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Posted By Stephen M. Walt
Thursday, October 21, 2010 - 3:22 PM
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By now you've undoubtedly heard that NPR has fired commentator Juan Williams, for making a bigoted statement about Muslims on Fox News yesterday. William thus becomes the latest in a series of prominent media figures being canned for saying something offensive.
The first was CNN's Octavia Nasr, who was canned for tweeting some words that conveyed a certain degree of respect for an Islamic cleric associated with Hezbollah. Next came Helen Thomas, who lost her job when she was caught on video saying that Jews should "get out of Palestine and go back to Europe." Next came CNN's Rick Sanchez, who made some stupid and offensive remarks about Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, along with some equally ill-chosen words about the privileged position of Jews in America today.
And now there's Williams, who in the midst of a discussion of Muslims in America told Bill O'Reilly:
"I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."
I suspect Williams was being honest -- if unwisely -- and I'll bet he's not the only non-Muslim who's had similar thoughts. That doesn't justify what he said in the slightest, however, and I'm glad that his statement was promptly and broadly condemned.
But frankly, this whole business is getting ridiculous. With the exception of Nasr, whose brief tweet was in fact not offensive when properly understood, I think all of these people should be ashamed and embarrassed by what they said. But I wouldn't have fired any of them, particularly if they had been willing to make a prompt and heartfelt apology. None of us is perfect, and anybody who talks for a living is bound to say a few things that they might immediately regret.
And the problem is now snowballing, because if you fire a few people for saying something offensive about one group, then people in other groups will immediately (and correctly) accuse you of a double-standard if you don't mete out a similar punishment when someone says something equally foolish about them. That's precisely what happened to Williams: because Nasr, Thomas, and Sanchez got canned, the only way NPR could avoid accusations of a double-standard was by dumping him.
This hair-trigger sensitivity, which demands that stupid or ill-advised statements are grounds for immediate dismissal, will only encourage commentators to say less and less about important or controversial subjects, lest they mis-speak on some occasion or otherwise become the targets of an organized campaign of intimidation.
And notice where this sort of sensitivity is not taking root. As near as I can tell, Rush Limbaugh's employer isn't contemplating firing him for his numerous hateful remarks, and you don't see Fox News censuring Bill O'Reilly for the inflammatory remarks he recently uttered on The View. If this sort of thing keeps up, conservative commentators will be free to demonize whomever they want, while everyone else is busily walking on eggshells. (Update: in a move that should surprise no one, and confirms the basic point of this paragraph FoxNews has given Juan Williams a brand-new three-year contract.)
Postscript: Some readers may think there is an inconsistency between this post and my earlier criticisms of Harvard's decisions to honor Martin Peretz despite his own racist remarks ("Muslim life is cheap" etc.) on his blog. Not so. For one thing, Peretz's remark was not an isolated incident or a case of ill-chosen words; it was merely the latest in long series of similar statements. Second, Peretz's supposed apology was minimal at best, and he defended his claim about Muslim life as a matter of fact, not opinion. Finally, nobody was talking about firing Peretz; the question was whether Harvard ought to valorize him by accepting a $650,000 gift in his name. For the record, I don't think Harvard should name a scholarship fund after Thomas, Sanchez, or Williams either.
"will only encourage commentators to say less and less about important or controversial subjects, lest they mis-speak on some occasion or otherwise become the targets of an organized campaign of intimidation. "
that would be a win for Israel and it's worshipers. The sensitivity argument.
So no one will speak of Israel's apartheid system for fear that their career will be erased.
None of the other comments that I read offended me particularly.
Helen Thomas' "they should go back to Poland" struck me as uniquely undemocratic. The vast majority of Israelis have lived there for now 3 generations or more.
It is home.
"Helen Thomas' "they should go back to Poland" struck me as uniquely undemocratic. The vast majority of Israelis have lived there for now 3 generations or more."
The vast majority of the Palestinians Israel displaced and drove from their homes lived there many more generations than that, but then again Benjamin Franklin did say that democracy is 2 wolves and a sheep arguing over what's for lunch.
Democracy is a present phenomena
To say that only those that formerly lived in the land, but NOT those that currently live in the land deserve civil rights, is to renounce democracy and rule of law, not to affirm it.
The current status of Palestinians in Israel and occupied Palestine, is the basis of reasonable solidarity with Palestinian human rights.
It is also the basis though of support for settlers' relative rights, not to be dispossessed, but to seek other legal remedies and clarification of status of sovereignty.
If your commitment is to democracy, and to apply it in fact, then you would endorse the rights of all parties.
Both expansionist Zionism and much of the nationalist ideology that underlies much of Palestinian resistance presentations, are violations of current democracy.
Remedy for prior wrongs is only a portion of what human rights entails. Mature law recognizes rights and voice in court of all parties, friend and foe.
Agree with Richard (and Steve)
With Richard - Helen Thomas' statement was the most egregious of the lot by far. I think it is bigoted and offensive for more reasons than Richard says.
With Steve - Of them all, Nasr's remarks alone were not out of line and she has nothing to apologize for.
Two more comments:
One, I can't help but notice that of the four incidents, three involving offense to Jews and one to Muslims, only one he denounces as bigoted. The others are "stupid", "offensive", or "shameful", but not bigoted. It would be nice to to see Steve call out anti-Semitic comments as anti-Semitic, if he really believes that. As it stands, he appears to be calling out the others for offending people, but there is a wide gulf between being inconsiderate and being racist.
Two, nobody has made the distinction between people reporting the news vs. commentators. Not saying that this would or should have made a difference in any of these cases, but the considerations about where the line is probably different depending on role.
"To say that only those that formerly lived in the land, but NOT those that currently live in the land deserve civil rights, is to renounce democracy and rule of law, not to affirm it."
