Juan Williams is the latest in a series of journalists who've aired their prejudices and been fired for it. NPR terminated the news commentator after he admitted to Bill O'Reilly on Fox News that fellow airline travelers in Muslim robes and headwear make him "nervous."
Not long ago, Rick Sanchez railed against Jews for holding back his career, and Helen Thomas said Jews should get out of Palestine. Sanchez was fired and Thomas resigned.
Coverage of these events has brought up the question of political correctness. Did these people deserve the fallout generated by their remarks, or are we just being too damn sensitive?
Consider this: Juan Williams is black. I wonder how he would have received a comment by Bill O'Reilly that it makes him nervous to pull up to a stoplight at night with a crowd of black teenagers congregating on the corner. Maybe other people feel the same way, but that doesn't change the fact that such a fear is based on prejudice. What have the teens done, other than be black and out at night? Likewise, Muslim airline passengers have done nothing besides wear the prescribed garb and buy a plane ticket.
Williams explained that it bothers him when people are "identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims." Really? Lots of people identify themselves first and foremost as Christians, and a great deal of cruelty and crime have been perpetrated in the name of Christianity. That doesn't mean Christians should inspire fear and loathing.
Likewise, many religions call for adherents to wear certain garments: Mormons, Orthodox Jews, Sikhs. A turban is not akin to a red or blue bandanna.
What's evident from these statements by Williams, Sanchez, and Thomas is not that Muslims or Jews are a threat, but that people are scared and angry. That fear and anger are fed by journalists like these who "share their personality and opinion" to attract viewers, which ironically resulted in their own ousting.
It's not a matter of political correctness in journalism. It's a matter of prejudice among humanity.
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Comments 13
Although it seemed from seeing the whole episode that Williams was revealing his personal fears, but still advocated for not letting us be overcome by those prejudicial fears. So my question is -- is that a firing offense?
I don't know. I'm no journalist. That said, Williams' statement is relatively tame compared to what many others have said (and who weren't fired for it).
I don't know anything about Williams' history as a journalist, but I can say this: when it comes to the news, I like my journalism unbiased and without commentary. Obviously people are people and we all come to the table with our opinions, but one reason I listen to so much NPR is because I trust that the people who are reporting the news are not pushing an agenda. So to go on Bill O'Reilly is, by it's very nature, asking for trouble. Clearly Bill isn't just looking for someone to come on his show and clear up some "facts" for him.
"Consider this: Juan Williams is black. I wonder how he would have received a comment by Bill O'Reilly that it makes him nervous to pull up to a stoplight at night with a crowd of black teenagers congregating on the corner. Maybe other people feel the same way, but that doesn't change the fact that such a fear is based on prejudice."
I believe the President described his grandmother in a similar fashion. Or is it different because he was speaking for his deceased grandmother?
Actually, I bristled at his assertion that she was a "typical white person" for feeling that way. The assumptions go both ways, don't they?
Political Correctness is rapidly taking the place of common sense in our society. Consider this: As women, we USED to rely on our instincts to tell us to stay away from a situation or a person. You know that creepy feeling at the back of your neck, that tickle in your gut, that says, "don't go there"? We USED to listen. Now, we confront it, and say, "no, you're wrong, that person isn't bad, he's just black/white/little green martian, ignoring the fact that he's looking at you in a creepy way, and that he's been following you for the last half mile. He's probably just going next door to where I am."
No, I'm sorry. THAT reaction is wrong, and the first one is correct. Look at the recent history of our country. On 9/11, Muslim Terrorists killed 3,000 Americans of all races, creeds, whatever. Prior to that, the Muslim Community in the Middle East declared war on America. It's been happening for YEARS (even before that - USS Cole, the first attack on the WTC), and we choose to be "PC" and say, "Oh, they're nice people, it's only a few." Ok, fine. I agree with that - it's only a few. But those "few" have big guns, are training in military camps, and have targeted us. More than once, they have boarded an airplane, dressed in full robe, in a group, praying and muttering together, and caused trouble. There's that tickle at the back of my neck.
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