*UPDATED* O'Reilly blasts NPR for firing Juan Williams - video link included

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"]Expressing your opinion is one thing, but opinions like "people who identify themselves first and foremost as muslims make me worried and nervous" isn't exactly expert political commentary. LJS9502_basic

Even as someone whose career is not related to media presentation, I can still be fired for saying things in a public venue, particularly if those are seen as a liability to my employer. They can be seen as a liability even if they are not related to the functions of my individual job or the overall business of the company.

Whether that's the right way for us to be as a society is another argument. But it's certainly not uncommon in the society we live in right now.

Less generically, I can imagine that this has to do with the image NPR wants to project, though as Xaos said, worse things have been said on NPR.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"]Expressing your opinion is one thing, but opinions like "people who identify themselves first and foremost as muslims make me worried and nervous" isn't exactly expert political commentary. m0zart

Even as someone whose career is not related to media presentation, I can still be fired for saying things in a public venue, particularly if those are seen as a liability to my employer. They can be seen as a liability even if they are not related to the functions of my individual job or the overall business of the company.

Whether that's the right way for us to be as a society is another argument. But it's certainly not uncommon in the society we live in right now.

Less generically, I can imagine that this has to do with the image NPR wants to project, though as Xaos said, worse things have been said on NPR.

Well thank goodness I don't have to check with my employer for having an opinion. Only at work does it matter what is said....LJS9502_basic

Heh, such liberal use of hyperbole. I don't have to "check with my employer forhaving an opinion". They literally don't care what I say in private. But if I go on television, the radio, or give some public speech in which I state something that can be construed as hate speech, then it can become an issue FOR THEM -- with their customers and their bottom-line, and then you can be damn sure it will affect them even more than it will me.

And in that case, they could determine that they are better off without me -- for very good reasons.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Well thank goodness I don't have to check with my employer for having an opinion. Only at work does it matter what is said....m0zart

Heh, such liberal use of hyperbole. I don't have to "check with my employer forhaving an opinion". They literally don't care what I say in private. But if I go on television, the radio, or give some public speech in which I state something that can be construed as hate speech, then it can become an issue FOR THEM -- with their customers and their bottom-line, and then you can be damn sure it will affect them even more than it will me.

And in that case, they could determine that they are better off without me -- for very good reasons.

Not hyperbole at all. I'm just glad what I do off the clock is off the clock.LJS9502_basic

I'm skeptical. Texas is one of the most liberal in allowing you to say what you think without much repercussion. In the absense of many of the usual State regulations, it literally has to affect the company's business contracts and customer base, or violate someFederal law,before they'll take action. Yet it happens precisely because of those two criteria being crossed. If it can happen here, it can happen just about anywhere in the country. Depending on what you said and in what kind of public venue you said it, and ultimately what kind of affect it would have on your employer, I don't believe you'd be any more immune to such a termination. If you went public with something that caused your employer a loss of business or a loss in public image, and they had a chance to do it based on the terms of your employment contract, I don't think you can so easily rule it out as an option they would take.

And this is talking about jobs that have literally nothing to do with media outlets. Media outlets feel the repercussions of such impromptu manifestos than most other businesses do.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Not hyperbole at all. I'm just glad what I do off the clock is off the clock.m0zart

I'm skeptical. Texas is one of the most liberal in allowing you to say what you think without much repercussion. In the absense of many of the usual State regulations, it literally has to affect the company's business contracts and customer base, or violate someFederal law,before they'll take action. Yet it happens precisely because of those two criteria being crossed. If it can happen here, it can happen just about anywhere in the country. Depending on what you said and in what kind of public venue you said it, and ultimately what kind of affect it would have on your employer, I don't believe you'd be any more immune to such a termination. If you went public with something that caused your employer a loss of business or a loss in public image, and they had a chance to do it based on the terms of your employment contract, I don't think you can so easily rule it out as an option they would take.

And this is talking about jobs that have literally nothing to do with media outlets. Media outlets feel the repercussions of such impromptu manifestos than most other businesses do.

I can't do anything about your skepticism Mozart. I can only tell you...it is what it is.LJS9502_basic

Sure you could, though you probably wouldn't do it on a public forum.

