By Bobby Eberle
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Because Juan Williams who up until a few days ago worked for both NPR & Fox News expressed a personal feeling about Muslims on an airplane he was fired by NPR. Not only does NPRs action to fire Juan Williams reveal political correctness run amok it also shows their hypocrisy. Bash conservatives & its ok. Bash Christianity its ok. But say anything about Muslims and youre fired.
In one swift action National Public Radio (NPR) has revealed its true colors & crossed the line so egregiously that perhaps its funding will be cut off once and for all.
Before we go any further let me first state that when Juan Williams offers commentary on Fox News I disagree with about 90 of it. However he has always presented his views in a reasonable thoughtful manner and is considered a professional by his peers.
In an appearance on Fox News OReilly Factor Williams made the following comments which started this whole firestorm.
And then NPR dropped the hammer. In an internal memo by NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller she writes:
First a critical distinction has been lost in this debate. NPR News analysts have a distinctive role and set of responsibilities. This is a very different role than that of a commentator or columnist. News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts and thats whats happened in this situation. As you all well know we offer views of all kinds on your air every day but those views are expressed by those we interview - not our reporters and analysts. Second this isnt the first time we have had serious concerns about some of Juans public comments. Despite many conversations and warnings over the years Juan has continued to violate this principal. Third these specific comments (and others made in the past) are inconsistent with NPRs ethics code which applies to all journalists (including contracted analysts).Schiller went on to write that Juans comments on Fox violated our standards as well as our values and offended many in doing so. Wow... I guess she put all that in writing because Im sure she couldnt say all of that with a straight face. First lets look at this from the perspective of hypocrisy. As documented in a story on FoxNews.com NPR has a long history of imbalance and intolerance.
-- In June the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) said it was easy to see why some refer to NPR as National Palestine Radio following a June 2 segment hosted by Tom Ashbrook on the Gaza flotilla incident. The segment featured five guests -- none of whom defended Israels actions. -- In 2002 the head of NPR issued an apology six months after a report linking anthrax-laced letters to a Christian conservative organization. -- In 1995 Nina Totenberg NPRs award-winning legal affairs correspondent was allowed to keep her job after telling the host of PBS Inside Washington that if there was retributive justice in the world former North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms would get AIDS from a transfusion or one of his grandchildren will get it.
The list goes on and on.
Bill Moyers who works for PBS the sister channel of NPR still holds his job even though he is blatantly biased against conservatives and Republicans. The Weekly Standard reports that Moyers gets to keep his job even though he compares the Taliban to Republicans.
Second lets look at this from the perspective of political correctness.
In this case if you are anti-Christian anti-conservative or anti-Republican you have a place to say whatever you want on NPR but they flinch if anything is said with expresses a sentiment outside of their values even if those sentiments reflect human nature.
Juan Williams is not a racist nor is he a bigot. He simply expressed a feeling that almost all Americans would feel. And that feeling is based on a combination of race setting and perception.
Example ... Lets say I was told by a friend that there is a guy in the office who has a football ticket for sale. I go up to this man -- a black man wearing a suit -- and pull out my wallet to purchase the ticket.
In the process the black man looks at the wallet and says Nice wallet. I return the compliment by saying Thanks and continue the transaction.
Now lets say Im nearly out of gas and Im forced to pull into a gas station in the bad part of town.
As I pull out my wallet at the pump to swipe my debit card a black man walks up with his underwear hanging out hat on sideways and has chest pushed out with his best tough guy look.
He says Nice wallet. Would my heart start beating faster? Would yours?
Or how about going to a party? I usually dress in a t-shirt and shorts but lets say for that night I dress up a little bit. I see a white friend of mine. The fact that Im dressed up takes him by surprise and he says Dude ... looking sharp. I say Whatever dude and go about having a good time.
Now lets say that Im out camping in the woods near some Louisiana bayou.
I see a few white guys who are missing some teeth wearing overalls and one is carrying a banjo. The banjo guy looks at me and says My my ... you sure look purdy. Would my heart start beating faster? Would yours?
Those examples illustrate what Williams was referring to in his comments to Bill OReilly. It has to do with race setting and perception.
Just think about the following quote:
There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery... then look around and see somebody white and 
feel relieved.
