NPR, no thought crimes.

[Phier]

Lets say you get on an aircraft, say its a 747, and three men all sit down in the row behind you dressed like this....



Now, most thinking people would be wary. Pretty much anyone flying does a once over on the plane these days looking for obvious threats, its human nature. Several years ago while flying with Muslim colleagues THEY did the same thing, and were amused and disturbed that while they got on the plane without being searched, the hot blond in front of us in line was.

But if you work for NPR, even if you go out of your way to say Muslims are not responsible for the extreme elements, DON'T talk about it, because, well thats just not how they roll.

NPR has fired veteran analyst Juan Williams over remarks he made about Muslims on the Fox News Channel program, "The O’Reilly Factor."
The national radio network said in a statement Wednesday that the remarks, in which Williams said he gets nervous flying with people in Muslim garb, were “inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”
Williams’ dismissal followed comments on the Fox News prime time show, where he also serves as an analyst.
During the show, O’Reilly asked Williams to comment on the idea that the United States was facing a “Muslim dilemma.” It followed a controversy over O’Reilly’s own appearance on the afternoon show, The View,’ where two hosts walked out after he said that “Muslims killed us on 9/11.”
His argument, which moderator Whoopi Goldberg declared to be "bull----," inspired both Goldberg and co-host Joy Behar to leave their own set.
On Monday, Williams said he concurred with O’Reilly about the threats faced by the United States.
He added, "Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the 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."

He also said, amid a heated debate with O'Reilly, that people shouldn’t blame Muslims for “extremists,” same as Christians couldn’t be blamed for the Oklahoma City bombing. O'Reilly, for his part, said he refused to qualify everything he said about Muslims.
Criticism and support
In a statement Wednesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said such commentary from a journalist about other racial, ethnic or religious minority groups would not be tolerated.
"NPR should address the fact that one of its news analysts seems to believe that all airline passengers who are perceived to be Muslim can legitimately be viewed as security threats," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said.
NPR, which receives most of its funding from listener-supported member stations, has been uncomfortable for some time with Williams’ role on Fox. After he became a regular on the mostly conservative network, NPR asked that he no longer be identified as an NPR correspondent.
The radio network, in a news story on the site, reported that Williams said he wasn't ready to comment on his dismissal and was conferring with his wife.
Williams was previously a longtime reporter, columnist and editorial writer at The Washington Post. He has written extensively on the Civil Rights movement, including a book on the African American religious experience and a biography on Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Conservative bloggers defended Williams on Thursday, blasting NPR's decision.
"All Juan Williams did is say both exactly how he feels and how many, many other Americans feel on this subject," wrote Erick Erickson on his " Red State" blog. "The man's body of work makes clear he is no bigot. But we sure can't offend Muslims can we?"

The racist in question....

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39774756

I would say this sort of stifling of opinion is disturbing, but its all to common to really be disturbed by it. Dissenting views will not be tolerated by the left.

[magickyleo101]

That's really too bad; I always thought Williams was a pretty good journalist. I also don't think his comment here was necessarily an endorsement of his reaction, so much as a candid admission that we all feel things we wish we didn't from time to time.

That said, I do think the Sean Hanity type shows can get pretty overboard when it comes to Muslims. It reminds me of the conspiracy theories about Jews that were popular in the early 20th century, and it's actually pretty disgusting. So Williams shouldn't have punished in this particular case, but I do think O’Reilly and his ilk are probably genuine bigots.

[Last Roman]

Dissenting views will not be tolerated by the left.

Ah yes, "The Left", some monolithic entity determined to stifle all that is good and righteous in the world.


I seem to remember someone posting this:

This just in, people have different political opinions, even in the same party, News at 11.

hmmm, I just can't quite remember who wrote it...

[removeduser_487563287433]

If I sat next to three men that looked like incompetently linked images I would be truly concerned, Phier, I cannot deny.

[43rdFoot]

If I sat next to three men that looked like incompetently linked images I would be truly concerned, Phier, I cannot deny.

I lol'd hard. Very, very hard.


Actually, not really, but that was amusing.

One doesn't fear the left, you pity like any other person with a mental illness.

This, right here, is everything that is wrong with American politics. It isn't an argument of reason. It's an appeal to the 7 year old in all of us, who has nothing more responsible to say but "you're a poopy head".

Honestly, it's pathetic. You would think a grown person could at least come to grips with the idea that there are multiple viewpoints and solutions to the same problems.

[Phier]

This, right here, is everything that is wrong with American politics. It isn't an argument of reason. It's an appeal to the 7 year old in all of us, who has nothing more responsible to say but "you're a poopy head".

Honestly, it's pathetic. You would think a grown person could at least come to grips with the idea that there are multiple viewpoints and solutions to the same problems.

The best thing about the left is they seem to utterly lack a sense of humor about themselves. I think its part of the unfortunate condition they are afflicted with. Luckily with time and real life experiences, most grow out of this phase, but sadly for some, its a life long affliction.

[Hotspur]

That's unfortunate, because I think a lot of people think exactly the same thing. In fact, I'll go so far as to say most Americans think exactly the same thing. It's simply the times we live in and if someone gets on an airplane wearing a galabiyya, the tension level on that airplane will go up. He shouldn't have been fired for stating an obvious truth, no matter how uncomfortable that truth may be.