I think you've made an assumption :) I don't think you've verified that you could literally do or say anything you wanted to do in public and not lose your position. Whether it's sad to say, or the way it should be, there is no place in this country where one can do that and not put his situation at risk.

So Muslims not only have you get nervous and fear for your life, but they get you fired from your job too. What the hell? :|

So Muslims not only have you get nervous and fear for your life, but they get you fired from your job too. What the hell? :|Hexagon_777

Do you have information that a Moslem actually fired him?

Because I hadn't heard that one yet.

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]So Muslims not only have you get nervous and fear for your life, but they get you fired from your job too. What the hell? :|m0zart

[QUOTE="m0zart"][QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]So Muslims not only have you get nervous and fear for your life, but they get you fired from your job too. What the hell? :|Hexagon_777

I was criticizing their use, not praising it. Why would I get positive about it now?

If however you were being comically sarcastic, you'll have to forgive me for not seeing that :P I don't always get those signals in online forums.

Juan Williams is a joke and an insensitive jerk anyway.

That's not right. Juan is a good dude. I'm more conservative, and I believe he's more of a Democrat, but I like Juan. He's just speaking the truth. Even if it's not something you say out loud and talk about, if you see somebody in a turban or something in an airport, the thought of terrorism pops into EVERYBODY's head, whether they acknowledge it or not.

BMD004

Sorry but no. And you know why? Because the terrorist with a bomb strapped to him isn't going to be wearing a turban. He's going to be dressed in casual western clothes. He's going to try to blend in as much as possible. That's why I don't have a problem sitting next to the guy dressed in traditional Muslim wear.

I really liked him! Fox news is going down the toilet... (actually is already is) ;(YoshiYogurt

I really liked him! Fox news is going down the toilet... (actually is already is) ;(YoshiYogurt

Dunno if you were joking or not, but either way, I love it :P

[QUOTE="YoshiYogurt"]I really liked him! Fox news is going down the toilet... (actually is already is) ;(m0zart

Dunno if you were joking or not, but either way, I love it :P

He got fired because they couldn't handle a real, honest opinion. In this day and age, you supposed to only say what you think others want you to say.

Political Correctness at it's worst.

[quote="Juan Williams"] "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," Williams said. "But when I get on a 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." nocoolnamejim

Should have used the "I have many A-Rab friends but" line.

[quote="Juan Williams"] "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," Williams said. "But when I get on a 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." nocoolnamejim

When I see three black people (or white for that matter) dressed up looking like thugs and kind of shady, I'm going to assume the worst, for my own safety...

That's human nature, and that's how the human brain works. Even Al freakin' Sharpton admitted that he would think the same...

If three guys with shaved heads that look kind of like neo nazis start walking towards a a black guy, I would expect the black guy to avoid them...

I really don't doubt that many people (in general, I'm not thinking of anyone specific) have racist reactions from time to time, including having feelings of unease when on a plane with Muslims. So I don't think Williams was wrong to say this out loud.

But, the problem is he should have expanded further on that statement. Instead of saying, "I'm not racist, BUT," he should have said, "I have these racist feelings and reactions from time to time, and this is an issue I need to address. I need to move beyond having these feelings, because they aren't right."

TreebucketLumi

Everyone gets fired over every little god damned thing.

He does not deserve to lose his job.

How dare he have an opinion that doesn't coincide with his employer! Banish him to the tarpits!!FragStains

He does not deserve to lose his job.

Mercenary848

If his employers felt he was a potential liability then yeah, he does.

He got fired because they couldn't handle a real, honest opinion. In this day and age, you supposed to only say what you think others want you to say.

Political Correctness at it's worst.

p2250

[QUOTE="Mercenary848"]

He does not deserve to lose his job.

worlock77

If his employers felt he was a potential liability then yeah, he does.

He deserves to lose his job if he was. Not if they thought he was.

If you aren't a politically correct ****** bag you will be fired.

Sounds like America to me.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="Mercenary848"]

He does not deserve to lose his job.

SgtKevali

If his employers felt he was a potential liability then yeah, he does.