Then surely the reverse situation, which you are clearly defending, is also a renouncement of democracy?
"The current status of Palestinians in Israel and occupied Palestine, is the basis of reasonable solidarity with Palestinian human rights."
Are you for real? Israel is an apartheid, racist state that demotes
Palestinians in Israel and occupied Palestine to 3rd class status.
You must have been a big cannot apartheid South Africa and racial segregation.
"It is also the basis though of support for settlers' relative rights, not to be dispossessed, but to seek other legal remedies and clarification of status of sovereignty."
Since when so thieves have relative rights. Since when do thieves have thieves rights not to be dispossessed of stolen property?
"If your commitment is to democracy, and to apply it in fact, then you would endorse the rights of all parties."
Democracy is founded in law and justice. Those who violate the law give up those rights...at least in democratic societies.
"Both expansionist Zionism and much of the nationalist ideology that underlies much of Palestinian resistance presentations, are violations of current democracy."
Resistance to occupation is recognized by international law, whereas Zionist colonialism is a violation of it.
"Remedy for prior wrongs is only a portion of what human rights entails."
An indispensable portion.
"Mature law recognizes rights and voice in court of all parties, friend and foe."
What is mature law?
Keep your eye on the prize.
Equal due process under the law, in which EVERY party has the right to present their case.
In this and every present.
Since when have both sides been allowed to present their case under law in Israel, let alone the ocupied territories?
It seems you have an imaginary Israel in the recesses of your imagintion, not the real one? When was the last time you wisited Israel or even read a news paper?
Other ppl's land? So what? Battlefield victories have consequences - just ask Konigsberg, Danzig or Cyprus
Fox News: Where you can bash Islam with impunity
Recent anti-Muslim remarks follow long history of intolerance on Fox and from Fox personalities
O'Reilly: "Muslims killed us on 9-11." During an appearance on the October 14 edition of ABC's The View, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly was asked by co-host Whoopi Goldberg why building an Islamic cultural center near ground zero was "inappropriate." O'Reilly responded: "Because Muslims killed us on 9-11." The remark prompted Goldberg and co-host Joy Behar to walk off the set. O'Reilly later said, "If anybody felt I was demeaning all Muslims, I apologize." Appearing on Fox News' Glenn Beck later that day, O'Reilly claimed that "every opinion poll in the Muslim world" shows that "most Muslims don't believe 9-11 was even committed by Al Qaeda." Following the controversy over O'Reilly's View remarks, Fox News hosts and commentators rushed to his defense.
Brian Kilmeade: "[A]ll terrorists are Muslims." On the October 15 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, Brian Kilmeade defended O'Reilly's View comments by claiming the show's hosts "were outraged that somebody was saying there's a reason -- there was a certain group of people that attacked us on 9-11. It wasn't just one person. It was one religion. Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims." Kilmeade later repeated the false claim that "every terrorist is a Muslim" on his radio show. He also asked if "Americans have a right to look at moderate Muslims and say, 'Show me you're not one of them,' " referring to terrorists. On October 18, Kilmeade said: "I misspoke. I don't believe all terrorists are Muslims. I'm sorry about that, if I offended ... or hurt anybody's feelings. But that's it." He also revised his remarks on the October 18 edition of his radio show.
O'Reilly: "[T]here is a Muslim problem in the world." On the October 18 edition of his Fox News program, O'Reilly stated that "folks are fed up with politically correct nonsense. There's no question there is a Muslim problem in the world" and "most Americans well understand the danger coming out of the Muslim world." His on-screen text read: "The Muslim Dilemma." The next day, O'Reilly repeated the claim that there is "a Muslim problem in the world."
O'Reilly: "Our liberal media" are "buying into the genteel Islam." On the October 5 edition of his Fox News show, O'Reilly said that "our liberal media ... now are buying into the genteel Islam. You saw that with the mosque controversy. See, they now are taking the European media approach -- 'Oh, wait a minute. You have to give peace a chance. You can't be stirring up trouble because they're Muslim people. You have to give them what they want.' "
Fox News figures baselessly claimed Islamic center would be a "command center for terrorism." On the September 7 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, co-host Bill Hemmer said of the Park51 Islamic center, "It could also be the first stop for a radical jihadist who comes to America who wants to go pray." On the August 18 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News contributor Dick Morris said of Park51: "These Sharia mosques ... have become the command centers for terrorism," adding, "So this one would be, too." The next day, Morris made similar remarks on Fox & Friends; during the show, Fox Business host Eric Bolling also claimed that Park51 "may be a meeting place for some of the scariest minds -- some of the biggest terrorist minds." Kilmeade later said of Park51: "The next Hamburg cell could be right downtown."
Peter Johnson Jr.: New York Muslims should "give up their rights" in order to be "good neighbors." Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. stated on the August 20 edition of Fox & Friends that the issue of the Park51 Islamic center is "about neighbors becoming good neighbors." He added: "Any American can assert a right. Great Americans give up their rights to help those they share nothing else with but a love of this country." On September 3, Johnson repeated that those building the Islamic center should "give up their First Amendment rights."
Beck asked: "[A]fter you've killed 3,000 people, you're going to now build your mosque?" On his August 18 radio show, Glenn Beck said of Park51: "You look for things that are uniting, and I'm sorry, but the Cordoba Project is not uniting. If you wanted to unite people, you don't spit in their face. You don't spit in their face. On the 10th anniversary, after you've killed 3,000 people, you're going to now build your mosque on -- there, really?" Beck has repeatedly falsely claimed that Park51 was scheduled to open on September 11, 2011. He has also referred to the Islamic center as "the 9-11 mosque" and has wondered if it is "a possibility" that Park51's location is about "inoculation."
