National Public Radio is Not "Tolerant"

I have to admit I was wondering what to blog about today when the topic of this particular post was handed to me by National Public Radio. The national organization fired a ten-year veteran reporter/contributor for his terrible and bigoted remarks he made concerning Muslims. This newsman, Juan Williams, has a long record of civil rights commentary and activism. As far as his politics, he would certainly be perceived as being to the "left" of moderate and conservative thinking. I believe this left-leaning is more or less prerequisite to employment as an NPR reporter, and certainly necessary for someone, such as Mr. Williams, to move up the ladder within NPR radio. Yet for one single comment Mr. Williams was fired with no opportunity to either recant or to "clarify" his statement and possibly save his job.

Ironically, National Public Radio is of course one of the loudest voices in the media for "tolerance" and for freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Obviously NPR is very hypocritical both in their application of "tolerance" and their application of freedom of speech as concerns their employees. You may say the national organization of National Public Radio is not a "government agency," but I say NPR would be out of business immediately the government ceased its support. But I will play nice; let's concede that the NPR is not a per se government agency, and as such, is not bound to guaranty freedom of speech to its employees, as the Constitution binds the "government," not individuals. In other words, the government cannot legally interfere with a person's freedom of speech; however, businesses do not have to guarantee freedom of speech, and in fact, may fire an employee who speaks contrary to what the business would have that employee to say. So, NPR was certainly within its rights and authority to fire Mr. Williams. But it certainly flies in the face of NPR's constant railing and ranting that Americans need to be "tolerant" and that Americans should be free to say what they like without fear. In reality, if an NPR reporter says something that shows "intolerance," that person is subject to swift and extreme discipline.

Well, what did Juan Williams say that caused such a furor, that branded him a bigot, a racist, and dare I say (Dare! Dare!) intolerant! Here, readers, as that terrible statement:

"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've 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."

There is the vilifying statement in its entirety. Juan Williams, unlike many Americans, was willing to tell the truth, to tell his beliefs and fears as an American who must fly the airlines in post-911 America. He voiced what many Americans think, what many Americans believe, and what many Americans are afraid to say out loud for fear of reprisal, as illustrated by Mr. Williams' situation.

I commend Juan Williams for his courage in expressing his fears. National Public Radio should be ashamed of their actions, but of course, the firing of Juan Williams for speaking his mind and telling what he truly believes is perfectly in line with NPR's hypocrisy of demanding that Americans (read anyone of non-Middle Eastern or other third world descent or nationality - and yes, I will say it, particularly conservative Americans) be "tolerant" of almost ANYTHING except traditional values and constitutional government.