Black Voice Recognized, but not saying much!

Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks out about Juan Williams getting fired. I’m not sure that Jackson fully understands the situation from the standpoint of one representing a company, but I do not disagree that Williams’s pigmentation does play a role in the situation. “NPR was wrong because they did not afford him freedom of speech,” Jackson said. Williams has the right to say anything he likes because the laws are made that way. However, as a journalist the rights that other people have to speak their minds freely without regard to anyone are not revoked because there are investors that are paying attention to the station. The moment a broadcaster says something out of line they will be criticized for it. “They’ve martyred Juan,” Jackson said, “taking him to another level both with his resources and his authority as a journalist.” As a journalist it is the responsibility of the reporter to remove themselves from a story because their only job is it report. It is imperative to refrain from placing any personal opinions in a story or report.

“If they did not want his point of view, they should have said, ‘When your contract is over, you do not fit into our scheme of things.’ And then (he’d) go gracefully and with dignity. NPR should not want the point of view of any person unless they are on the public relations staff and paid to represent NPR, but I do agree with the second half of this statement completely! If this is not the first time that Williams has done this and he does this on numerous occasions, then what makes this time so different? They could have easily just not rehired him instead of firing him on the spot. That makes me wonder is the offense in the comment or is it crime the color of skin? There are plenty of broadcasters who have over stepped the boundaries of reporter by giving opinions and making comments that did not coincide with the company, yet many of them have remained on air.

The article pointed out the fact that Jesse Jackson made a similar comment in 1993 “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.” So if this issue is not personal then how could Jackson remain in the good graces of NPR, but treat Williams the opposite way. There is a part of the story that the public has missed, neglected, or we just don’t know about. It sounds like someone has a personal vendetta against Williams. I do not throw the notion out completely that some of this is about race, but my eyes have been opened to see that this may be a personal attack!

Followers tell me what you think! Did we have the right person step up and speak on Williams’s behalf or is he talking just to be a black voice recognized? Do you think race has factored in the firing?
He’s the article link for you to read up or check out this link!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44255.html#ixzz144swdMi7

Surreally,

Monica