Fox hosted Walid Shoebat, who previously called Islam "the devil." On August 18, Fox & Friends hosted Walid Shoebat, a born-again Christian who dubiously claims to be a former PLO militant and who has reportedly called Islam "the devil." Shoebat has also asked: "If Islam is not playing the major role in Antichrist spirit, why do you think the devil wants to appoint somebody connected to Islam in the White House?" During his Fox appearance, Shoebat claimed Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Muslim leader spearheading the Park51 project, expresses his "support for terrorism" in the Arabic press but pretends to support peace when speaking to Americans. Two Islamic studies experts told Media Matters that Shoebat's claim was false. Fox News also hosted Shoebat to attack the Islamic center on August 23 and August 27, according to Nexis.
Gingrich compared Islamic center to "Nazis" putting a "sign next to the Holocaust museum." On the August 16 edition of Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich said: "Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the Holocaust museum in Washington. We would never accept the Japanese putting up a site next to Pearl Harbor. There's no reason for us to accept a mosque next to the World Trade Center."
Fox News guests opposing Islamic center outnumber supporters 35 to 11. An August 13 Media Matters review of Fox News' evening coverage of the planned building of an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero found that, since May, the shows have hosted at least 47 guests to discuss the project, nearly 75 percent of whom opposed the center.
Fox repeatedly hosted anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist Pam Geller. Fox News repeatedly hosted Atlas Shrugs blogger Pam Geller to discuss the controversy over Park51 despite the fact that she has made outrageous statements about President Obama and Islam and has pushed false conspiracy theories. On the August 11 edition of Fox & Friends, Geller compared building the Islamic cultural center near ground zero to building a Ku Klux Klan "shrine" near a black church in Alabama.
Kilmeade asked if the "Islamic community" is "gloating" by building Park51 near Ground Zero. On May 26, Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade said: "Six-hundred feet from World Tower 1, World Trade Center 1 stood -- is this gloating on the part of the Islamic community?" Guest Andrew McCarthy said that this was "Islamist supremacism" and that "well-meaning people would understand that this is an affront to common sense." Kilmeade had previously described the Islamic center plans as "an outrage" and accused Muslims of "taunting" 9-11 victims. Geller has a long history of making outrageous accusations and getting the facts wrong.
Fox News figures defended Franklin Graham after Pentagon rescinded invitation due to his anti-Muslim rhetoric. Following the 9-11 attacks, evangelist Franklin Graham said: "We're not attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us. ... The God of Islam is not the same God. He's not the son of God of the Christian or Judeo-Christian faith. It's a different God, and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion." During an interview with The Washington Post's Sally Quinn, Graham said that he "never backed down from" his controversial comments that Islam is a "very evil and wicked religion." He added: "True Islam cannot be practiced in this country, OK? It cannot. If you were my wife, I can beat you, OK, because you didn't want to have sex with me or whatever."
When the Pentagon rescinded Graham's invitation to speak on the National Day of Prayer, numerous Fox News figures came to his defense, and Fox & Friends hosted Graham to respond. During the show, Graham urged Muslims to convert to Christianity and said: "I want them to know that they don't have to die in a car bomb; they don't have to die in some kind of holy war to be accepted by God, but it's through faith in Jesus Christ and Christ alone."
Fox News' Crowder: "The truth is that Muslims tend to be more violent than Christians." In discussing the Army's decision to rescind Graham's invitation to speak on the National Day of Prayer, Fox News contributor Steven Crowder declared: "The truth is that Muslims tend to be more violent than Christians."
Fox hosted Michael Graham, who previously called Islam "a terrorist organization." To comment on Franklin Graham and the controversy over his attacks on Islam, America's Newsroom hosted conservative radio host Michael Graham despite the fact that he was reportedly fired by WMAL-AM "after he refused to soften his description of Islam as 'a terrorist organization' on the air." The Washington Post reported on August 23, 2005: "According to WMAL, Graham said 'Islam is a terrorist organization' 23 times on his July 25 program. On the same show, he also said repeatedly that 'moderate Muslims are those who only want to kill Jews' and that 'the problem is not extremism. The problem is Islam.' "
Fox & Friends baselessly suggested two Muslim scholars are "terrorists." On March 30, Fox & Friends baselessly suggested that Muslim scholars Tariq Ramadan and Adam Habib -- who were both denied entry into the United States under the Bush administration but had the ban lifted by the Obama administration -- are "terrorists." However, both have denied engaging in terrorist activity, neither was ever charged with any crime, and media accounts have noted that they "were denied admittance after making statements counter to U.S. foreign policy." Co-host Steve Doocy said: "President Bush banned these two guys from the United States because of alleged ties to terror, but Hillary Clinton invited them back and now they're speaking to college kids about their life story. What's that about?" An on-screen graphic included the text: "Terrorist to Lecture?"
Coulter: "If all Muslims would boycott airlines, we could dispense with airport security altogether." On the March 25 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, frequent Fox News guest Ann Coulter claimed that "if all Muslims would boycott airlines, we could dispense with airport security altogether." Coulter defended her position on racial profiling by saying "it's insane, when you have limited resources, to be searching every single person at airport security."
McInerney: "If you are an 18- to 28-year-old Muslim man, then you should be strip-searched." On the January 2 edition of America's News HQ, Fox News contributor retired Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney said that "we have to use profiling. And I mean be very serious and harsh about the profiling. If you are an 18- to 28-year-old Muslim man, then you should be strip-searched. And if we don't do that, there's a very high probability we're going to lose an airliner." After host Julie Banderas noted that profiling would be "essentially singling out people because of a religious group," McInerney responded, "If that age group doesn't like it, then what are they doing to stop this jihad against the West?"
