October 22, 2010
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Getting On a Plane with Muslims
Juan Williams was fired by the NPR for comments he made about Muslims.
He said, “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 are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.” Here is the link: Link
Should Juan be fired for saying he is afraid of being on a plane with Muslims in garb?
Comments (126)
what’s a muslim garb?
what do you mean by getting on a plain?
Way to make a typo, dan. It’s Airplane, not Plain…
lol.
and no.
there were a shit ton of them in BC, but who gives a shit! If I wore a punjabi would you be scared of me??
If they’re gonna try and take me, they’re going too, by god.
@maniacsicko - it’s a punjabi. the head scarf thing.
I get afraid when Dan misspells his blog titles…
wait, you changed the title?
now people will not understand what my first comment is all about!!
i wanna sue you for this!
you know.
what if they’re muslim but hiding it? shouldn’t I be even more nervous then? I MEAN COME ON
what happened to freedom of speech? he wasn’t hurting anybody.
@ohletitbe - or a hijab
He deserved it. It is his job to report the news, not broadcast his opinion.
Let’s be real, people that dress in Muslim garb probably get treated way more harshly when going through airport security for the exact reason that he is afraid.
I don’t think it is professional for someone whose job is to attempt at being an unbiased news analyst to appear on a national network like FOX and make clearly biased remarks because when you have a job like that, your words go a long way so you need to be smart about what you say on TV. Saying something like this at home or at a dinner with friends is fine; who really cares… but making retarded comments about being scared of Muslims for no reason other than the fact that they are Muslim isn’t something that you need to be saying even if that’s the way you feel, because it’s retarded.
@ohletitbe - Actually it’s called a hijab. Punjabi is a culture from India/Pakistan.
No I don’t get nervous flying with Muslims since I am one and my wife wears a hijab. If we find our commercial flights unsatisfactory, we just use the business jet.
Firing is severe but it wasn’t right of him to say. He should at least try to be unbiased
I’m scared to get on a plane with a mother and young baby. Usually, they will sit close to me and the baby will scream the entire trip.
Someone needs to remind Williams that terrorists will blend in, wear business suits.
@Momma2babies34 - There is a difference between freedom of speech and being a professional at your job. If you make inappropriate comments in a work setting, don’t expect to be let off the hook easily.
@Ironstove - Agreed
I don’t think he should not have been fired, but when you work for someone you have to conform to their standards. My husband and sister in-law said the same exact thing about Muslims when we were about to board a plane for Chicago a few weeks ago. I don’t feel that way, but I do respect their opinions.
No, it is clear he meant no harm. Why is it different when you are call someone a nutjob, they get away with that tidbit opinion, now don’t they…
@Ironstove - eggsactly.
That really is a dumb fear to have. I would never judge a Muslim based upon what happened on 9/11. Christian belief slaughtered thousands of Native Americans post-colonialization. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have dinner with my mother for fear of her sending me off to military school.
no he should not get fired. perhaps a chat with NPR CEO over a snifter of brandy but not fired.
the first amendment doesn’t apply to people who are discriminating solely based on appearance. i’m glad he’s been fired.
Obviously NPR didn’t feel it was appropriate for him to say on the air. It’s their company and it was an offensive comment. Sorry, but it was; you shouldn’t be afraid just because a Muslim isn’t afraid to wear a hijab. It’s a part of their culture and they shouldn’t have to give it up because of cultural differences and extremists. We shouldn’t be afraid of them expressing their culture because they aren’t the only culture to have blood on it’s hands. Apparently NPR felt the same way. Yes, there is freedom of religion, but he’s not being thrown in jail for it. NPR is like any company; you have to act professionally if you want to keep your job.
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@Ironstove - gotcha… alright, good point. *shrugs* i guess he could have just share opinions with his friends and those that can hear with benefits. otherwise if people feel that it was offensives, then alright.
Well gee….every time I see a black person, I hold my purse closer & cross the street. And for sure my white neighbors just dont like me. Oh & my spanish speaking neighbor MUST be Mexican. That guy is being racist/religious hating & is falling into racial stereotypes like the ones I just typed out. It’s stupid. I’m glad he’s been fired because he just showed his true colors. Just because a FEW stupid people did shit doesnt mean the whole group is like that. When will people get it?
