I strongly believe that well read, sophisticated political and media personalities perfectly understand that the few hundreds or even thousands of violent extremists can't represent a religion of over 1.5 billion believers. In other words, I don't believe Mr. Williams.
Conversely, I understand that negative stereotype through comments or speeches by leaders such as Williams, O' Reilly, Gingrich, Chambliss, and many others can instill or confirm fears, in the general population, of a woman wearing a headscarf or a man with facial hair.
The anger over Mr. Williams' firing is genuine, because for a long time insulting Muslim Americans was a rite of passage for politicians and media personalities looking for quick fame or an easy vote; NPR's decision turned this premise upside-down and proved for the first time that there is a price to pay for taking advantage of any minority group.
I hope that NPR's decision will bring in much needed accountability and decency to the public square: that hurtful bigotry towards any of our citizens will not be tolerated. Only then, will we allow ourselves to see neighbors, friends, colleagues, and service men and women as such, and not as the other.
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