Posted on 10/25/2010 8:48:31 PM PDT by flowerplough
Question: Curious: Had Juan said something to the effect that he's aware that some people cross the street when they see a group of Black people walking along, I don't think he would have been fired. In this case, he's speaking of a stereotype that sadly resonates in 2010.
On the other hand, was Williams simply being honest? Does it make him a bigot instantly for his feelings on being on a plane with Muslims?
Answer:
... I think Vivian Schiller has a real problem: In the eyes of the public, the press has moved on from this concept of "objectivity" in the mainstream press. No human being can be objective, and in the overwhelming majority of content created, "journalism" has only had the veneer of objectivism, not the substance of it. In addition, the line between "news" and "entertainment" is gone in the minds of almost all consumers. Indeed, the majority of NPR's content isn't objective.
What's objective about Michel Martin's show? Or Diane Rehm? I think both women are very fair, but they're not objective—and I wouldn't listen to almost every one of their shows if they were (love those podcasts). Further, what's completely objective about The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal? Not much, but I read both. I even subscribe to the website of the bloated provocateur-propagandist, Rush Limbaugh.
The process of diversity management is to stop "objectifying" people and start viewing them as individuals. I don't think Juan Williams should have been fired. Perhaps he is a bigot (don't know him well enough to decide), but what he said is certainly bigoted and ignorant. I think he certainly needs to get to know some of the world's 1.57 billion Muslim people.
But here's the thing: NPR knew Williams was a rising star at FOX News—and you go to FOX for what? Enlightened dialogue? Reasonable discourse? Intelligent conversation? Please. Feeding fearful people more stuff to scare them and whipping up xenophobia is their trade. Williams' comments about Muslims fit right in.
If NPR's CEO said "Juan Williams has persistent problems, he's alienating our core audience, he doesn't reflect our values and we just don't have a place for him anymore," she would have been on more solid ground.
Given her comments, I don't think he should have been fired. Is he a bigot? Time will tell.
"...I even subscribe to the website of the bloated provocateur-propagandist, Rush Limbaugh.
The process of diversity management is to stop "objectifying" people..."
and
"Williams was a rising star at FOX News—and you go to FOX for what? Enlightened dialogue? Reasonable discourse? Intelligent conversation? Please. Feeding fearful people more stuff to scare them and whipping up xenophobia is their trade. "
He’s not a bigot, he’s a spigot. Like all these talking heads, he talks too much!
I watched him on O’Reilly tonight. He’s not a bigot but he sure is pissed! I don’t blame him.
Only against conservatives.
He’s a typical white person.
If NPR was a private funded enterprise then those reasons could be justified. Since they receive money from the government it doesn’t matter if their audience disliked him associating with the enemy.
You mean, like Rich Whitey?
A bigot is “one obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his own opinions or prejudices.”
In view of this, a reasonable consideration would have to allow that anyone might have prejudices, and that Juan Williams was confessing to one of his, as he saw it, and was very far from “obstinately or intolerantly” adhering to it.
That any admitted taint of prejudice would cause one to be pilloried as a bigot should serve notice to all of the Inquisition that we have fallen under.
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