I see the freedom of speech angle & I do agree with it even though what Juan said was stupid but his words casts reflections on the company he works for & he could have incited a riot. Remember when Howard Stern joked about Selena getting murdered? There was so much protest & anger the police actually got an arrest warrant on him for disturbing the peace.
He wasn’t broadcasting news, he was appearing on Bill O’Reily as a commentator and he gave his opinion. There’s no obligation to be unbiased when you’re in that forum. Nonetheless, he should be put to death for the awful statements he made. Muslims are peace loving people with absolutely no track record of crashing, blowing-up, or attempting to blow-up commercial airliners. I mean what was this guy thinking?
He shouldnt be fired for saying he is afraid to get on an airplane with a muslim. He has right to be afraid. His boss is probably afraid of something too.
Given that he went on to say that in spite of that irrational “gut” fear we might feel we shouldn’t discriminate against Muslims, no.People really need to view the entire segment before passing judgment.
Getting fired for having an opinion is fascism. Fascism = liberalism.
lol my (indian) ap euro teacher told us a story about how he was stopped at an airport because he looked suspicious… he was carrying a boombox (LOL) and his bags.
but anyway. point is, it’s stupid to make generalizations about a group of people.
@SKANLYN - You can’t judge an entire group just because their are some extreme crazies. It’s not right. There are extreme crazies in every group. No group should be defined by such extreme people in said group. So technically, no, Muslims don’t have that type of track record. The extremists do.
Pretty stupid really. NPR looks bad for terminating Juan Williams. Poor guy Williams is now a right wing marytr and just got his pay raised to 2 million over three years or something like that. I really wish I could declare that X-tains scare me to death that they will vote OJ Simpson to the Senate because he has an R next to his name, get fired and then be rehired the next day by mediamatter.com for 3 mill.
Lucky friggin guy.
I think NPR (and any company) should be able to fire any employee that fails to measure up to company standards. I disagree with their standards though.
He shouldn’t be fired for saying something that a lot of people feel whether it’s good or bad. If it’s brought out into light, and talked about maybe it’s for the best. I am against NPR’s censorship. I know this is wrong even though I am liberal. Go figure.
While I feel like what he said was wrong, I think firing was a bit extreme. On the other hand, his airline company probably wanted to cover their asses from a lawsuit.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace - Whomever… or WHATever you are, you really don’t have anything better to do with your life, do you?
@SexyGamerGirl - Ultimate rule of the internet: don’t try to convince trolls of anything
.
He should be educated, not fired. Have him issue a genuine apology which probably won’t be accepted. But still….
@SKANLYN - He was on Bill O’Reily…
What the fuck? Isn’t he black? Doesn’t he know he makes us white folk nervous too at convenience stores in the middle of the night?
Why wasn’t Bill O’Reilly fired from FoxNews for saying on The View that “Muslims” attacked us on 9/11? Look, if they started firing people simply for saying something objectionable to some, then we’d all be out of work. This is a Freedom of Speech nation and no one should have to be punished simply for speaking their minds.
he should NOT have been fired. What happened to free speech?
Why is it considered wrong to express a personal opinion about something? He didn’t use any racial bigotry, nasty names, etc. He didn’t even say that he dislikes Muslims. Its ridiculous.
If he had said it on NPR, then they might have been justified, because he would have been on their time. But he has the right to express his opinions elsewhere.
“Freedom of speech” does not mean “guaranteed job”. Freedom of speech means that the government can’t arrest you for what you say. It does not mean that an employer can’t fire you if you make dumb-ass comments. Heck, there have been several people who have been fired for talking about their employer on blogs and other online forums. They had the right to say what they did, and the employers had the right to give them the pink slip.
discrimination of any kind is disgusting.
@SexyGamerGirl - Not all Muslims are terrorist but barring Timothy McVeigh and the Irish Republican Army (which is pretty much defunct now), nearly every terrorist is a Muslim and those who aren’t terrorist rarely speak out against the actions of those who are. Instead you get some bullshit about how desperate people are driven to desperate measures and that we shouldn’t forget all the Iraqi children who died as a result of the UN sanctions after Desert Storm.
I’m sure if you were honest with yourself you’d admit that you would plenty nervous if found yourself on an airplane full of shaggy-bearded, turban heads.
@YourOuterCritic - NPR knew he was a commentator for Fox News so they should have expected this or something similar. If they didn’t like it they should have told him he had to make a choice.
