Comments on: Readers Respond: Is Juan Williams a Bigot?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:20:42 +0000

The remarks made my Mr. Juan Williams are very disheartening and disappoionting, As a commentator and news analyst who supposedly has an impeccable record of struggling for civil rights, he seems to have placed limits on individuals and groups who would fall into this arena. As many others have pointed out, the 9/11 terrorists were not addressed in “Muslim garb” but in blue jeans, tee-shirts and other kinds of Western clothing. Therefore, no one knew they were terrorists until they committed their heinous acts. If Mr. Williams entered an elevator and a white woman who was already there reacted with discomfort or fear because he is a black man, or if he were outside his house cutting his lawn and a driver mistook him for the yardman or janitor, he would be highly offended. So why is he prejudiced towards others because of they way they dress? NPR was justified in firing him because he abandoned the principles and high standards of objective news reporting to which they adhere. And for the sake of those who think that there is no such thing as objectivity in news reporting, I would ask them to go back and view some of the footage of such admirable journalists and reporters like Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Bernard Shaw, Chet Huntley, and David Brinkley. They represented the best in the profession and in their generation.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:38:16 +0000

One person remarked they were surprised a person of color would make such a remark. Why? He is human and he has fears and opinions. I felt he expressed himself in a forum where he was allowed to be open. He did not say this on his program. I am a white woman. I was leaving the mall today and there was a group of white teenagers loitering near the exit. They were wearing hoodies and they were loud and cursing. I was frightened and I walked way out of my way to leave another exit. If I had to label them, I was afraid of these punks. It does not mean all teens are bad. Groups of anything can intimidate anyone.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:52:54 +0000

Nobody realy reads whole articles anymore. They wait from someone on the outside to tell them what they just read. That sonmeone outside usually has another adgenda and spins what you supposedly read the way they want.
America read the whole article.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:13:06 +0000

I agree with juans statements, I feel the same way, terrorist are everywhere, in this country folk should dress the WAY AMERICANS DRESS, when we go to other countries in the middle east we are not allowed to do certain things, Todays world has become to politically correct, makes no sense, i would deport certain people also, i’m tired of waiting to be blow up.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:39:25 +0000

Cultural perspectives play a key role in the different takes given to Juan William’s comments. The U.S. mainstream cultural position is to view feelings as having an action-oriented implication–namely, that if an individual feels a certain way, it suggests that he or she will also act in ways that are consistent with those feelings. The African American cultural position is to see feelings as having its own domain, and not on any action oriented continuum per se. This difference has a direct bearing on the extent to which each group assesses potentiality, or bias, and, as ultimately applied to Williams, his ability to do his job effectively. For a further discussion of how these cultural differences play out in other venues, such as Supreme Court decisions. see my recent blog on talkingculturaldiversity.com.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:37:33 +0000

Mr. Williams did not condemn a race – Muslims are not a race, they are a diverse group of individuals from around the world who believe in, adhere to or practice Islam. His remarks were bigoted – not racist. A bigot is one who sees those not like himself as “other”; be it culture, religion, color of skin, economic status, social status or any other category that puts human beings in boxes by definition. His comment was the manifestation of common fear in America. Americans always need an enemy. We seem to be incapable of doing anything that is for the pece and welfar of human beings. There is a way to change that but you would have to first believe in the goodness of others as well as ones self…something American’s are not very astute at practicing.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:32:45 +0000

I don’t know if Juan Williams is a bigot or not, but I do know a cop-out statement when I hear one. Luke Visconti says that objectivity in news is not possible as rationale for his argument. This is a “straw man” argument. No one in journalism has ever made the credible claim in that objectivity is possible… what they have always said is that journalists should “strive” for as much objectivity as possible. This is an obligation they owe their audience. This has been the canon of journalists since Edward R. Murrow. Regardless of Williams’ true positions on race, he violated that canon; on apparently more than one occasion. NPR was absolutely correct in disciplining him. Since I don’t know enough about his previous infractions I cannot say if firing was justified. But he and Luke Visconti are clearly in the wrong on this one.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:51:30 +0000

To the poster above who said s/he was scared and relieved to see Muslims in Muslim garb not on his flight, let me remind you of this: the 9/11 hijackers were all dressed in “Western” clothing. Not one was wearing Muslim garb. Wearing Muslim garb does not make one a terrorist, nor is it a terrorist symbol, any more than a Christian cross on a person’s neck makes her a right-wing bigot, a priest’s outfit a child molester, a Jewish yarmulke an armed extremist-settler.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:38:02 +0000

The question is no if he is a bigot. That is a black and white question in most cases. The questions is was he irresponsible in his response, considering the role he as in the media.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:14:56 +0000

At least Mr. Williams was honest (something very much missing from modern media discourse!). NPR’s loss, and Fox News’ gain!