Newspapers Get Complaints for DVD Ad on Muslims

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Newspapers get complaints for DVD ad on Muslims

By ANICK JESDANUN, AP Business Writer
Sat Oct 4, 3:23 AM ET
NEW YORK - Newspapers that carried an advertising supplement in recent weeks containing a DVD critical of radical Muslims have faced complaints from readers and questions about whether newspapers should offer a platform to everyone willing to pay for distribution. Although a few papers refused to carry the DVD, about 70 including The New York Times distributed it on the grounds that rejecting it would violate the sponsor's right to free speech. The decision generated letters, cancellations and even a protest.

The Clarion Fund, a nonprofit founded in 2006 to address "the most urgent threat of radical Islam," spent millions of dollars distributing the DVDs mostly in battleground election states. That targeting led to further outcry about the group's motives. "This is definitely the most feedback that I've gotten to an ad," said Ted Vaden, public editor for The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. "It's among the heaviest reaction I've gotten to anything. The great majority of the reaction was negative."

Vaden said the paper received about 500 e-mail and phone messages and had some 50 cancellations. He said the paper may have sparked some of the complaints by writing a front-page story calling attention to "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West," the DVD insert that critics have denounced as anti-Muslim propaganda.

- snip -

Newspapers generally insist on giving a platform to a variety of viewpoints, but readers who complained were largely critical. "I cannot believe that I was sent the hate-inflaming, fear-mongering video disk `Obsession' in my newspaper!" Margaret Lewis of Durham, N.C., wrote to The News & Observer. "What will you enclose next? KKK robes?"

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081004/ap_on_re_us/newspapers_islam_dvd

[izzie]

1. Well I say let it all hang out.

--

[depakid]

2. The Oregonian pulled this stunt- and people were hopping mad

As the article referenced, there were protests at their downtown office on Monday- and the web comments on their site were full of what looked to me like ordinary folks claiming that they were cancelling their subscriptions.

Not a very bright move for a paper that's already got a tarnished reputation.

[Beregond2]

5. I sent an angry email to thier website,only to be told thatt hey are a

separate operation and I should write to another address. But by that time I was out of ire. However, the next day's paper was full of letters from furious readers.

[Quantess]

43. ---and for a paper whose readership is declining fast.

I get the feeling that the publisher of the Oregonian is pretty conservative, and only begrudgingly tries to keep its paper in the center, because they realize most Oregonians are moderate-to-liberal.

What irritates me the most about the Oregonian, is that they LOVE writers like David Brooks, Rich Lowry, George Will, Kathleen Parker, and Charles Krauthammer, and their very own neo-con editor, David Reinhard.

I think the publisher and editors said to themselves, "people need to see this!" when they decided to distribute the DVD. It's like the publisher can't resist pushing his right wing viewpoint on readers, even though it's not good for the business.

[4lbs]

3. Can you say.... BACKFIRE ?

n/t

[DRoseDARs]

4. Some enterprising lawyer should find the newspapers complicit in that terrorist attack last week.

Won't happen, but it's nice to dream.

[tblue37]

Duplicate post. Self-delete. nt

[tblue37]

6. Would the papers distribute an ad or DVD by the KKK or a Nazi group,

just because they were willing to pay?

[rpannier]

10. Good point

The NC paper should be asked that question, as well as whether they'd have put a DVD by a Communist Group in their paper.
I'm willing to bet they wouldn't.

[harmonicon]

7. front-page story:

attention: great deals this father's day weekend on craftsman tools at Sears!!!

Now that's news. That's journalism, alright.

[sweettater]

8. I received one in the mail

this past week. hmmmmmmmmm

[Lost4words]

31. Me too, it went straight into the trash,did not pass go!

8643

[Shallah Kali]

32. Did you do what some people do to the endless AOL dics?

Accidently break it and then mark the package REFUSED: return to sender? Someone once told me this makes the company have to pay return postage. I especially hope in this case it would be true. BTW after sending back 3 or 4 discs I no longer get sent useless aol discs.

[rpannier]

9. Kick and Recommend to Margaret Lewis of Durham

and you

[MullenBank]

11. Hooper drives the boat, chief.....

Does a documentary about nazis impugn ALL germans?
So you're a german who ISN'T a member of the super race? - Not talking about you then, pal.

Does a dvd about xtian identity movement implicate ALL xtions?
So you worship jeebus but you don't want to place the USA under some old testament biblically patterned patriarchal theocracy? Not talking about you then, brother.

I watched the dvd. The producers make it clear from the beginning (and then several more times throughout the dvd) that their concern is with radical islamand not with muslims as a group. They really appeared -- to me at least; I got the distinction on the first pass-- to go out of their way to distinguish radical from mainstream.

Jesus leaping shit is the existence of a strain of islam that wants the world conquered or dead as a matter of their theology really being disputed here?

A dvd pointing out the threat of radical islam in 2008 is no more propaganda than a newsreel outlining the threat of nazi germany in 1938.

Would it have been propaganda to point out in 1938 the nazis were preparing for war and that they: wanted to expand the borders of germany, were murdering and imprisoning political enemies, were designing camps to send said enemies so that they could be worked to death as well as camps that would skip the work part completely and had an ideology that saw particular classes of people- jews, for example-- as inherently inferior.

