A university professor at the University of Tampa was fired for suggesting hurricane Harvey was karma for Texas Republicans. He tweeted on Sunday that
"I don't believe in instant Karma but this kinda feels like it for Texas. Hopefully this will help them realize the GOP doesn't care about them."
Two days after the tweet he was fired. But knowing he was right, he kept on slamming the Republicans in Twitter, saying that
"Look, yes, I got fired because someone didn't like that I was telling the truth. But what I say is true, and, I mean, I know what I'm talking about and you wouldn't believe what else I know."
The school wasn't ready to take on all the shitstorms the sociology professor's tweets were about to bring on them and after firing the professor, they released a statement yesterday, saying that
"We condemn the comments and the sentiment behind them, and understand the pain this irresponsible act has caused. As Floridians, we are well aware of the destruction and suffering associated with tropical weather. Our thoughts and prayers are with all impacted by Hurricane Harvey."
Kenneth L. Storey, the university professor now without a job, kept on tweeting, saying
"HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas. Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming. How is that not karma? I mean, you know I've never lied before. And the morons at the university, they will go down soon. Mark my words! Karma is a bitch!"
The professor's unqualified PR person, Jerry Noknow, while trying to explain what he was actually trying to say, said that
"Kenneth is a beautiful human being who has been hugely misunderstood. While he was right to say what he said, he is sorry about it, but let's be honest here, he was right, and still is. And the Texas Republicans should grow some balls. And if karma kills you, you deserve it."
Journalists, being sort of surprised, annoyed, and disgusted by the PR person's statement at the same time, asked if it was really the professor's view that those people killed during the hurricane deserved to be killed because of karma?
Noknow, being kind of confused about the question, answered that
"No, it's not what I said at all. I didn't say that you deserve to be killed if karma kills you...sorry, I mean if the storm kills you. You only deserve to be killed if ... sorry, I meant to say that you deserve what you deserve, and that's what the professor wanted to say. And he's actually right about that."
The journalists started leaving the room one by one, leaving Jerry Noknow alone with is beautiful words.
[end of scene]
That's how it could have gone, if the professor of the University of Tampa had acted like Trump. Let's be honest, he would have been a true asshole. Yes, his tweet was bad, and should be criticized. There is no question about that. But what followed, was somewhat different that what was described above.
On Monday professor Kenneth L. Storey tweeted that
"I deeply regret the statement I posted yesterday. I never meant to wish ill will upon any group. I hope all affected by Harvey recover quickly." When talking the The Washington Post, he said that
"I apologize. I never intended it to be taken that way. Seeing the suffering of the people of Houston and knowing that I added more suffering to that, that's heartbreaking to me. We need to do what we can to support them right now, and I do not do that with those tweets."
He added that his intention with the initial tweet was simply to speak out about the GOP's denial of climate change, and wasn't really meant to be offensive. Although it did end up coming out this way.
What's more, he said he understood the university's decision to fire him.
What he said was bad, we can agree on that. We can also agree that the university, just to avoid any backlash from the professor's words, felt it was best to let him go. However, considering everything, he should be rehired. Especially considering the guy who would have responded like the first version in this piece, still has a job. As a president of the United States of America.
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