Kilmeade: Muslims "have to understand" being profiled because of "the war that was declared on us." On the November 10, 2009, edition of Fox & Friends, Kilmeade said to Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham: "You get a chance to talk to a lot of Islamic experts, and Muslim experts, and people who understand the Quran, and I asked him one time, off camera, I said, 'How do you feel about the extra scrutiny, clearly, you're getting at the airports?' And he said, 'I'm all for it, because I want to get home to my family, too.' And that's really got to be the attitude. So, if you're Islamic, or you're Muslim and you're in the military, you have to understand."
Peters: "I am sick of hearing that Islam is a religion of peace. ... I haven't seen a lot of Southern Baptist suicide bombers." On the September 10, 2009, edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly claimed that "the elite liberal media in America does not want to continue to whip up anti-Islamic fascism sentiment." Fox News contributor Ralph Peters responded: "No, they'd rather whip up anti-Israeli sentiment." Peters added: "I am sick of hearing that Islam -- well, Islam is a religion of peace. Well, if Islam is a religion of peace, fine, start acting peacefully. But I haven't seen a lot of Southern Baptist suicide bombers lately, and I will not stand for moral relativism. 9-11 wasn't our fault -- it was fanatics who attacked our country because they hate what we stand for."
Peters on Fort Hood shooting: "It's clear that the problem is Islam." On the November 10, 2009, edition of The O'Reilly Factor, Peters criticized Obama's remarks on the Fort Hood shooting, in which Obama called the act "incomprehensible," saying: "No, it wasn't hard to comprehend and it's not now. It was the act of an Islamist terrorist" who "believed he was doing the will of Allah in accordance with the Quran. Not hard to understand -- the evidence is there." Peters concluded: "It's clear that the problem is Islam." Peters also alleged that the shooter was a "protected species" who was "running around in his little Islamist suit."
Fox hosts, guest blame Fort Hood shooting on "political correctness," call for "special debriefings" of American Muslims. Right-wing media figures used the shooting at Fort Hood as an excuse to attack Islam and American Muslims, in particular. Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin blamed the shooting on "political correctness"; Gretchen Carlson asked: "Could it be that our own military is so politically correct right now ... to be careful about treatment of Muslims that they would have allowed this to go by?" and Kilmeade suggested that "it's time for the military to have special debriefings" for Muslim American soldiers to prevent future attacks.
Doocy: "All of the people who try to blow airliners out of the sky pretty much look alike." On the February 16, 2009, edition of Fox & Friends, former Homeland Security research analyst Michael Hoffman claimed that "if you want to prevent another airline being blown up, you're gonna have to do full-body imaging or full-body patdowns, coupled with profiling. Otherwise, we're going to blow another airline up." Doocy responded: "Every time we go through, my wife and I, go through airport, she gets a full-body patdown ... even though she does not look like what we have presumed the people who want to blow up airlines look like." He added: "Critics argue, when you think about it, for the most part, all the people who try to blow airliners out of the sky pretty much look alike."
Bo Dietl: We have to profile "guys that look like Aba Daba Doo and Aba Daba Dah." On the August 7, 2007, edition of Fox News' Your World, Fox News contributor Richard "Bo" Dietl asserted: "We know there's a war by fundamentalists and terrorists to kill us. So we have to be able to profile. And I'm sorry, if I see two guys that look like Aba Daba Doo and Aba Daba Dah, I'm gonna pull 'em over, and I wanna find out what you're doing." Dietl had previously said that if a Muslim detonated a nuclear bomb in the United States "you think the president of the United States would make a statement if there's another nuclear bomb, we're going to bomb Mecca, we're gonna bomb the most religious places. This is a holy war." He has also said on Fox News that "Muslim Turks" are trying to "overpopulize" Germany.
Hannity suggested Rep. Ellison's use of Quran for swearing-in was like using "Nazi bible" Mein Kampf. On the November 30, 2006, edition of Hannity & Colmes, host Sean Hannity claimed that Rep. Keith Ellison's reported intention to use a copy of the Quran during the ceremonial photo op on the day he was to be sworn in "will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones." He also suggested that using the Quran for a swearing-in is comparable to using "Hitler's Mein Kampf, which is the Nazi bible."
Doocy: "Islam turned violent" and "proved the pope's point" about "Islam and violence." On November 28, 2006, Doocy asserted that when "Islam turned violent" following controversial comments by Pope Benedict XVI's about the religion, it "essentially proved the pope's point." In a speech, Pope Benedict quoted "the erudite Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus," as the pope described him, saying, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Pope Benedict later apologized, saying "he was 'very sorry' about the reaction to his remarks," adding: "In no way did I wish to make my own, the words of the medieval emperor. ... I wished to explain that not religion and violence, but religion and reason, go together."
Beck to Rep. Ellison: "[W]hat I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " On the November 14, 2006, edition of his then-CNN Headline News program, Beck interviewed then-Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, who became the first Muslim ever elected to Congress on November 7, and asked Ellison if he could "have five minutes here where we're just politically incorrect and I play the cards up on the table." After Ellison agreed, Beck said: "I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " Beck added: "I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way."
O'Reilly advocated profiling of all "Muslims between the ages of 16 and 45," but not "racial profiling." On the August 16, 2006, edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly argued extensively for "profiling of Muslims" at airports, saying that detaining all "Muslims between the ages of 16 and 45" for questioning "isn't racial profiling," but "criminal profiling."