He deserves to lose his job if he was. Not if they thought he was.

If you're percieved as a liability at your workplace you will be terminated. There's not really any if's, and's, or but's about that.

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

If his employers felt he was a potential liability then yeah, he does.

worlock77

He deserves to lose his job if he was. Not if they thought he was.

If you're percieved as a liability at your workplace you will be terminated. There's not really any if's, and's, or but's about that.

We're talking about whether it's right or not.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

He deserves to lose his job if he was. Not if they thought he was.

SgtKevali

If you're percieved as a liability at your workplace you will be terminated. There's not really any if's, and's, or but's about that.

We're talking about whether it's right or not.

Right or wrong's got nothing to do with it. It simply is. You have no right to employment, and when you take a job part of that job, especially if it's a job in the public eye, is adhering to the image your employer wants to project.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]He is right about how PC the world is becoming...and someday that will bit the world in the backside. LJS9502_basic

You mean it will be like the 1950s again?

It's already got extreme. You can't say certain things about some races but other races you can say whatever you like and people laugh.

If you aren't a politically correct ****** bag you will be fired.

Sounds like America to me.

ImaPirate0202

What he said is completely understandable, and many people agree with him.

It's a shame his employer felt the need to censor his very valid opinion.

This is why FOX news is so great, you can actually give an opinion without having to be PC all the time.

p2250

This is what the left fails to see concerning Fox News...it is "ignored" that Fox invites thousands of liberals a year (to anchor shows even), whereas NPR, CNN, MSNBC...they only have conservatives on for one reason -"Clobberin' Time").:P

This is what the left fails to see concerning Fox News...it is "ignored" that Fox invites thousands of liberals a year (to anchor shows even), whereas NPR, CNN, MSNBC...they only have conservatives on for one reason -"Clobberin' Time").:P

topsemag55

[QUOTE="p2250"]

What he said is completely understandable, and many people agree with him.

It's a shame his employer felt the need to censor his very valid opinion.

This is why FOX news is so great, you can actually give an opinion without having to be PC all the time.

topsemag55

This is what the left fails to see concerning Fox News...it is "ignored" that Fox invites thousands of liberals a year (to anchor shows even), whereas NPR, CNN, MSNBC...they only have conservatives on for one reason -"Clobberin' Time").:P

:| Fox is in no way different to these kinds of things, they have their media strategies just like every one else.

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]This is what the left fails to see concerning Fox News...it is "ignored" that Fox invites thousands of liberals a year (to anchor shows even), whereas NPR, CNN, MSNBC...they only have conservatives on for one reason -"Clobberin' Time").:P

Sajo7

The fact he is a conservative more then anything I bet.

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

[QUOTE="p2250"]

What he said is completely understandable, and many people agree with him.

It's a shame his employer felt the need to censor his very valid opinion.

This is why FOX news is so great, you can actually give an opinion without having to be PC all the time.

sSubZerOo

This is what the left fails to see concerning Fox News...it is "ignored" that Fox invites thousands of liberals a year (to anchor shows even), whereas NPR, CNN, MSNBC...they only have conservatives on for one reason -"Clobberin' Time").:P

:| Fox is in no way different to these kinds of things, they have their media strategies just like every one else.

Fox News gave a lot of respect to Juan Williams...they didn't "bash him" for being a liberal, nor for the fact that he worked for NPR.

Christ, they hired him to anchor O'Reilly a bunch of times - NPR would never do that. ba-dumm-tsshh.:P

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

This is what the left fails to see concerning Fox News...it is "ignored" that Fox invites thousands of liberals a year (to anchor shows even), whereas NPR, CNN, MSNBC...they only have conservatives on for one reason -"Clobberin' Time").:P

topsemag55

:| Fox is in no way different to these kinds of things, they have their media strategies just like every one else.

Fox News gave a lot of respect to Juan Williams...they didn't "bash him" for being a liberal, nor for the fact that he worked for NPR.

Christ, they hired him to anchor O'Reilly a bunch of times - NPR would never do that. ba-dumm-tsshh.:P

I wish they wouldn't have fired him if only because now the conservative victim complex machine is oiled and fired up.