GinandTonic
Saphire w/ Schweps + Lime
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NPR fires Juan Williams.
- Thread starter Whiskey_Lord
- Start date
Miles Teg
Nuclear Powered Mentat
Mobby, I'm glad to see that your views about the morality of firing people over their personal opinions/comments have grown since the Helen Thomas case. 
SomethingWitty
Prince
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It's inflammatory and bigoted. It's like saying you're afraid of sitting next to black people on the bus.
SomethingWitty
Prince
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I work w/ about 5 of them. In fact, every Muslim I know is a decent, reasonable person.
Seriously? Do you think the 9/11 bombers were in full Middle Eastern garb (whatever you might think that is) or western attire?
Actually the naivete (to put it nicely) belongs to the person who doesn't understand the statistical unlikeliness that a random obvious Muslim is going to blow them up w/ some kind of underwear bomb.
civver_764
Deity
It isn't anymore legitimate than being afraid a black man might rape your white daughter.
Holycannoli
Deity
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All the muslims I know, which admittedly isn't many even though a few miles away is a "Little Baghdad", are decent folk.
That doesn't mean I would not have a moment of concern if I saw one on my plane dressed in muslim clothing, clearly identifying themselves as such, just as Juan Williams said. A great many americans feel the same way even if they know that most likely nothing is wrong (but then again I bet the passengers on 9/11 thought nothing was wrong too).
That's the reality of today. I wish it weren't so but there's a reason that that fear exists today, when it didn't really exist 15+ years ago. It's a group with a specific ethnicity that did this, and that's one reason they're trying to recruit non-middle easterners now.
It's going to take a long time for that fear to subside. It's almost a subconscious reaction. It doesn't last but it's still there for a moment. I'm sure a black person might get a momentary feeling of fear if he walked into a country bar in the deep south with confederate battle flags on the walls. That fear is deep inside us.
That doesn't mean I would not have a moment of concern if I saw one on my plane dressed in muslim clothing, clearly identifying themselves as such, just as Juan Williams said. A great many americans feel the same way even if they know that most likely nothing is wrong (but then again I bet the passengers on 9/11 thought nothing was wrong too).
That's the reality of today. I wish it weren't so but there's a reason that that fear exists today, when it didn't really exist 15+ years ago. It's a group with a specific ethnicity that did this, and that's one reason they're trying to recruit non-middle easterners now.
It's going to take a long time for that fear to subside. It's almost a subconscious reaction. It doesn't last but it's still there for a moment. I'm sure a black person might get a momentary feeling of fear if he walked into a country bar in the deep south with confederate battle flags on the walls. That fear is deep inside us.
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Actually, I am pretty sure they were all blue eyed and blond and spoke english without an accent, right?
Mobby, I'm glad to see that your views about the morality of firing people over their personal opinions/comments have grown since the Helen Thomas case.
I like this guy more than I liked Helen Thomas.....but even she admitted she should have known better....
Holycannoli
Deity
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That's a poor analogy, unless there was an organization of almost entirely black men that continually planned to rape white girls, and succeeded quite well in the past.
Come up with a good analogy if you want to convince people that being momentarily concerned about a muslim in muslim clothing on your plane is wrong. None of this "it's the same as being afraid a black man might rape your white daughter, or that that white guy might be a serial killer out to get you". Those analogies don't work on anyone but kids who don't know any better.
Yeah they weren't in muslim clothing. They in fact clearly infiltrated our society and culture in a well-planned and lengthy operation. But we are more likely to have our subconscious fears come to the surface when see someone who looks like Bin Laden than we will a middle easterner in jeans and sneakers. That's what Juan Williams was saying btw. He did mention the way they dressed as a condition of his concern.
Miles Teg
Nuclear Powered Mentat
What is wrong with me? I have never feared anyone that I sat next on a plane. Maybe I need some special training on how to not be so fearless.
Xanikk999
History junkie
No, but, are you telling me you can tell a Muslim from anyone else if they are dressed in a 3 piece suit or button up shirt and jeans? Richard Reid certainly didn't look obviously Muslim (again, WTH that is).
Please tell me what an obvious Muslim is to you.
@HolyC, the fact that Williams was afraid of how they dressed when, as you noted, terrorists generally try to "blend in" in their western attacks further points out the ignorance of that viewpoint.
Holycannoli
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The passengers on 9/11 probably didn't fear anyone either. Certainly the government and the TSA didn't. But I can bet you a good number of the passengers on the other planes in the air around the country on 9/11 might be a bit more fearful these days, even if it's just for a moment.
Xanikk999
History junkie
Only because so many American citizens died that day. We are safer with air security now a days than in the past. In the past there were hijackings and plane crashings so there is no rational reason to be anymore afraid now considering we are safer with the newer regulations.
If anything its just the medias influence the past 9 years hyping up the situation. Not a day goes by on the news without them mentioning the word "terrorists" and "Islam" in the same sentence. Its not as big a deal as people make it out to be.
My understanding (from reading CQ today) was that there was some previous history of NPR being unhappy about William's comments on Fox, readers had written several hundreds letters complaining, and that this was the last straw.
It's a stupid (and a little bigoted) thing to say, but by itself, it shouldn't be enough to lose your job.
It's a stupid (and a little bigoted) thing to say, but by itself, it shouldn't be enough to lose your job.
I have no fear about walking into a government building, even if I see a white guy lurking around. Should I ask for id to see if he is a McTerrorist?
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