…because something stupid is surely heading my way. First, Williams is probably right to say that NPR was looking for a reason to fire him, though he is wrong about why; it’s not so much that he appears on Fox as it is that he says inane things, e.g. Michelle Obama is like Stokely Carmichael in a dress. (The halfway serious point here is that it’s a mistake to take Williams’ firing out of the context of his general lousiness.)
Second, the people in “muslim dress” on your flight are probably the least likely to be jihadists, unless their nefarious plot involves making everyone very aware of, and suspicious of, their presence.
Third, the phrase “muslim dress” annoys me because it conflates religion and culture. There’s no religious reason to wear salwar kameez instead of a suit. Everyone knows what he meant and it’s not a big thing, but still, irritating. Oh look, someone made tthe point in funny.
Fourth, this is amusing:
I think what I’m reacting to so strongly here is the Inquisition-like state of journalism today, in which speech deemed offensive to Jews and Muslims in particular is considered immediate grounds for firing.
Goldberg, plz. If you think there are equal social sanctions for anti-muslim and anti-semitic speech in media…oy.
Finally, I need to start praying more in airports to make you nervous.
11 comments
October 22, 2010 at 6:14 pm
ari
Heh, I almost posted something about that Goldberg post. But that would have required posting. Anyway, you make me nervous no matter what you do, terrorist.
October 22, 2010 at 6:17 pm
dana
I think the Muslim terrorists would scare Williams less if they had a proper American uniform. Like the Boy Scouts, maybe. They could get merit badges.
October 22, 2010 at 6:37 pm
togolosh
I get nervous when I see someone dressed like a muslim.
October 22, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Standpipe Bridgeplate
Imagine my surprise when, upon clicking over, I saw it was Jeffrey, not Jonah, Goldberg, spouting the nonsense. I think what I’m trying to say is, all Jews are the same.
October 22, 2010 at 8:31 pm
JP Stormcrow
Standpipe is banned!
October 23, 2010 at 5:13 am
NM
Wait, muslims have to wear star fleet uniforms? This deal is getting worse all the time!
October 23, 2010 at 8:02 am
Standpipe Bridgeplate
The requisite attire for other abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity.
October 23, 2010 at 8:16 am
mrearl
Juan Williams says shallow and stupid things. As a result, he now has a $2 million contract with Fox. There’s something profound in there somewhere.
October 23, 2010 at 3:38 pm
David
The opinion piece, “When the rich get stupid,”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/04/opinion/04iht-edconiff.1.5141863.html
could be apropos to Juan Williams’ life.
October 24, 2010 at 12:09 pm
tedra
I’m already plenty nervous around people like Neddy in airports, worrying that they’ll develop a fatal blood clot en route unless they luck out with an exit row seat.
October 26, 2010 at 1:34 am
Herbert Browne
Yes, Juan’s catty BS has been annoying for years… however, I wish that he’d been “fair & balanced” by finishing the thought with “reasons Why”: mainstream media’s obsession with selling ‘scary’ indiscriminately, ever since 9/11; and… oh, hell… there Was something. Never mind… ^..^