I’ve been sifting through hundreds of emails, stories, reactions to Juan Williams’ sensational firing by NPR over his remarks on Bill O’Reilly’s show, covered on Big Journalism for the past 24 hours. I’ve also read Slate’s ridiculous comparison of Williams to Sherrod. Williams didn’t call everyone a racist and help bilk taxpayers of billions for unfounded claims, but hey.
Those defending NPR’s reactions say that Williams “smeared” Muslims and portrayed them in a bad light.
Does not a group of men hijacking planes and flying them into the World Trade Center killing over three thousand people in the name of Islam portray Islam in a bad light?
Does not men hijacking a plane to fly into the Pentagon in the name of Islam portray Islam in a bad light?
When individuals strap bombs onto their bodies and detonate in public thoroughfares, killing men, women, and precious innocent children, all in the name of Islam, does not that paint Islam in a bad light?
When men bomb the USS Cole in the name of Islam, does that not portray Islam in a bad light?
When a Chechen group terrorizes school childrenin Beslan in the name of Islam, does that not portray Islam in a bad light?
When men blow up discotheques in Malaysia in the name of Islam, does not that show Islam in a bad light?
When members of the CIA are murdered, in the greatest massacre in the organization’s history, by individuals in the name of Islam, does that not show Islam in a bad light?
When a man shoots up Ft. Hood in the name of Islam, does that not paint Islam in a bad light?
When men hijack a plane, the control of which is barely wrested away from them by brave American passengers before the plane crashes into a Pennsylvania field, leaving behind a scorch mark upon the earth for families to mourn – all in the name of Islam – does not that paint Islam in a negative light?
When the United Arab Emirates passes a law stating that it’s not domestic abuse to beat your wife just so long as she bears no bruises, that doesn’t paint Islam in a bad light?
When men are allowed to kill and abuse their wives, sisters, and young daughters for refusing marriage to much-older men chosen for them, that doesn’t paint Islam in a bad light?
And when televisions show people filling streets in cities across Pakistan, the Middle East, cheering the 9/11 attacks while people in our country mourned the smoking ashes of over 3,000 innocent victims, that doesn’t paint Islam in a bad light?
But Juan Williams calling out the statistical occurrence of the above paints Islam in a bad light?
Those who suggest that the reactions of others to the events listed above somehow negatively impact the faith pass the buck on responsibility. Perhaps if we had more people who spoke out against these atrocities instead of defending by way of failing to criticize and attacking the people who call these acts out, this wouldn’t be a problem. Juan Williams wouldn’t have any remarks to make on the subject.
Political correctness, Frankenstein’s monster.
Big Journalism