Beck: Muslims who have not "lin[ed] up to shoot the bad Muslims in the head" will face dire consequences. On the August 10, 2006, broadcast of his radio program, Beck warned that "[t]he world is on the brink of World War III" and that "Muslims who have sat on your frickin' hands the whole time and have not been marching in the streets" will face dire consequences. Beck directed his comments toward Muslims who he claimed "have not been saying, 'Hey, you know what? There are good Muslims and bad Muslims. We need to be the first ones in the recruitment office lining up to shoot the bad Muslims in the head.' "
Beck presented segment mocking Egyptian students' names. On the August 9, 2006, edition of his CNN Headline News program, Beck aired a segment mocking the names of several missing Egyptian students in which the announcer said that one "may or may not be accompanied by his camel." The segment showed pictures of crowds and pointed to random, unidentifiable people as the missing Egyptians. It ended with a reading of the students' names in quick succession followed by the announcer pretending to gag as he struggled to pronounce them. The announcer then said: "If you know the whereabouts of these men, please call the FBI immediately. If you know how to correctly pronounce their names, well, call us."
Coulter: Islam is "a car-burning cult." In a column commenting on the recent violence linked to the Danish cartoons that satirized the Prophet Muhammad, Coulter suggested that Islam is "a car-burning cult" and wrote that Muslims have "a predilection for violence."
and more .........
Bidhann, please do not write so much it is annoying to read
Instead of being mad about the civil rights and the good name of muslims in America , you should maybe be worried about the status of christians and jews in the muslim world
, so what is your problem with all that you said , it was muslims who commited 9-11, the first attempt to blow up the world trade center, the attack of embassy in Kenya, the bombing of the military barracks in saudi arabia, the marine bombing in beirut, why dont you come out against terrorism and say that it is horrible thing and that muslims from all over the world condem it, why doesn't al jazeera do that.
Islam is violent look at all the imams in Iran, saudi Arabia, Egypt,west bank gaza, Lebanon, yemen, etc say and listen to what they preach, they call upon the death of others and spread hate with gods seal on it. not all muslims are like this of course but when you have more than a billion muslims in the world and even a little precentage that acts and believes in the violence you and us have a big problem.
I bet that if you are a peace loving muslim which i know there are a lot of in the world you must not feel comfortable listening to all this , and to hear all the criticism over islam, but this is the reality, it is upon you and the rest of other peace loving muslims in the world to come out against the violence and the people who spread it just as you come out against Fox news, even harder because there is only one way to deal with terrorists and you guys must cut this cancer which is called radical Islam out and eradicate it .
The problem starts with the imams who encourage violence and it ends with the little terrorist on the ground committing the act, did you ever hear about an imam who blew himself up i never did, not even about their own sons. Why would they do that they will send some other poor asshole to his virgins, radical Islam and Islam are perceived to be the same creature by a lot of people in the world today and it is upon you to change it. It must come from the muslim world yet we have not seen much besides bitching about how bad the west treats you
Walt is being poiltically correct and unwilling to say the truth
Anybody with a little bit of logic will feel less comfortable about flying on a plane with muslims after 9-11 and everyone who say they are not effected are just lying.
fortunately not all muslims are terrorists but unfortunately all terrorists are muslim and nothing the politicaly correct, left , I am gonna suck up to all the minorities to prove how liberal I am Media is going to say will chnage that.
So yes I feel less safe flying with muslims rather than belgians or puerto ricans .
What is going on in the leftie media, Juan Williams is definitely the last person who should be fired for anything like this he is a true defender of all minorities and you guys have just gone mad .
The truth should be told oriely was also right when he said muslims attacked US on 9-11 they definitely were not christian or jewish. Why did whoopy throw a fit?
You guys wanna be like Europe and play the politically correct game be my guest, but look what is going on in europe, do we really want to be like that?
All terrorists are Muslims are they Buddah?
So Timothy McVeigh, Menachem Begin, Yitzak Shamir, the Stern Gang, the Irgun, the IRA etc. were all Muslims and Muslim organizations?
"Anybody with a little bit of logic will feel less comfortable about flying on a plane with muslims after 9-11 and everyone who say they are not effected are just lying."
I fly all the time and don't give a crap who gets on the plane. Frankly, people like Juan Williams represent the new generation of paranoid, cowardly American citizen who is frightened of their own shadows. He represents the mindless and vacuous ideology that drives some red neck in Middle American to cover his home in plastic and duct tape.
I gather you are one of them.
"I am gonna suck up to all the minorities to prove how liberal I am"
Really? So how woudl you feel about Jews being denied entry to the US? Jews are a minority after all, right?
"What is going on in the leftie media"
Leftie media? Juan Williams is the first right wing commentator who has lost his job. Before him, Helen Thomas, Rick Sanchez and Octavia Nasser were fired from your mythical leftie media.
Helen Thomas was a true defender of all minorities. Are you suggesting she should have not been fired?
" but look what is going on in europe, do we really want to be like that?"
What is going on in Europe Buddah? Have you ever been to Europe?
All terrorists are Muslims are they Buddah?
So Timothy McVeigh, Menachem Begin, Yitzak Shamir, the Stern Gang, the Irgun, the IRA etc. were all Muslims and Muslim organizations?
"Anybody with a little bit of logic will feel less comfortable about flying on a plane with muslims after 9-11 and everyone who say they are not effected are just lying."
I fly all the time and don't give a crap who gets on the plane. Frankly, people like Juan Williams represent the new generation of paranoid, cowardly American citizen who is frightened of their own shadows. He represents the mindless and vacuous ideology that drives some red neck in Middle American to cover his home in plastic and duct tape.
I gather you are one of them.
"I am gonna suck up to all the minorities to prove how liberal I am"
Really? So how woudl you feel about Jews being denied entry to the US? Jews are a minority after all, right?
