Anti-Pro-Life Censorship or Callous Extremist? 4 Views on The Atlantic Firing Kevin Williamson
The Atlantic has garnered national headlines for its decision last week to fire conservative writer Kevin Williamson due to comments he made in 2014 arguing for hanging women who have abortions.
Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg supported Williamson at first when the former National Review writer came under fire for his controversial comments, but decided to fire him after receiving more information.
"The language he used in this podcast — and in my conversations with him in recent days — made it clear that the original tweet did, in fact, represent his carefully considered views," wrote Goldberg in a staff memo, as quoted by The Washington Post.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"The tweet was not merely an impulsive, decontextualized, heat-of-the-moment post, as Kevin had explained it. Furthermore, the language used in the podcast was callous and violent. This runs contrary to The Atlantic's tradition of respectful, well-reasoned debate, and to the values of our workplace."
Here are four perspectives on the debate over Williamson's firing. They include one who sees it as censorship of pro-life views, one who sees it as justified, a dissenting view from the Atlantic's staff, and one who is conflicted on the firing but believes it reveals an hypocrisy among liberals.