@SKANLYN - ”…he should be put to death…”
Harsh, and for someone backing up the Muslims….
Eh, I don’t care if he got fired or not, but he should have expected this kind of outrage.
@Axis_of_Doom - You banned me from your site like the dweeb, ball-less coward that you are. Don’t pull the stalker routine by abusing me elsewhere. If you want to be left alone, then leave me alone. That’s only fair, for if your mother wasn’t such a failure she would have taught you that.
@randomneuralfirings - Agreed.
@Ironstove - Preach.
@zionlover -
Bill O’Reilly wasn’t fired because his network both condones and profits from Islamophobia.
People have the right to speak their minds, but employers also have the right to fire employees that they believe represent them poorly.
Maybe he should be afraid of snakes on a plane too.
@SKANLYN - Why does it matter that he worked at Fox? They should treat liberals and conservatives the same. A personal opinion is an opinion no matter what side of the fence you are on.
it is funny to me how every conservative gets the 1st amendment interpretation “right” only when it involves speech that can cause hate and discontent and panic…which ironically is not covered by the 1st the amendment…but thats neither here nor there.
what was the purpose of his statement? what lesson was learned from what he spoke? what did he contribute to society with his admission of racial profiling? absolutely nothing. does he get off that plane? of course not because even an ill-informed and ill-equipped he is, somewhere deep down in the souless body of his he knows that he has no reason to be afraid.
i am afraid to fly, but it has nothing to do with how my neighbor is dressed or what religion they practice.
I would be excited at the prospect of having someone to talk in Arabic with.
@Ironstove - And everyone employed by Fox are what? Talk show hosts? pfft.
Personally since I’m taking Arabic and am going to Jordan this summer, no, I am not afraid.
Personally, I’m afraid of planes period sooooooooooo, getting on a plane with ANYBODY makes me afraid…just getting on the damn plane is the hard part…
That was his opinion. He should NOT have been fired.
Likely terrorists who want to target a plane will probably be wearing something inconspicuous.
Nevertheless, Juan Williams was being pretty honest about what he said about his fear. He also spoke out against labeling/generalizing all Muslims as terrorists. He brought up past terrorist activities perpetrated by radical anti-abortion activists and Timothy McVeigh to further his point.
@Aaliyaan - <3 u.
He didn’t get fired for that remark only. He got fired because of his many interviews and appearances on Fox news. NPR did not want that association. The problem with him being fired is that NPR is public radio, financed by public donations and federal dollars. I guess it should be called National Public Liberal Radio, for those of us who thought we were donating to a station that delivered not only on news, but on art, literature, and music.
Nope. Stupid move it was by National Propaganda Radio, because Fox signed him on to a higher salary….
Maybe not fired. But…it is what it is.
Hey Dan, would you want to get on a plane with meeee?
C’mon, how can you resist this face?
@Ironstove - To be fair, if a man’s job is to get on the radio and report his opinion on the news I am pretty sure that stating an opinion as he did is no real infraction. While it might not have been the most professional thing to have said, it was a definite farse and an overreaction to see NPR fire him while their reps make comments about him being out of his mind etc. I mean, seriously, that was a personal attack and that is far more unprofessional than anything he may have said. If they are going to fire him for what he said, they need to be consistant and fire all their employees who state their opinions that one can claim are ‘unprofessional’. I would love to see objectivity in the news but let’s be real here. It doesn’t exist. What he said might not be the most agreeable comment but it was his honest opinion and he was being real. If NPR were actually striving for genuine objectivity, your comment might hold more weight but the truth is that they have been a blatant voice of politiacal opinion for a long time.
I’m not sure Muslims in garb is the right way to say it…Muslim garb maybe? But not sure.
No, I don’t think he should have been fired.
@killyouwith_happiness - orly? how does one get that? (i’m not saying you are wrong, just that the is the same type of claim as saying slander isn’t okay, and i’m curious)
Honestly, I would probably get goosebumps… not because rational me worries or is concerned but because of how they portray people on television and in the media. Whether or not I like it, I think that part of me is conditioned negatively to those sorts of things. I wouldn’t let it affect me or my plane trip and I wouldn’t make a fuss of it. It’s the same thing if I see a big huge guy towering over me at night. Media tells me to be afraid and so a bit of me shivers no matter how irrational it might be. Just thought I’d be honest here.
no. but it was a stupid remark to make in his position in that moment.