"What is going on in the leftie media"
Leftie media? Juan Williams is the first right wing commentator who has lost his job. Before him, Helen Thomas, Rick Sanchez and Octavia Nasser were fired from your mythical leftie media.
Helen Thomas was a true defender of all minorities. Are you suggesting she should have not been fired?
" but look what is going on in europe, do we really want to be like that?"
What is going on in Europe Buddah? Have you ever been to Europe?
Noeflet yep look at the reality today, all the terrorists are
Muslim, all the ones who have are bad examples and you cannot even compare the way it was in those times. You also have baruch goldhstain don't forget he was a terrorist. so you have a few wacko like mcveighs and goldshtein, and than the Israelis who were in organizations never targeted civilians and their own populations. Ira are terrorists but look how many people died there in the past 10 years.
The problem with muslims is that the terror comes out of the religious institutions, and it is on a scale never seen before, cruel and bloody. Look at how terror became institutionalized by Iran, Hamas, Hizbullah , al qaeda, Look at the wahabi crap that comes out of the house of Saud. Pakistan. Yes timothy mcviegh, and the rest don't do it because god tells them to, and today in the past 10 years give me an example of how many terror acts were committed by westerners, and how many by muslims, and western muslims don't count as westerners. How many people died because of terror committed by muslims and how many by terror commited by others. Ok Sorry 99% of terrorists are muslim, not alll.
If jews were threatning to blow up america and kill as many as possible in the name of god I would definietly make it tougher for them to get in and I would racially profile because it seems stupid to not profile when you know where the danger is coming from.
You fly alll the time? Let me ask you a question, who is more likely statistically to blow themselves up on the plane a muslims or a christians, so maybe you don't care but the facts are the facts. The only cowards here are the ones who don't have the balls to say the truth and those are the left and their followers you can be blind to whatever you want dont ask me to do it.
I think that helen thomas shouldn't have been fired, although her comment was stupid.
Not because she was defending minorities.
Oh yes I have been to Europe and i didn't like what I saw, the people there have to be so Liberal to prove how Liberal they are they are not saying anything about the muslim community that is true and are not adrressing real issues in order to be seen as Enlightened and open, because they don't want to offend anyone.
You don't know your history Buddah
You'e clearly gotr the idea in your head that terrorism is violence perpetrated exclusively by low tech weapons, which explain why you dismiss any other violence as terrorism.
In the last century, the vast majority fo deaths by vioelnce were perpetrated by Western violence. Nothing the Muslism world has conjured up comes close to the carnage of WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Cambodia, Latin America and Iraq.
Indeed, the mas murder inflictd by Israel is more than ten times anything Hamas, Hezbollah or Fatah have been able to achieve. Terro has been institutionalized in Israel and the US, who are undoutedly th e2 most militaristic countries in the world. In fact, they are both pretty much military regimes with a srinkling of democracy.
No one is threatening to l blow up America. Even Bin Laden has offered a truce in return for the US withdrawing it's forces from the Middle East.
Zionist teror gangs were more than prepared to kill Jews to achieve their aims. The attack on the King David Hotel killed Jews. my favorite example of Zionists’ concern for their fellow Jews during WWII is the bombing of the SS Patria in Haifa harbor by Haganah. Apparently these brother’s keepers didn’t like the British plan to send European Jewish refugees to camps in Mauritius for the duration of the war. A couple hundred were killed so the terrorists could make the point that Jewish victims of the Holocaust were better off dead in Eretz Israel, than alive in Mauritius.
The reason Zionist terror ended was becasue it acieved it's goals - to drive out the Palestinian population and the British. Similar exmaples can be found throughout history where terror ended when the grievances were resolved.
It's sad hearing ignroant Americans passing judgement over Europe. right winger still live in a delusional bubble that Ameirca is the shining city on the hill, when in fact, Europe and the rest of the world are looking at the US with pitty and contempt.
The Muslim community in Europe is not a problem for Europeans, just ignorant Americans who know nothing about the place. The attacks in London were not driven by religion but by the anger over Britiains attack on Iraq.
oh so now we are arguing that America and Israel are terror stat
So now it's not that muslim's are not terrorists it is ok because you claim Israel and america are terrorists.
wow bin laden offered truce how nice of him, hopefully he will be killed soon and he will have nothing to offer, the fact that you even say it seriously is a joke, the master terrorists that killed 3000 americans is offering truce gee thanks osama.
Israel and America are attacked by muslim fanatics and they are the terrorists when they defend themselves. Because they have better weapons they are at fault because they are only allowed to kill as many as their side has lost while fighting evil. What did America do to deserve 9-11, why did hamas shoot rockets into Israel, why did hizbullah kill and kidnapp Israeli soldiers.
You must not understand arabic really well if you think no one has threatened to blow up america, you are sympathetic to the terrorists it is pathetic.
The rest of the world is looking at the us with pity? is that why when you ask anyone in the world where would they like to live if they had a choice 99% will pick america, as sad as it is for you america is the best country in the world.
The muslim community is a real blessing they really contribute to Europe , socially, culturally and morally, they are great workers they are no strain on the governments, they don't suck on the government teeet. They respect the western culture, they don't commit any crimes and they are greatful for the hospitallity, they learn the local language and want to become european . All of the sudden for no reason the racist europeans decided to pass laws to limit immigration and try to ban the building of tall mosques , make women not wear certain cloths, oh yeah sorry it is the americans fault again.
It that what they told you in your country, when was the last time you have been to Paris suburbs or to roterdam. Take a walk there at night wearing a cross or a david star.
They attacked because they were mad about Iraq, that is a great reason, I should attack the russian embassy for what they did to georgia . no they attacked because of fanatic Islam , keep defnding them great job
Your idea as to what qualifies as terrorism is based on 2 diminesional stereotypes. Perhapsyou'd feel better about Hamas and Hebollah if they had F16's to do their dirty work rather than misguided and harmless rockets.
