Juan Williams and our feelings

When the topic of faith comes up, some people run for the hills. They don't want to talk about a controversial topic. In our world of political correctness, we are very concerned about offending other people that sometimes we don't say anything at all. The conversations I have had the last few days about NPR terminated Juan Williams has been fascinating for me.

Reading the news and seeing the variety of people who have come out to support Williams is a whose-who of liberals and conservatives. From Sarah Palin and Karl Rove to Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters, people are supporting Williams.

His comment to Bill O'Reilly "I'm not a bigot, but when I get on a plane, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

Now he is not saying that we should hate Muslims or not allow Muslims on planes. But he is talking about his fears and we all are afraid of something. Many times fears are irrational and can't be controlled. While in this age of political correctness, it may not be the nicest thing to say.....we need to hear it from Williams. We need to hear his fear because many people have the same fear and don't know how to talk about it. We have turned out society into a place where we don't know how to sit down and have an honest conversation with someone.

Recently, Bruce Reyes-Chow had a conversation about race on his blog and twitter feed. It was a helpful conversation to listen in on as we talk about how we move beyond race labels (or do we). In the same light we need to be able to talk honestly and openly about our perception of other people and groups. I think the last few days have encouraged some healthy conversation.

Williams was not speaking as an reporter saying that Americans should be concerned when there are Muslims on planes. Williams was not demanding that Muslims should not be allowed on planes. Instead Williams was a person who spoke of his fears and for that he should not be punished. We live in a place where people can speak their opinions and fears and have an open honest conversation.