Is it propaganda now to present evidence that there really is a strain of islam that as a matter of belief, of religious faith, wants the state of Israel destroyed and America destroyed?

Bonus Feature- Atheist Haiku
God does not exist.
One day you will cease to be.
Get over yourself.

[drm604]

12. But what purpose did this DVD serve?

Everyone knows that there are a small minority of dangerous radical Muslims. That is news to no one. So what purpose does mass distribution of this DVD serve other than to inflame fear?

(And who the hell is "Hooper" and what boat is he driving?)

[MullenBank]

13. It's only an island if you look at it from the ocean.

Hi. Thanks for responding.

The purpose it serves is to inform and educate folks who otherwise may not have known. I truly don't think enough people know how dangerous this minority is to freedoms we assume are universally appreciated.

I also think we ought to be alarmed. We ought to reach out to muslims who are "moderate" and let them know we bear them no ill will. How? Dunno-- but I think sometimes its easier than you might imagine. For example--A guy named Ahmed owns the convenience mart where I buy a Diet Pepsi on the way to work. It mostly serves the black section of XXXXXX, NC. He was born in Gaza and left following the 1967 war between Israel and the rest of the Arab world. He volunteered this information to me, on my first day in XXXXXX, NC, shortly after I pulled up to his store in my Jeep. He drove a Jeep in Gaza. I drive a Jeep in XXXXXX. That was all it took. Go figure.

Hooper is a character from the movie "Jaws".

[drm604]

15. But why now, all of a sudden, is it so important to inform some tiny percentage of ignorant folk?

Is there really a meaningful percentage of people in this country who aren't aware that there are radical Muslim terrorists in the world?

Can informing the tiny number of people who can't see what's in front of their face truly be the purpose of this kind of mass distribution?

This is obviously intended to influence the upcoming presidential election. In fact, a spokesman for the Clarion Fund has confirmed this, so it's kind of hard to deny. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95076174

But its spokesman has said the newspaper distribution had one purpose: to make terrorism a presidential campaign issue where it counts — in the battleground states. He said Clarion did this with a half-million dollar grant from a secret donor.

Thanks for clarifying the "Jaws" quote. I haven't seen that movie in years.

[LiberalFighter]

38. More specifically, what purpose at THIS time?

[iamjoy]

18. There Is A Difference

and it is subtle, but it does exist.

Most Americans are not that familiar with Muslims. Most Americans don't really know or understand Islam. We really aren't that familiar with it. By contrast, in the 1930's Americans were quite familiar with Germans. We had a lot of Americans of German descent living here, who still retained some of their German culture.

The reason that matters is, if you already know some Germans and witness a documentary on radical Germans, you know (not just intellectually, but emotionally) that not all Germans are like that. There is a greater tendency to dismiss the documentary as untrue.

Most Americans don't understand Islam. Prior to 9-11, most Americans didn't even know there were two kinds of Muslims (Sunni and Shia). I bet even today a lot of those who do know couldn't really tell you the difference between the two. We are incredibly ignorant about Islam and don't recognize the contributions it has made to our society. So, when we see a documentary on radical Islam, it is harder for Americans to separate the two and realize that this is not all Muslims, just some. Even if we recognize it intellectually, it is hard to accept emotionally. He

You want an example of our ignorance and reaction to the unfamiliar? After 9-11, Sikhs in this country were attacked. Why? Because they were wearing turbans and people thought they were Muslim. Americans actually thought turban = Muslim. Muslim = terrorist. But, I don't remember anyone attacking young Christian men after Timothy McVeigh bombed the Federal building in Oklahoma City.

So you see, there is a difference.

[Fumesucker]

22. I guarantee that far more Americans are aware of the radical muslim movement

Than are aware of the even more scary (since they have the means) Christian movement that basically wants to do exactly the same damn thing..

"there really is a strain of Christianity that as a matter of belief, of religious faith, wants the state of Israel destroyed and America destroyed?

You do know the aim of "Jews for Jesus" don't you?

The elimination of the Jewish religion.. From where I sit, in the atheist seats, that counts as genocide.

[stillcool]

25. Julius Streicher would be so proud

it's not like our own fundamentalists have not encouraged the demise of Americans, American cities, foreign nations, etc. We're fine with killing millions upon millions in the name of money with some religious overtones. Americans can be worked into a fervor with a lust for blood so easily. But I guess that's who we are.

[uppityperson]

27. There is a difference, and yes this is propaganda. Please read on...

As iamjoy put it http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3526105&mesg_id=3526260

"Most Americans are not that familiar with Muslims. Most Americans don't really know or understand Islam....Most Americans don't understand Islam. Prior to 9-11, most Americans didn't even know there were two kinds of Muslims (Sunni and Shia). I bet even today a lot of those who do know couldn't really tell you the difference between the two. We are incredibly ignorant about Islam and don't recognize the contributions it has made to our society. So, when we see a documentary on radical Islam, it is harder for Americans to separate the two and realize that this is not all Muslims, just some. "


Most Americans are familiar with radical muslim movement aka 9/11 and the fear mongering since. What they are NOT as familiar with is Islam or Muslims in general and if this were a DVD about that, I would agree it would be educational. But yes, mailing out a DVD focusing on the fearful fundie part of a religion, with this timing, with the attempts to smear Obama? Yes, that is propaganda.

