To: one_less who wrote (591013 ) 10/22/2010 1:38:11 PM From: tejek 1 Recommendation Respond to If we are not able to voice our fears without further fear of retaliation over expressing an honest feeling, then we are trapped in a society where fear becomes the standard impetus of action, or non-action. The proper reaction to someone voicing a fear, when not based on a real threat, is education and enough exposure to the situation so that the fearful person gradually is able to assume a more relaxed disposition. Of course such a person must be willing to entertain such a goal in the first place. The mere existence of a fear should not be the directive for societal policy or conduct, since with additional information many fears are found to be based on myth. The vast majority of people getting onto a plane wearing ‘Muslim garb,’ are decent law abiding citizens. Harboring a fear of them is an unrealistic fear based on an ignorance of who they are and what they actually represent. ‘Muslim garb’ in and of itself does not present a threat. In fact a statement that it does is based on pure ignorance which should not be expected from a person as informed as Williams. He knows the terrorists who have committed or attempted to commit heinous acts in America generally have not presented themselves wearing ‘Muslim garb.’ He should still be able to express an honest feeling as long as the intent is not to incite a reaction based on unrealistic fears. Apparently Fox sees it one way and NPR sees it the other.
