NPR news analyst fired for comments made as a guest on O'Reilly Factor

[kval07]

Wondering what thoughts are on this and if anyone actually agrees with what NPR did. Juan Williams, a veteran NPR news analyst, was fired for saying he gets "nervous" when he sees people who are in "Muslim garb" while he was on Fox's O'Reilly Factor.

YouTube - The Words That Got Juan Williams Fired From NPR

Juan Williams: My Words Were 'Not A Bigoted Statement' : The Two-Way : NPR

Williams signs new contract with Fox News - Entertainment - Television - TODAYshow.com

I think this guy got canned for no good reason. NPR's CEO said that "our reporters, our hosts and our news analysts should not be injecting their own views about a controversial issue as part of their story. They should be reporting the story."

Thing is, he wasn't working any kind of story when he was on O'Reilly's show, so I don't get it. The feelings he expressed are not bigotry IMO. What he feels is probably the same thing the vast majority of other Americans feel as well. It doesn't mean your a bigot, it just means that 9/11 has instilled a gut reaction in a lot of people for what perhaps is a very valid reason.

Even worse, I agree with every single comment below!! Even Sarah Palin's!

Meanwhile, reaction continues to pour in:
— It's "total censorship," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-GA, said on Fox News this morning. He called on Congress to investigate.

— Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who now hosts a show on Fox, issued a statement saying "I will no longer accept interview requests from NPR as long as they are going to practice a form of censorship, and since NPR is funded with public funds, it IS a form of censorship. It is time for the taxpayers to start making cuts to federal spending, and I encourage the new Congress to start with NPR."

For the record, here's a link to charts that break down where NPR and its member stations get their money.

— Former Alaska governor, 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and Fox News contributor Sarah Palin tweeted that "NPR defends 1st Amendment Right, but will fire u if u exercise it. Juan Williams: u got taste of Left's hypocrisy,they screwed up firing you."

— As for the liberal side, Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes at The Huffington Postthat if NPR "had the ounce of integrity and fairness that it incessantly brags about (it) should have dumped Williams a long time ago for his equally great offense. And that's his two decade con job as a liberal, civil rights expert and even supporter."

[meggers]

I think it's horrible that he got fired for this. Personally, I would rather someone be straightforward & honest. I believe those that admit their fears have a much better chance of working them out. And those that hear his fears & fit such a profile, have an opportunity to ease them.

I remember being robbed once & it was a black man that did it. I struggled with it for a long time. I had many black male friends, but whenever I saw a black man that even resembled the robber in his clothes, walk, speech...anything, I was suddenly beyond nervous. And I even KNEW it wasn't him. That didn't mean I suddenly hated all black men.

[RockyGap]

No more tax dollars for NPR.Let them sink or swim on thier own.

[meggers]

Hey Rockster! Where ya been hidin?'

[RockyGap]

Not hiding - spring,summer,fall is triathlon season.Been biking,swimming,running - hardly near a computer at all - just a quick peek to see the sales at the various stores.Winter time is coming so I'll be indoors more -more time to be at the computer.

[meggers]

Oh...and here I thought you came back cause you missed us.

[derketchup]

I think they went overboard in firing him, but it's truly concerning that an educated person can make such a blanket statement like that. Everyone who wears Muslim garb is automatically a suspect, eh? I think if someone easily identified as a Muslim makes it through security, you're probably safe.

For the record, I did email him about what he said, because I found it to be irresponsible and bigoted. Freedom of speech works both ways, y'know?

[VANILLAGRRL]

I think they went overboard in firing him, but it's truly concerning that an educated person can make such a blanket statement like that. Everyone who wears Muslim garb is automatically a suspect, eh? I think if someone easily identified as a Muslim makes it through security, you're probably safe.

For the record, I did email him about what he said, because I found it to be irresponsible and bigoted. Freedom of speech works both ways, y'know?

I don't think that is what he said at all. He was describing an honest gut reaction that many people share. After 9/11, it is understandable.

My father is from Pakistan and he was raised Muslim. My grandparents were wonderful, gentle, and kind people. I most definitely do not believe that any and all Muslims are evil. What Juan said has nothing to do with ignorance or intolerance. It is just a natural reaction some people may have due to the very frightening events that unfolded on September 11. I have experienced it myself, despite growing up with many Muslim people in my life who I loved dearly.

My mother is white, so a lot of people don't realize I am half Pakistani. More often than not, people think I am Hispanic. Occasionally someone will ask me if I am Middle Eastern though. That being said, I have been singled out for airport security checks a couple of times. It did not bother me in the least. I was not offended by it, because I understand why my appearance might make someone nervous if they were one of those people who actually thought I looked Pakistani.

There definitely are ignorant people out there though, who take things farther than nerves or concern, and actually have hatred for Muslims and that IS wrong. My brother (who more resembles our father's side of the family than I do) was called a "sand ******" and told to go back where he came from (we were both born right here in the USA) quite a few times after that day. That is ignorance and intolerance, and that is much different than what Mr. Williams did.

For the record, I did think that Bill O'Reilly's comments on The View were irresponsible. He has influence, and he needs to think more critically before he speaks. He made a big mistake by saying "Muslims" rather than "Muslim extremists". There is a big difference between the two. Unfortunately, you can't tell that difference just by seeing someone in an airport.

I haven't been around for awhile, but I figured this would be a good place to jump back in. LOL.

[meggers]

It's startin' to feel like a family reunion around here.

((((((((((Vanilla Girly))))))))))))

[CW&M Mom]

Wondering what thoughts are on this and if anyone actually agrees with what NPR did. Juan Williams, a veteran NPR news analyst, was fired for saying he gets "nervous" when he sees people who are in "Muslim garb" while he was on Fox's O'Reilly Factor.

YouTube - The Words That Got Juan Williams Fired From NPR

Juan Williams: My Words Were 'Not A Bigoted Statement' : The Two-Way : NPR

Williams signs new contract with Fox News - Entertainment - Television - TODAYshow.com

I think this guy got canned for no good reason. NPR's CEO said that "our reporters, our hosts and our news analysts should not be injecting their own views about a controversial issue as part of their story. They should be reporting the story."

Thing is, he wasn't working any kind of story when he was on O'Reilly's show, so I don't get it. The feelings he expressed are not bigotry IMO. What he feels is probably the same thing the vast majority of other Americans feel as well. It doesn't mean your a bigot, it just means that 9/11 has instilled a gut reaction in a lot of people for what perhaps is a very valid reason.

Even worse, I agree with every single comment below!! Even Sarah Palin's!

I think we forget too...that people in the public eye like o reilly and well any new station anchor...have crazies they have to deal with....which we don't. So odds are Juan wouldn't care when he see's a muslim walking through the mall...but it puts him on edge there at Fox where he knows they are more vulnerable and more of a "Target" so to speak.

And Sarah Palin did make a good point (and she finally has figured out freedom of speech) that NPR is basically funded by the federal government...so they have a duty to not impede on "Freedom of Speech". If they wanted to write him up for it...I'm fine with it. If they made a statement saying that they disapprove of how he spoke...fine. But firing him...goes too far. He didn't libel anyone....heck he didn't even insult muslims...he was frankly just being honest.

I have no issues with Der doing her part to remind him that not all muslims wanna blow him up. That is exactly the kind of dialogue we want with issues like this.