National Public Radio may have fired its lone black male on-air commentator, Juan Williams, after remarks he made to Fox News' Bill O'Reilly that it considered anti-Muslim. But another pundit, who once called an evangelical Christian tenet of faith "crap" -- and hoped that millions of believers would "evaporate" -- remains a regular presence nearly 15 years later.
The Romanian-born writer Andrei Codrescu "has been a commentator on 'All Things Considered' since 1983," his NPR.org bio states. Codrescu's latest broadcast was on Monday, when he complained that "something called the tea party drank all the Kool-Aid in America."
In December 1995, Codrescu said of the evangelical belief of the Rapture, in which Christ's faithful would miraculously ascend from the earth before the Second Coming: "The evaporation of 4 million who believe this crap would leave the world an instantly better place."
Belief in the Rapture is based on the fourth chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonians.
Tens of thousands of complaints from listeners were soon sent to NPR, much of whose funding comes from the taxpayers. NPR apparently never considered removing Codrescu from his regular on-air perch, and took three days to issue a qualified apology for his use of a "vulgar term," and for saying the world would be better without such believers.
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The Romanian-born writer Andrei Codrescu "has been a commentator on 'All Things Considered' since 1983," his NPR.org bio states. Codrescu's latest broadcast was on Monday, when he complained that "something called the tea party drank all the Kool-Aid in America."
In December 1995, Codrescu said of the evangelical belief of the Rapture, in which Christ's faithful would miraculously ascend from the earth before the Second Coming: "The evaporation of 4 million who believe this crap would leave the world an instantly better place."
Belief in the Rapture is based on the fourth chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonians.
Tens of thousands of complaints from listeners were soon sent to NPR, much of whose funding comes from the taxpayers. NPR apparently never considered removing Codrescu from his regular on-air perch, and took three days to issue a qualified apology for his use of a "vulgar term," and for saying the world would be better without such believers.
8 comments:
I was going to contribute to this weeks funding drive but have now changed my mind.
A point the "outraged conservatives" seem to miss though. Just as hyper-PC sentiment led to Williams being fired, the right bashed AG Eric Holder for his comments regarding race in the US when all he was saying was that yes, we allow PC politics to keep us from having an open discussion.
AND I agree with the question "where is Sharpton and Jackson on this one (Williams incident)"
A few things -
NPR's firing of Williams was stupid PR wise.
The "rapture" is possibly the most idiotic of Christian beliefs, mainly clung to by ignorant biblical literalists in the US. It's ripe for mocking.
Andrei Codrescu was a commentator NOT a (supposedly arm's length) analyst like Williams. There is very important distinction between the two. You can be one or the other, but you have to choose. You can't be an (assumedly) even handed analyst and still shoot your mouth off re who makes you "nervous".
As an intellectual exercise how much real distance is there between Rick Sanchez's opinion about Jews and the media, and Williams nervousness re Muslims?
Simple solution- don't send 'em any more money during fund drives...it's too bad, because I like the classical music- but I can't take the bias in the news...
They fired Williams because he is black !
Should Juan have been fired?? Yes, for being STUPID.
Arab terroists bent on taking down an airliner would not wear their native garb. They would wear Western business attire as not to arouse suspicion. Duh!
How does Juan feel about women holding their purses closer when a young African-American male approaches wearing gang regalia?
Juan Williams was fired for telling the truth. That is what it has come to in this once great nation. God help us.
6:02, while Sharpton and Jesse get all the media attention saying that the "white woman" scenario you point out is wrong, much of black america will tell you that if they see some young dummies (black or white) walking by with their pants sagging at night, we all put up a little extra guard.
For too long America has allowed the extremist to speak out and control the message. This is why these discussions are so hard to undertake.
Codrescu is a creative writer and poet not a journalist or pundit
people need to learn how to contextualize what they hear
not everything's a sermon
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