, here political correctness has produced the exact opposite result in the real world.

[Shawnee123]

Does the importance of diversity also mean we should never question a black man, if'n he is perceived to be the token diverse one?

I guess I see it as (and I hate this phrase) two sides of the same coin: imagine if Juan wasn't black, but white. I'm not being argumentative: do you think there would have been a different reaction? I'm only asking here (regardless of the rock throwing to cow me into some corner, this is one specific issue I haven't found a "comfortable" side.)

What say y'all?

[Undertoad]

There certainly would be a different reaction. It would be acceptable to NPR if a white person did it, witness white women Totenberg and Liasson.

Because the problem is not that Williams is a black man, but because he's a black man who goes on O'Reilly. That is far more offensive to NPR and its audience than if a white person does it.

Michael Barone:

Reading between the lines of Juan’s statement and those of NPR officials, it’s apparent that NPR was moved to fire Juan because he irritates so many people in its audience. An interesting contrast: while many NPR listeners apparently could not stomach that Williams also appeared on Fox News. But it doesn’t seem that any perceptible number of Fox News viewers had any complaints that Williams also worked for NPR. The Fox audience seems to be more tolerant of diversity than the NPR audience.

Williams at ABC News:

"This is one of the things in my life that's shocking. I grew up on the left. I grew up here in New York City and I've always thought the right wing was the ones who were inflexible and intolerant. Now, I'm coming to realize that the orthodoxy at NPR, as it's representing the left, is just unbelievable," he said.

[Pico and ME]

Considering the heightened level of irrational anxiety in our society regarding Muslims, his statement regarding his own irrational anxiety is beyond just irresponsible. It is what's helping to feed the problem - exactly what Fox is good at and why it even exists. I applaud NPR for taking a stand against that king of noise.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

Considering the heightened level of irrational anxiety in our society regarding Muslims, his statement regarding his own irrational anxiety is beyond just irresponsible.

You're arguing for dishonesty.

Do you see the problem there? I ask this in all seriousness. If we feel a certain way about something, is it always better to keep quiet--stuff that feeling deep down inside and pretend that it will go away? Or is it better to address it openly and honestly?

Why do I even have to ask this? Are we in the ƒucking twilight zone???

[Undertoad]

Precisely. It wasn't knee-jerk intolerant irrational anxiety about Muslims that got Williams fired. It was knee-jerk intolerant irrational anxiety about Fox News, from NPR listeners.

So now a man who has written about, studied, and suffered bigotry is secretly a bigot? Pico I don't think this approach will help bring about the kind of world you want.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Precisely. It wasn't knee-jerk intolerant irrational anxiety about Muslims that got Williams fired. It was knee-jerk intolerant irrational anxiety about Fox News, from NPR listeners.So now a man who has written about, studied, and suffered bigotry is secretly a bigot? Pico I don't think this approach will help bring about the kind of world you want.

I thought you said it was because he's black, that this wouldn't have happened to a white NPR person??????

Is it because he's black, or because of Faux news?