Quote:
Originally Posted by Tokai
The funnies thing is, all the opponent of the firing are crying free speech. The fact is, free speech (1st amendment) has nothing to do with it. Freedom of speech that is guaranteed by 1st amendment is only from government. Corporate can fire their employee because of it, and in fact, only a few days ago a journalist was fired for saying she has respect for certain Hamas leader. There are hundreds of example like that.
Muslims need an anti-teabagger movement soon or it will be too late.
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but NPR receives gov funding...hence on that basis, neo-con islamophobes have a point.
where they don't have a point is in hypocracy. i highly doubt Juan Williams has ever seen anyone in "muslim garb" on the same plane as him. ok fine, maybe he has.
now what if i had said that if i saw juan williams sitting next to me on the plane, i would be afraid to leave my seat and use the toilet because he might steal my ipod, given that about 30 of the people of his ethnic background are in the US prison system?
the problem is not in what Williams said, or what he fears. everyone has every right to fear something, even if its ridiculous or a sign of mental illness. insanity is not a crime, nor is genuine fear, however baseless.
what is at stake is Williams' intentions, his audience, and the effect both induced and intended that is achieved.
Juan Willaims is scared of muslims or people who dress like muslims. is that news? no. is that relevant to policy? no. does that information have any benefit for the american public or government? nope.
does it possibly incite bigotry and fan the flames of hatred? yubetcha!
thats why its wrong, and thats why he deserved not only a firing but a firm kick to his Uncle Tom hiney (and yes anyone who is a black conservative is an "uncle tom" no different than a Jewish Nazi or a Muslim member of the BJP).
but he just got a $2 million contract from FOX News, so he's laughing last all the way to bank.