[Oldgamer]

Phier, you beat me to it, this morning!

NPR's actions have nothing to do with Muslims. They are just the excuse. NPR has wanted to get rid of Williams and Mara Liassion for ages, because they regularly appear on Fox News as the liberal balance of various segments.

Pure, unadulterated political correctness tripe, which is what you would expect from NPR.

The truly interesting thing is that ... about three years ago ... Williams implied that someone was a bigot because they said they would cross the street, rather than walk by a number of black teenagers (who commit most of the violent crime in America). As Mr. Spock would say, "Fascinating."

[mrmouth]

If I saw these hypothetical guys on a plane and bothered to think twice, it would inevitably end with me coming to the conclusion that anyone who was dressed like that isn't in a great position to have snuck anything on a plane to begin with.

[Phier]

Thats the funny thing about Fox, if you are a leftist on the network, the other leftists treat you like a French whore sleeping with the Nazi's.

In Juan's case, karma can be a though

[Armenum]

First of all having Muslims be specifically singled out and searched over others is just blatantly bigoted, and quite disgusting.

There was once an incident when the plane made an emergency landing because some people got nervous when some Orthodox Jews began praying and thought they wanted to do some terrorist attack

----
First of all, a terrorist won't board a plane in a turban or religious clothes (they are not that stupid), on the contrary they will try to blend in as much as possible, so a jacket, tie, shaved, nice haircut, you know the businessman type. I believe this was the case for the terrorists who hijacked the plane on 9/11. So thus you should be less nervous if you see a Muslim in religious clothes, or turban, etc.

And this is all if your a right winger who worships Fox News. The more sensible person doesn't get nervous around Muslims because it's truly ridiculous and ignorant to associate every Muslim with terrorism. Why not get nervous around non-Muslim white people? You know how many serial killers and maniacs have been white males? This guy who said that comment truly doesn't understand the first thing when it comes to terrorism or Muslims. He's just an idiot talking to another idiot on a icshow on a idiotic network.

[xcorps]

I always enjoy the debates with Juan Williams. He's actually willing to criticize Obama.

Good on NPR though, it proves what a bunch of libtards they are.

[Heinz Guderian]

This man said:

"Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the 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."
Lets try it out with others:

"Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I go to a cashpoint, I got to tell you, if I see people who are Black wearing Tommy Hilfiger and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Blacks, I get worried. I get nervous."

Or

"Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I take my dogs to the vet's, I got to tell you, if I see people who are Korean and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Koreans, I get worried. I get nervous."

Or

"Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I go to a kindergarten, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Catholic garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Catholics, I get worried. I get nervous."

Or

"Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I go to a money-lender, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Jewish garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Jews, I get worried. I get nervous."

[removeduser_487563287433]

I felt so nervous when the Pope wore that hat. It made me shepherd the children away.

[Jingles]

Phier's posting formula continues as usual then?

1. Post article about one event involving an unwise decision concerning a select few individuals. Possibly involving Obama or Islam as a general theme. Or both.

2. Pin all the blame on The Left™

3. ???

4. Profit!

[motiv-8]

Ahhh.. The Left. One day I'm going to find this guy Lefty and give him a giant punch in the nuts, for the brilliance and weight of Phier's arguments have convinced me that he is such a douche.

[Claudius Gothicus]

Where's this so called ''Left''?

[Heinz Guderian]

Where's this so called ''Left''?

a place that is inhabited by people who think the world is older than 8,000 years. First mentioned by Plato. It was said to be a technologically and philosophically advanced civilisation. Scientists to this day have yet to positively identify it. "Rightists" believe it was destroyed by God for turning their backs on Him. Leftists were the ones that planted dinosaur bones to test our faith.

[lawngnome]

Nevermind Phier's fear of the left, the real tragedy is that U.S. taxpayers support NPR. It's utterly ridiculous and funding should be pulled with next year's budget. Juan Williams is one of those guys that it really is hard to hate - NPR has done itself a great disservice. Williams is one of the few prominent commentators that straddles the line between the monolithic left and the monolithic right, and this is his reward.

I read somewhere else that other comments of his were "strikes one and two" so to speak, but the comments cited seemed even more innocuous than this one. Seems like NPR was just looking for a reason to fire a guy tied to Fox News, to be honest.

I wouldn't give a damn if I wasn't paying taxes to support this organization... but I am... so I'm pissed.

[Phier]

Nevermind Phier's fear of the left

One doesn't fear the left, you pity like any other person with a mental illness.

, the real tragedy is that U.S. taxpayers support NPR. It's utterly ridiculous and funding should be pulled with next year's budget. Juan Williams is one of those guys that it really is hard to hate - NPR has done itself a great disservice. Williams is one of the few prominent commentators that straddles the line between the monolithic left and the monolithic right, and this is his reward.

I read somewhere else that other comments of his were "strikes one and two" so to speak, but the comments cited seemed even more innocuous than this one. Seems like NPR was just looking for a reason to fire a guy tied to Fox News, to be honest.

I wouldn't give a damn if I wasn't paying taxes to support this organization... but I am... so I'm pissed.

Its going half way to air-America territory as it is with the Soro's donation and other left wing donors, but it would also be a bit sad to see it completely go because they do cover some topics which you won't find typically on the radio.