It's ironic that you should bring up the 911 attacks, becasue as it turns out, Bin Laden probably got hsi idea from the Sern Gang who threatened to attack London and assassinate British political leaders unless they offered to withdraw British forces from Israel.
A study that investigated all terrorist attacks throughout the last 3 decads concluded than in 95% of all cases, religion had nothing to do with the motivation for the attack. What motivated these terrorists were terirtorial disputes or military occupation, and as it turns out, occupation is one fo those "values" that Israel and the US have in common.
Why did Hamas fire rockets into Israel?
Because after a month ceasefire in whichHamas fired no rockets into Israel, Israel conducted a raid on Gaza killing 6 Plaestinians. Now tell me Buddah, if Hamas had conducted a raid into Tel Aviv and killed 6 Israelis, would Israel have responded? Would you have supported that response?
Israel's supporters often cite that Hamasw has fired 8000 rockets at Israel over the better part fo a decade, yet they all ignore the fact that Israel fired that many shells into Gaza over a 1 year period, beginning the day that Israel "withdrew" from Gaza.
Nice partin gift.
Why did Hezobollah capture the IDF soldiers? Because Israel have captured thousands of Palestinians and Lebanese and have them imprisoned without charge. Of course, the fact that Israel kidnap and kill Palestinians and Lebanese civlians with impunity just goes to demonstrate what a blatant hypocrite you are.
It's OK when Israel does it, right Bubbah?
"You must not understand arabic really well if you think no one has threatened to blow up america, you are sympathetic to the terrorists it is pathetic. "
No I don't understand Arabic Buddah. Do you?
"The rest of the world is looking at the us with pity? is that why when you ask anyone in the world where would they like to live if they had a choice 99% will pick america, as sad as it is for you america is the best country in the world."
Accoring to what poll Buddah? The US has become a basket case and the rest fo the world doesn't even bother to crticize us anymore because they feel sorry for us.
" All of the sudden for no reason the racist europeans decided to pass laws to limit immigration and try to ban the building of tall mosques , make women not wear certain cloths, oh yeah sorry it is the americans fault again. "
You must get your news from the blgo of Marty Peretz. Immigration is an issue in all countries, especially when the economy is in trouble. France just passed laws too drive out Gipsies, not Muslims. Banning the building of TALL mosques? Are you for real? Yes, the right wing French leader wants to ban the burqa, he's been trying to do so for years, and stil can't get it done. Sarkozy is not Europe Buddah.
I was in Paris and Gemrnay last spring. I could have worn the Star of David on my forehead, and had no issue with it because unlike the Israel, religious descrimination is against the law.
Yes, the London bombings were about Iraq. British intelligence has confirmed this. Perhaps you have no prolem with 1 million dead Iraqis, but didn't Israel go to war with Lebanon over the deaths fo 3 Israeli soldiers? According to your own standards, does that not make the Idraeli leaders religious fanatics for doing so? Does that not make you an apologist for extremism?
You see Buddah, you haven't thought any of this through. Your arguments are adolescent and shallow and fall over the minute one reverses the tables. You right wing nuts are so accustomed to getting a pas on your hypocrisy that you lose your marbles as soon as someone points out the how inconsistet you are.
Not interested in Juan Williams "deep" fears about peoples---especially fellow Americans.
Think Tom Brokaw or the late Peter Jennings--both pretty much America's "gold standard".
As far as I am aware there is no such thing as ‘Muslim garb’. If he meant Arab garb, which is a long sleeved, full length garment closed at the neck, and worn with a scarf-like head covering held in place by a circlet of cloth, then his nervousness is totally irrational and if that were grounds for dismissal the airwaves would be silent
However, this selective circumscription of language is Orwellian. It had, I believe, its roots in the Women’s Liberation movement when ‘man’ could no longer be used to mean ‘mankind’, a Chairman became a Chairperson, and God was either female or hermaphrodite, while many words that had no malevolent connotation to their users became offensive to the recently uncorseted. At first it was fairly amusing and one could smile at the circumlocutions devised to accommodate PC. Predictably, perhaps, it is now become a tyranny nurtured in the bosom of its victims. As such, it is possible that NPR simply seized the opportunity of a handful of complainants to fire a man they do not appear to have been overly keen to retain.
So Dr. Walt,
Is saying that jews should be ethnically cleansed entirely of the middle east the same as that you are at times afraid when you board the plane with a religious muslim?
I'm glad you wrote this, because I feel the exact same way. Lord knows I'm a bleeding-heart liberal, but I just can't get behind firing this guy. His quote, in full context:
"But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous. Now, I remember also that when the Times Square bomber was at court, I think this was just last week. He said the war with Muslims, America's war is just beginning, first drop of blood. I don't think there's any way to get away from these facts."
Do I think his statement is stupid? Yes. I'm pretty sure the people who ran planes into buildings on 9/11 were not dressed in "Muslim garb", nor was the Times Square non-bomber walking around in a keffiyeh. But I can understand why many Americans would be fearful of Muslims out of general instinct in these days (and I can also understand why many Muslims would be afraid of non-Muslim Americans, but...) and it's important to talk about that.
It's just like Rick Sanchez. Perhaps instead of gasping and rushing to control the damage whenever anyone says something offensive, people should take a moment to understand where, exactly, those feelings are coming from and why they are so pervasive. Is there an element of truth to them? Are they just symptoms of mass-hysteria? How is anyone supposed to know, if no one's allowed to talk about it?