But it’s weird. I wonder if people would be afraid of me if I wore a hijab. That’s weird. Gee, how extremely sad.
And it’s just. I guess I am biased because people so close to me are muslim. They are just like everyone else *shrug*.
So i guess…everyone is biased, really. I am biased because I see my loved ones as just…people, and therefore Muslims are just Muslims who are people like Christians are Christians who are people like business men are business men who are people like teachers are teachers who are people like atheists are atheists who are also people; etc. Some other people are biased because they are brainwashed by our media.
Just made a post about this earlier. It was recommended to be published at Politicish and it should be up anytime soon.
Here’s the thing. he said what A LOT of other people are afraid to say in public. He’s on TV and said what is on a lot of people’s mind.
The problem is that this is HIS opinion. When he went on Fox News as NPR’s Senior Political Analyst, he’s representing NPR. They have rules like this in many companies. You have to go through red tape before you can even represent your company and talk in public about anything. Also, this isn’t the first time he’s been in a controversy. Him being fired is a three-strikes-you’re-out kind of deal.
Obviously, this irrational fear came about because of 9/11. The irony is that those terrorist weren’t even wearing Muslim garbs or the like. They tried to blend in with society as much as possible, even going as far as eating pork and shaving their beard and body hair. We would actually be much safer from someone wearing a Muslim garb. If there is another terrorist attack, the perpetrators will try to blend in as much as possible.
Someone needs to remind Williams that terrorists will blend in, wear business suits. – totally agree!
@Made2sing4Jesus - If it was another journalist and said this: “I see black people wearing baggy pants, or dressed in a weird way, and I think to myself, ‘they are identifying themselves, first and foremost, as gangbangers,’ I get worried. I get nervous…” it’s Michael Richards and Don Imus all over again.
And he’s a Senior Political Analyst. He knows better. As a public company, his job in NPR is to report facts and steer clear from punditry.
Juan can still go on about his Muslim anxiety as much as he wants, just not on NPR’s radio show or representing them.
As to voice my opinion on this post, I dont think the guy should
of been fired, becasue come on, dont people say those kind of things
now adays? if they are not saying it the are deffinetly thinking it,
why fire someone for saying it, when they hold that opinion within them
selves already?
if humanitarian rights arent there to protect Muslims when
they are subject to wars and removal from their lands and homes, when
countries are destroyed so the American army can recieve proper
training, and holywood can make movies and vidoe games,
then why the hell should the first amendment be brought up when
some poor bastard is only talking about how hes afraid to get on a
plane with Muslims?
The rules are always cherry-picked and used when wanted and not applied where applicable.
@rafi09 - thats true, Muslims arent the only ones with blood on their hands i guess you can find that justified because American hands are also soiled with blood of innocent iraqi and Afghani civillians as well.
@SKANLYN - TRUE. Muslims are peace loving people with
absolutely no track record of crashing, blowing-up, or attempting to
blow-up commercial airliners let me remind you, the whole world population of Mulsims was not involved or does not support the 9/11 attacks, so dont blame the whole of the Mulsim world for what happend in Ground Zero, when it was the doing of a group. who i as a Muslim do not even consider them to be Muslims, since THEIR ACTIONS WERE TOTALLY AGAINST THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM.
WhenHateIsTheOnlyOption - lol, thats so funny!
@zionlover - i
think they fired him because they found it offensive, but in general, i
feel that even when people are not saying it they are thinking it, so
whats the difference?
@WhenHateIsTheOnlyOption -
educate?? its to late to educate anyone on Islam, it seems to me that
america’s raceists just needed another race/religion to hate on, obviously,
theyre over hating blacks, …..and i dont think this guys apololy could be close to
genuine.
@SKANLYN - nearly every terrorist is a Muslim and those who aren’t terrorist rarely speak out against the actions of those who are.
nearly every muslim is a terrorist? really? youve had the chance to meet with nearly every Muslim in the world to confirm that comment? NO
and those who arent rarely speak out against the actions of those who are.?
then why do i always croak like a frog everytime the words Muslim and terrorist are put togather in one sentence?
then why do tons of other muslims that i know speak out? and not rarely frequently.
you think you know it all, but you dont, clearly.
and yes one should never forget all the Iraqi children who died as a result of the UN sanctions after Desert Storm.
and yes maybe you’ed be plenty nervous if found yourself on an airplane full of shaggy-bearded, turban heads. maybe becase you have their blood on their hands no??? becasue thats the only logical reason i find in your statement.
