E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

The BBC asks the American media: "Why mention that French rioters are Muslims?"

Tuesday on the World Service:


.The American government has issued a similar warning [on travel to France] but it’s the response from some American media to the right that has raised a few eyebrows. Some newspapers and television stations have been describing the violence almost in terms of a battle between Muslims and non-Muslims. Here’s some examples:

[Broad American accents emanate from the studio.]

“
The violence and fires that began in the Paris suburbs have spread
.as young, disaffected, jobless Muslims continue to demonstrate and challenge authority
.”

“
.In Paris angry immigrants poured onto the streets again tonight, burning dozens of cars and shooting at police. Young Muslim immigrants, many of them poor and resentful, lashing out at the culture in which they live
.”

“
.it’s also made these impoverished neighbourhoods fertile recruiting grounds for Islamic extremists
.”

“
.Authorities in France are struggling with a crisis in some heavily Muslim neighbourhoods in suburban Paris
.”

[The BBC doesn’t name the stations from which it has gleaned these accounts and doesn’t credit them in any way whatsoever. I don’t know if this is illegal, but it certainly strikes me as unethical.]

Well, to European ears that may all sound a little startling. There’s been no suggestion from any French authorities, for instance, of any sort of connection between the rioters and radical Islam. But that the rioters are from immigrant communities without jobs or decent housing has been seen as at least as telling, if not more telling, than the fact that many of them are Muslim.

Then the BBC introduces a senior associate from the Project for Excellence in Journalism in the US.

“Why do you think the fact that these are Muslim districts has been raised so much by the American media?” asks the BBC in all apparent innocence.

“Particularly in television I think that it’s sensationalizing the story and making it have some way to resonate with people in this country,” responds the senior associate, in apparent ignorance.

It never ceases to amaze me how the BBC puts itself and others through agonizing contortions to avoid the uncomfortable truth.

Posted by: Clairong Anginens2944 2005-11-11
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=134729