And you are right to differentiate this from Marty Peretz. Stating that you are afraid of Muslims is offensive and wrong, sure. But discussed in a calm manner and being willing to apologize? I'm okay with that. Stating that Muslims are subhumans whose lives are equivalent to those of feeder mice? Not really okay, under any circumstance.
And to Khalid above, dude, it's 2010. In the modern day, white Christians are not killing an awful lot of white Christians via airplane, as far as I know.
The US had just wasted hundreds fo thousands in Iraq, but that's OK, seeing as they were peopel with brown faces.
In the 80"s the Iran takeover of the US embassy..I was in the airport waiting to fly to Chicago..In walked 5 men I would say were from the Middle East,Iran,couldn't say for sure..But,as we boarded than plane and they sat down in front of me I was worried about what would happen...But,what we need to remember one person doesn't make a group......That was though the longest two hour flight from Chicago to Oklahoma City I ever made....
None of us is perfect, and anybody who talks for a living is bound to say a few things that they might immediately regret.
Steve, here's your chance to come clean...what are the things you have said that you regret?
Not regret as tactical errors in your ongoing crusade against "the Lobby", but things about which you feel badly, or even ashamed.
good article. Sounds rational, almost too rational for people on the right or left to agree on. Political correctness is a fairly disgusting phenomenon. People should essentially be allowed to say whatever they want, if it generates widespread public condemnation, then so be it...don't say it again, or get fired. People need to stop being so sensitive about what is said or written, there is of course a fine line, but it needs to be walked. Grow some thicker skin people, and welcome to the real world, where peoples opinions wont always match up with yours, and sometimes...you might even get offended, so deal with it.
I suspect that Prof. Walt would agree with the statements of Thomas and Sanchez but of course seeing as how they lost their jobs he would never utter those thoughts in public.
I suspect tat you love raping children but of course seeing as how pedophile lose their jobs and become alienated, you would never utter those thoughts in public.
NPR was Fully Within its Rights
Everyone's screaming about Freedom of Speech. This issue has nothing to do with Juan's First Amendment Rights. He is a journalist. When one chooses to be in that field, it's a given that you park your First Amendment Rights at the studio door and pick them back up on the way out.
More than any other news organization in the US, NPR demands objectivity of their Journalists. (Those who claim NPR is left-leaning simply haven't listened.) William's remarks on Fox may have been fine for the context of Fox "News", but in terms of his employment at NPR, he stepped WAY over the line.
NPR was fully in the right for firing Williams, and should do so with any other Journalist who expresses opinions that undermine their Journalistic objectivity, impartiality or equanimity.
America has seemingly forgotten what Journalism means. To clarify, it's NOT about one's feelings or opinions.
"NPR was fully in the right for firing Williams, and should do so with any other Journalist who expresses opinions that undermine their Journalistic objectivity, impartiality or equanimity."
Hmm. Well, Brent, I offer up NPR news correspondent Nina Totenberg and a few of her recent televised utterances:
On the “Inside Washington,” which aired October 17, she told us that Michelle Obama is “an incredibly graceful surrogate” for her husband who gives people “warm and fuzzy” feelings.
On October 10, Totenberg compared the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United, the prominent campaign finance case, to Watergate. Host Gordon Peterson said:
Thanks to the Supreme Court Citizens United ruling earlier this year, 501(c) nonprofits can pump millions of dollars into our elections and they don’t have to tell us where the money is coming from. The best government money can buy, Nina.
Totenberg, who covers the Supreme Court, was not shy about expressing her opinion. “Well, you know, really, this is the next scandal. It’s the scandal in the making. They don’t have to disclose anything. And eventually, this is the kind of thing that led to Watergate.”
The week before, on October 3, she decried Republicans – a “concerted minority” – for holding up business in the Senate and declared that their willingness to exploit antiquated congressional rules was a “loony way to do business.”
Her most partisan comment came when Charles Krauthammer pointed out that 31 Democrats in the House had written to Nancy Pelosi to call for extending the Bush tax cuts, Totenberg wished them out of the party. “When a party actually has a huge majority, it has a huge diversity. And that is part of the problem that Democrats have. But would I like it to be otherwise? Of course.”
On the September 26 show, Totenberg called Bill Clinton “the most gifted politician I’ve ever seen.”
And who could forget this televised 'objective' and 'impartial' invocation:
"I think he ought to be worried about what's going on in the Good Lord's mind," she said of Senator Jesse Helms in 1995, "because if there is retributive justice, he'll get AIDS from a transfusion, or one of his grandchildren will."
Totenberg is still NPR's legal affairs correspondent. Go figure.
You know for a realist who worked in Co-lab with John Mearsheimer (another favorite of mine) on the article "the Israel Lobby" (which is a great little 20 minute read if you've got the time) Im surprised that Mr. Walt wasnt even more critical. Too many people out there are so afraid to say what is either obvious or apparent. If a 300 lb black guy made out of sheer muscle is walking toward you in a thuggish manner and you're a petite little lady who gets nervous because she has previously had displeasing encounters with people of color, its no surprise she may hold her purse a little tighter or avoid eye contact when you walk by. Happens to me all the time, I dont consider it remotely racist or bigoted at all. Just an impression that people have of other people, and getting fired over an opinion, seems a bit over the top. Its really just people sucking up to the higher ups thinking to themselves: "god damnit, they really let loose this time, wish i didnt have to fire them, but lord knows if i dont its my job thats next". Although i personally could care less if there were any muslims on my flight or not. Its not like they spontaneously combust at will and ive never met a muslim I didnt like or get along with. People in the US are just overly-sensitive, but thats just my opinion. The world is much bigger than FOX, MSNBC, CNN or any other media portray it to be.
(ha by the way im not 300 lbs..hah)
Stephen M. Walt is the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University.
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