@grammarboy - @Daniella_Aalyiah_Li - im so jealous of you two, i always have wanted to learn greek, turkish, and arabic, but i dont have the time!!
@Ironstove -
why can’t he say how he feels
I think you all should see the entire transcript.
upon the context, i agree with most of what you all wrote. but if you read/watch the entire vid/transcript, you’ll realize what Juan Williams really meant.
No. It’s true. Even I sometimes get nervous. It happens.
Na that’s silly. What kind of suicide bomber is gonna come dressed the part. He should be worried about someone in a majority attire.
he got fired for saying something on a different show? i mean if that’s how he feels then that’s too bad… but people listen to him for his opinions.. i don’t think he meant any racism or harm.. (although the comment itself is racist)..
i find him very close minded and ignorant.. but i don’t think he should lose his job for that.. i mean if he’s been doing a good job then iono… at the same time i don’t feel like he should be praised for his actions neither.. so meh
Well I’m Muslim and haven’t flown anywhere yet since reverting four years ago. So no I wouldn’t be scared about flying with other Muslims. His employer has every right to fire him if they deemed his comment inappropriate. Doesn’t matter if he was on another televsion show or not, as a journalist you are required to relate the FACTS, not your personal opinions on the subject.
I agree with @Ricardo98 - ”Someone needs to remind Williams that terrorists will blend in, wear business suits.” Dude obviously didn’t think that completely through before he spoke…but I’m not so sure that he should be terminated for it. Everyone is entitled to their own [ignorant] opinion. If all companies started firing employees based on that alone, well…I think we’d be hearing crickets chirp around here. …or a lot more chaos, since damned near everyone of us would find ourselves unemployed and with nothing better to do than to troll all day until Bright House or ComCast cut us off for non-payment. Just sayin’…
Poor dude, thats one hell of an opinion..
America is way too sensitized. He should not of been fired.
No…it is called “freedom of speech.”
hes not wrong. most people are. hes just sayin it!
Clearly Juan has been a closet conservative all along. He obviously forgot that only some types of speech are protected, and honest speech isn’t one of them.
Tell the truth… loose your job. This is how we create a society of liars and cowards who can’t say what they really think.
Thats as rediculous as saying that all people with blonde hair have an IQ of 150 or above! No one is the same, they all have different views, beliefs and levels of activity, hopes and dreams…
Sarah Marketing Consultant – Sillitoe Business Solutions Bedford
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As far as I know, he made that comment on his own, on his own time, and not in any official capacity of NPR. NPR should just state publicly that it does not agree with the sentiment in that statement but shouldn’t fire him. I don’t want to see a society where we can be fired for what we say or do outside our job as individuals. Fascism can occur without the government if employers administer the same fascist principles.
I hate stereotyping as much as anyone. But we’ve become so PC in this country everyone is afraid to speak their mind. Its ridiculous to fire him over this. I have Muslim friends, but I have to admit, it does make me think twice when I get on a plane and see the clothes. I was stuck overseas working when 9/11 hit. Talk about a scary flight home. You could cut the tension with a knife.
@rafi09 - It is my understanding that Juan made these comments in an interview with Bill O’Reilly on his program on another network. It was not meant to reflect anything on NPR, and they over-reacted. Shame on them for censoring an honest expression of gut feelings.
One should have respect for religious differences, but you will not have the same gut reaction to someone like you as to someone who looks different from you, and exposure to one another is the best antiseptic to those raw, distrustful feelings.
(@JosephParsons - I like the way you stated it. Cool!)
@jazbajunoon - He was fired because NPR caved into pressure from CAIR, which is a front for terrorists. In any case, you’re right. Whether we say something perceived to be offensive or just think it, it is a violation of free speech to be punished for it.
@shawntelmetz - He is allowed to say how he feels, but he must suffer the consequences because he was on the job when he said it.
I do not think NPR should have fired Juan Williams. When you read his remarks in context, you can see he is against discriminating against Muslims. Knowing NPR’s pre-existing bias, however, I think it was unwise of Williams to have made his remark. NPR obviously seized on it to get rid of him!
