National Public Radio fired Juan Williams for comments he made while appearing on the Fox News Channel.
What Juan said or didn't say is really irrelevant. And I prefer not to go into or take a position either way on his commentary.
However, I would like to point out a portion of President Lyndon B. Johnson's remarks before signing the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which gave birth to NPR and PBS under the guise of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
"The Corporation will assist stations and producers who aim for the best ... broadcasting reports on the whole fascinating range of human activity. It will try to prove that what educates can also be exciting.
"It will get part of its support from our Government. But it will be carefully guarded from Government or from party control. It will be free, and it will be independent — and it will belong to all of our people. ...
"I hope that those who lead the Corporation will direct that power toward the great and not the trivial purposes.
"At its best, public television would help make our Nation a replica of the old Greek marketplace, where public affairs took place in view of all the citizens."
The mission in a sound bite, then: Objectivity, that encompasses "reports on the whole fascinating range of human activity," openness that lays out public affairs in view of all citizens, and leadership that directs its power toward the great rather than the trivial while remaining free from party control.
Are NPR and the CPB living up to Johnson's ideals? I say "no."
Friday, October 22, 2010
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1 comment:
Agreed whole heartedly! Anyone who has viewed and/or listened to any of Juans' past statements in any forum would agree; he has done a fantastic job of maintaining a public view of "Political Correctness". His comment is the comment of most Americans who travel the Air and Railways. Perfect examples of "why" the concern can on-goingly be found in the news, for those that do not put their heads in the sand. The United States of America is under attack!! If not "physically" every day, "every day" there is a plot brewing. I (an international and domestic) traveller, have spoke with many... and I can say from my own personal experiences and conversations, 100% of the Americans I have spoke with have the same view as Juan! The worst part of Juans' firing is; he spoke his heart, his mind, his opinion and the opinion of many other Americans... Where is the Country heading?
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