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| Europe |
| The BBC asks the American media: "Why mention that French rioters are Muslims?" |
| 2005-11-11 |
Tuesday on the World Service: âŠ.The American government has issued a similar warning [on travel to France] but itâs 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. Hereâs some examples: [Broad American accents emanate from the studio.] ââŠThe violence and fires that began in the Paris suburbs have spreadâŠ.as young, disaffected, jobless Muslims continue to demonstrate and challenge authorityâŠ.â ââŠ.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 liveâŠ.â ââŠ.itâs also made these impoverished neighbourhoods fertile recruiting grounds for Islamic extremistsâŠ.â ââŠ.Authorities in France are struggling with a crisis in some heavily Muslim neighbourhoods in suburban ParisâŠ.â [The BBC doesnât name the stations from which it has gleaned these accounts and doesnât credit them in any way whatsoever. I donât know if this is illegal, but it certainly strikes me as unethical.] Well, to European ears that may all sound a little startling. Thereâs 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. âWhy do you think the fact that these are Muslim districts has been raised so much by the American media?â asks the BBC in all apparent innocence. âParticularly in television I think that itâs sensationalizing the story and making it have some way to resonate with people in this country,â 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 |
| #26 Quite obviously, all mention of Muslims being involved is typically expunged because it might lead to the formulation of a solution and a dramatic reduction in sensationalist stories for the BBC to cover. Monster raving wankers. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2005-11-11 23:59 |
| #25 Renaults, why do they hate us? Must not mention the participation of Muslims in the random incendiarization of Innocentis , but let's all blame the Joooos for starting it. |
| Posted by: john 2005-11-11 20:15 |
| #24 Why mention they're Muslim? Why mention the poor in New Orleans were mostly black? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-11-11 19:57 |
| #23 In fact why mention that they're French or even rioters. The media should simply report - "864 Renaults and Citroens spontaneously combusted last night. No word if a recall is planned by the manufacturer". |
| Posted by: DMFD 2005-11-11 19:01 |
| #22 Spembles are well known for their dry sense of humor...T.O. has no senses other than self |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-11-11 18:51 |
| #21 The BBC asks the American media: "Why mention that French rioters are Muslims?" Because that could be the MO for the crimes? |
| Posted by: RG 2005-11-11 15:49 |
| #20 Why wouldn't the BBC want to mention it? For the same reason they don't want to mention the religion and nationalities of the 7 July and 21 July bombers. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2005-11-11 15:35 |
| #19 I definately heard "Allans snackbar" |
| Posted by: Mctavish Mcpherson 2005-11-11 15:21 |
| #18 What is it with the Brits and the Arabs? I guess it's because Brit comes before camel in the dictionary. |
| Posted by: Throgum Elmoluse7582 2005-11-11 14:30 |
| #17 BH -True, but for organizations like the BBC it's become standard procedure not to asssociate Muslims with anything negative if they can possibly avoid it. But there have been some interesting developments on the BBC forums. The Have Your Say forum enables commenters to recommend the comments of others. And on the subject of the French riots, all the highly-recommended comments are against the rioters. So it seems that as much as the BBC spins the issue, its worldwide audience is not with it on this one. |
| Posted by: Bryan 2005-11-11 14:19 |
| #16 biggist thing that springs to mind is PAIN, yes pain for the BBC as there beloved mooselimbs are again in the media. How transparent can you get, good though as its really hit a raw painfull nerve for AL-Beeb |
| Posted by: Shep UK 2005-11-11 13:59 |
| #15 American media mention it because it's necessary for us to put it in context. European media don't need to - just mentioned the location and everybody understands who you're talking about. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-11-11 13:14 |
| #14 #11 shipman The Clairong Anginens2944? Yes, the very same one. I see my reputation has preceded me. And as for Asknot Spemble 1919, I remember him well. We made up a rhyme about him once: Ask not Spemble For he will dissemble That's because he lied to the teacher about smoking behind the school gym. |
| Posted by: Bryan 2005-11-11 13:13 |
| #13 "..asks the BBC in all apparent innocence.". are they really this stupid? How outrageous to not see it for what it really is. Big Ed, you're right on. |
| Posted by: Jan 2005-11-11 12:42 |
| #12 The Clairong Anginens2944? Your number was retired along with Asknot Spemble1919. Damn, I was hoping to get that number for my new team next year... |
| Posted by: Terrell Owens 2005-11-11 12:25 |
| #11 The Clairong Anginens2944? Your number was retired along with Asknot Spemble1919. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-11-11 12:22 |
| #10 âWhy do you think the fact that these are Muslim districts has been raised so much by the American media?â The more intriguing question would be, "BBC, why do you NOT want to mention that the French rioters are Moslems? It isn't ignorance... It is PC stupidity... |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-11-11 12:08 |
| #9 The BBC asks the American media: "Why mention that French rioters are Muslims?" Maybe because it's......RELEVANT???? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-11-11 10:55 |
| #8 good analogy, moose. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-11-11 09:53 |
| #7 The BBC didn't hear the "Allah Akbars" and "dirty jews" due to having their microphones shoved up their rears. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-11-11 09:52 |
| #6 I wonder if the BBC would describe the Civil Rights Movement in the United States by omitting that the people demanding civil rights were black? They would say, "What would their being black have to do with it?" |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-11-11 09:49 |
| #5 Thanks Fred, good to see that you guys are going strong! tu - Yes, the BBC just can't stop asking dumb questions. |
| Posted by: Bryan 2005-11-11 09:47 |
| #4 Go back to sleep, Europe. You're just having a bad dream, probably from the chutney you had at lunch. It looked a little off. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-11-11 09:44 |
| #3 Ummmmmmmmmmmmm...because most of them are? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-11-11 09:41 |
| #2 Welcome back, Clairong. /Vinny Barbarino |
| Posted by: Fred 2005-11-11 09:35 |
| #1 Er...Oops...I am Clairong Anginens 2944, back to visit Rantburg again after a long absense. |
| Posted by: Bryan 2005-11-11 09:27 |