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=771879
dumb less worthy __ with little responsibilities, haven’t gone through much hardship, have the majority of the things going right in their lives need to speak the truths—- they cheat those who are better than them. why should these people lose out on opportunities just because they fool around all the time? RECTIFY ALL THE WRONGS you know society is better with those that truly deserve better things in life. yeah, i also hate the vietnamese dumb hos who need to stop copying and speak the truths about their betters. they are not as smart or valuable or as good as those people.
@ShimmerBodyCream - LOL
@Ironstove - Okay, first of all, yes, he was giving his opinion. Bill O’Reilly was interviewing him, so that was kind of the point. Second, muslims are the reason we had 9/11, so, naturally, a lot people are going to be nervous. (Muslim ”extremists”, my bad.) I don’t think he deserved to be fired, but I think he’s better off without NPR.
That pisses me off. I hate people like that. However, he has freedom of speech. He shouldn’t be fired, just looked down upon, haha.
SO I can understand that fear. Men and women in traditional garb are NOT screened more than those in just jeans and a t shirt. For one thing the women can be fully covered and NEVER have to remove that covering. How do you even know its a woman? They can wear layers and I have to take of my hooded sweatshirt. What can be hidden in there that a simple metal detector won’t catch? And they don’t have to pat you down unless they feel some need to.
@ ohletitbe
punjabis are a type of people, Punjab is an area in India, so the people who originate from there are called PUNJABIS.
muslims head scarves are called hijabs, which only cover the hair, and burkas that cover everything except the eyes.
get your facts straight.
He was just being honest….its up to the employer really, but if i was his boss i would want to talk to him about why he felt like that and perhaps have a segment where people from different views came and and discussed the issue with him and some muslims.
I think the national hyper-sensitivity could use just a bit more juice, huh? (note the sarcasm)
Cripes – people need to calm down.
For starters, in his official position and at his place of employment, the comment was unprofessional. In a nation as diverse as ours (and that claims to be so tolerant), a public announcer should be aware enough of the rich diversity of this country to be able to keep an opinion so biased to himself. What makes free speech so wonderful is knowing how to employ it’s use diplomatically and appropriately, not offensively and in a manner that will alienate an essential portion of the population that’s already dealing with Islamophobia at every turn.
Additionally, what’s the problem with someone choosing to identify themselves first and foremost by their religion, in this case as a Muslim? If I’m wearing a cross around my neck and sit next to an atheist, will that person automatically be offended and fear that I might try to convert them? On the contrary, what about a Palestinian Muslim who has to be seated next to a Jewish man wearing a Kippah (traditional Jewish hat) or a Jewish woman wearing the Star of David around their neck?How about a U.S. raised Muslim who has had to endure Islamophobic stereotypes their whole life being seated next to a Southern Baptist? That wold be rather uncomfortable in many cases…Chances our, a Muslim in that situation would be heavily criticized for saying they felt uncomfortable sitting next to a Jew or an outspoken Christian, despite the ongoing conflict over Palestine-Israel and the way Muslims have been ridiculed post- 9/11.
Essentially, consider this:
Would you be okay with a Muslim making the same comment about a Christian or a Jew on NPR? If not, why would you make an exception for Juan Williams? Perhaps you should reconsider your own double standards.
Best response to Mr. Williams: http://muslimswearingthings.tumblr.com/
Freedom of speech. And if you actually listened to the whole speech, he was *defending* Muslims. He got a raise by Fox so, who cares. NPR obviously isn’t good enough to get money unless it’s from taxes anyways.
@WithHeart - best site ever. I loved it. and you make an amazing point, if it was a muslim man or woman who made a comment about a jew or chrsitian they would be fired, fined, and probably taken to court for anti-semitism and whatnot.
i approve your post!
My brother in-law is Muslim, he is the coolest person I know but, I told him if he looks at me wrong I will kill him just on principal alone. lol
No
its called breach of contract by his mentioning the NPR gig he did. Plain and simple.
Hell, I get nervous when I see a person dressed in hijab or whatever on a plane. It’s not because I hate Muslims, it’s a justified fear response.
It wasn’t very smart of him to say go out and say that on TV though. What made him think NPR wouldn’t fire him for saying that? It’s a sensitive issue.
Personally, I do not think Juan Williams should have been fired. There is a place for commentary in the media. Comments made from stupidity shouldn’t be punished by a firing or any similar response, but rather by merely unceasingly ridiculing the comments that were made.
