Juan Williams (and Faux News, which will never pass up a chance to make NPR the socialist Antichrist) are bleating all about free speech.
Stop. Just fucking stop. I mean it, fucking stop.
Freedom of speech means the government can't take your sign down, disperse your peaceful gathering, or pull the plug on your printing press, website, or radio/TV station. But you, Juan, like Rush Limbaugh and like the whole stupid galactially dense mass of the Tea Party paid-to-sayits (rhymes with patriots) have forgotten the bigger picture:
You live in a society where others are "free" to disagree with you. NPR diagreed with Juan Williams, and they fired him. That's capitalism, baby.
There's more of my screed below
Rush Limp-paw pulled this trick when ESPN canned him. "There is no freedom of speech in America" -
"To say the least this is a chilling assault on free speech."
Horseshit. Wait here - I'll go get the horse.
Freedom has become the most perverted word in our vernacular. We are beset on all sides by people that think since our founders went westward and gave King George the finger to seek "freedom", that the only freedom anyone could ever want was to be like our founders.
Freedom means that if you have the freedom to say it, Juan, Rush, that anyone who hears it has not only the freedom to say that you're full of shit, but that we also have the freedom to talk over you and say exactly the opposite.
This is what will destroy - may be too late - this country.
Freedom is not unidirectional, unilateral, or universal.
I had a "friend" of 25 years ago find me on facebook recently. His wife speaks of Jesus frequently and when I told her life was challenging, she said,
"Well, I believe in evil. I believe evil has a name, and that name is Satan. And unfortunately, (my name here), you are listening to him"
We're now done - because in subsequent conversations she said that "Christians get a bad rap in America" - like outnumbering people 8 to 1 in a society means their liberties and freedom is at risk -
Well, holy shit - and she can't see why?
Juan Williams, like Rush Limbaugh "The media is very desirous to see a black quarterback do well", all found out that the government did not give a flip-happy-underhanded-backwards-flying-fuck what they said, but their bosses - the people who ultimately have to handle all the flak that goes up after they speak under the auspices of ESPN or NPR, don't want the headache or the hit to their advertisers/supporters when what you said cuts into their bottom line.
Get it right -
Your freedom to do anything ends at the tip of my nose.
So nobody's freedom of speech is at risk; Juan Williams will milk this tit of false indignation and make himself a rich bastard for it, as will all the publishers, promoters and other whores that now currently send my (former) neighbors, friends, family and other associated strangers into apoplexy over "THEM".
I'm THEM, you assholes, and I'm just as pissed about what you say as whatever I said you think is worthy of your angst.
This country has bastardized "freedom" beyond redemption, I fear. The word has lost all practical meaning. It's now nothing more than "now with more scrubbing bubbles".
If this country really was the paragon of freedom, we wouldn't need to put in on our bumper stickers. Mark Twain, I believe, said
"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt".
Relax, Juan - your freedom is just fine, as is everyone elses.
What is collapsing down around you like a burning building that somehow you and your fucking miscreants at Fox haven't somehow noticed yet, is respect for one simple ideal:
Sure, you have the freedom to say whatever you want.
Likewise, everyone else, including your boss, has the freedom to tell you they aren't interested in hearing it any more; clean out your desk.
See?
Freedom all around.
Hoo Rah.
We now return you to the nation's self-immolation.
It's getting fantastic ratings.