However, it seems to be NPR policy not to publicly endorse any sort of political message. They are so worried about endorsements that NPR employees can’t even go to the Stewart-Colbert rally because it may be construed as showing support for a political agenda. Commentary scares the hell out of NPR. That is why Juan Williams was fired.
Again, I do not agree with his firing, but it logically follows from NPR policy.
If he is afraid of getting on a plane with a muslem dressed in their “garb”…he is afraid. It is an honest statement. On the other hand. making the statement on public radio in the manor in which the statement was formed…yes, he should be disciplined at the very least and possibly fired. What he is doing is racially profiling people that didn’t have a darn thing to do with 9-11. Also he made the statement about their stating they were muslem (by getting on the plane in “garb”) hahaha…I think I would be more afraid of someone that was trying to hide thier ethnicity. It was a stupid statement to begin with.
No, because at least he’s brave enough to admit it. I bet you at least one of the people involved in the decision to fire him feels the same way.
@OhItWontBeForever - Tell me about it. I get scared every time I see you on a plane! =P
@renise01 - That’s actually not true at all. I wear a hijaab (head scarf) but the rest of my clothing is American/western. And every time I go to the airport, no matter where I am, in whatever state or western country, I ALWAYS get “randomly selected” for special screening. Not only does this include me going through the metal detectors (which, by the way, aren’t weak at all) many times, but also involves a thorough pat down.
And honestly, this would happen to every person who would even seem suspicious. Whether they wear hijaab or don’t, whether they have a beard or an Ididntshavefortwodays scruff. People are “randomly selected” for this type of “treatment” (and often worse, which many times includes long questioning sessions that often cause the one being questioned to miss their flight) based on the smallest of things, whether triggered by a person’s name or by the color of their skin, or their clothing.
@syedanoor - I find it interesting when Muslims say they always get “randomly selected.” I never have done.
And I’m sure that has to do with me stealing your snacks.
@OhItWontBeForever - You never have done what?
@syedanoor - I’ve never been selected.
@OhItWontBeForever - I guess laws are different there then?
It has become almost protocol for me whenever I fly a plane. As it is for everyone else that wears the hijaab, looks Middle Eastern/South Asian, has a beard or a “suspicious” name that I have known, especially in the U.S.
@syedanoor - That’s probably it, because it’s only American Muslims I see saying that.
@OhItWontBeForever - It happens in the US the most, but it isn’t uncommon in other western countries, either. I know someone kept for four hours in questioning (poor guy is in his 70s) at Heathrow. He ended up missing his flight and the next flight he did catch was a few days later.
@syedanoor - Sure. It’s just not happened to me.
@OhItWontBeForever - Well I guess you’re one of the lucky ones then. Right? =)
@syedanoor - For sure, alhamdulillah. I’m glad I’ve never been through that.
For repeatedly and blatantly skewing the line between opinion and news, most every commentator on FOX news should be fired. But pawning opinion as FACTS is the hallmark of right wing conservative journalism, and therefore, instead of joining the ranks of unemployment now, Juan has now been offered a $2 million deal to continue mouthing off for the entertainment of religious zealots and war-mongering extremists that frequent FOX. I watch that network to know what NOT to believe in.
Listen to NPR, let the facts swirl around in your heads, and formulate your own opinions.
Never let any “news outlet” tell you what you should believe in.
Juan’s firing is not controversial, it is justice. He has been pushing the limits professional journalism for quite some time, according to more reliable news sources.
No because personal opinions not given in an official capacity are freedoms guaranteed under the 1st amendment, just like whomever said Meg Whitman is a whore from Jerry Brown’s campaign shouldn’t get fired. Perhaps a lesson in etiquette but not fired.
I feel very uncomfortaqble because I know that all these TOWEL heads have one goal in mind ….To blow the rest us up or force us to convert to becoming a MUSLIM and force the women to be rule by SHERA law. I’d DIE FIRST. So yes I feel uncomfortable
@ghchiu - Keep drinking the Kool-aid dude. I think all you wet backs should go home. When we want a socialistic communized option we will call you in Mexico
@randomneuralfirings - thank you!
@ohletitbe - it is NOT called a punjabi.
for a bunch of terrorists muslims are a bunch of pussies. Seriously, censorship is getting so fucking out of hand now-a-days.
@ghchiu - don’t you ever sleep? ^_*