When has a DVD giving info on a religion ever been sent out as this one has? Ever? This is propaganda.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

29. As if radical Islam were the greatest threat to America

It isn't.

The greatest threats to our country are 1) Greedy corporations that are willing to bankrupt the whole economy for the sake of their top executives and major shareholders, 2) The military and the debt incurred by military spending sopping up over half of the general fund, 3) The dumbing down of America through its entertainment media, 4) Fanatical pseudo-Christians who want to impose their version of morality on all of us, 4) The inability to imagine any way of life other than the car-obsessed, sports-obsessed life of the American strip mall suburb as bearable or desirable, 5) Anti-intellectualism, 6) Class warfare by the fat cats against everyone else

The radical Muslims don't have to do anything to us. We're doing a great job of destroying ourselves.

[Zuiderelle]

14. Can I complain to the US Postal Service too then?

Seriously, what right do they have to send this hateful shit through the US Postal Service?

[MilesColtrane]

16. The first amendment?

:shrug:

[Zuiderelle]

19. Does the first amendment give non-profit organizations the right to force bigoted propaganda

on unsuspecting recipients in battle-ground states with the intention of swaying the election?

[MilesColtrane]

24. I'm not a constitutional lawyer.

But, if you held a gun to my head and asked me, I'd say yes it doesn't allow the use of force, but it does allow them to mail their bullshit.

[stillcool]

26. Freedom of Speech is very..

expensive these days. If you have the money you can say whatever you want, otherwise you are corralled into the 'zone'.

[ohio2007]

34. Freedom of speech isn't free even on the internet

I'm sure a few athiests are very aware of the recent battle to poke fun at any fundie group

Petition YouTube for Pat Condell



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAPqKFGE-l8

hmmmm

Welcome to Saudi Britain (BANNED VIDEO!!!)

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=eQRy0o67xxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIq7tsVvEoY

what?
too offensive?

nobody can see the humor in Pats rants?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7651231.stm

those Brits.

[Gwendolyn]

36. Lol, I LOVE Pat Condell!

That vid was reinstated by the way, thanks to the voices of many! :thumbsup:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HVClnaJDNs&feature=related

[ohio2007]

37. just as it gives the right to the ones that knock on your door and sell you

their flavor of religion .

[blitzburgh55]

17. They did a story about this on the local news

the other day.

Oct. 1, 2008, 6:26 p.m. Eastern
Newspaper subscribers in battleground states like Pa are getting a DVD of a controversial documentary on Islam

http://kdka.com/video/?id=[e-mail]

[Paladin]

20. Good.

What would the reaction be if a similar DVD was released about Jews? This is strictly Kristalnacht-era Nazi-ism stuff.....

[Gwendolyn]

23. If you're comparing a DM newspaper mailing...

...with what happened on Kristallnacht, you have serious perception probs.

[Paladin]

28. That's Not What I Intended

What I was trying to say is that a similar, extremely ominous mindset is behind the widespread dissemination of this DVD. That's an opinion I stand by.

Thanks for the correct spelling of Kristallnacht, by the way.

[Gwendolyn]

30. You're welcome! I didn't even notice it.

But you do realize that you're guilty of spreading propaganda as well. I don't care, just find it a little odd. :)

[IsItJustMe]

21. Hate, racism, and fear sells. It's the Republican way.

[Shallah Kali]

33. "Obsession" Stars Have Lectured at U.S. Military Colleges; Film shown to politicans, navy

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/17/15847/7077

Just as appalling and outrageous as Gabriel's JFSC lecture was the February 2008 appearance of the "3 ex-terrorists" at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The three members of this traveling anti-Muslim sideshow, paid $13,000 to speak at the 50th Annual Academy Assembly on the topic "Dismantling Terrorism: Developing Actionable Solutions for Today's Plague of Violence," are Walid Shoebat, Zachariah Anani, and and Kamal Saleem. Shoebat, who appears in Obsession and sells the film on his website, has also spoken at Tim LaHaye's Pre-Trib (Pre-Tribulation) Research Center conferences and John Hagee's Christians United for Israel (CUFI) events. Zachariah Anani is a Lebanese-born Canadian citizen who claims to have killed 223 people while a Muslim terrorist. Kamal Saleem, under his real name, Khodor Shami, worked for Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network for sixteen years, was hired by James Dobson's Focus on the Family in 2003, and founded Koome Ministries in 2006 to "expose the true agenda of who would deceive our nation and the free nations of the world."

The claims of the 3 ex-terrorists about their exploits as Muslim terrorists have long been questioned by academics and terrorism experts ( http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/27/apparently-terrorism-pays-it-pays-very-well ) who have found a plethora of unlikelihoods and outright impossibilities ( http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-02-19/news/reformed-muslim-terrorists-preach-christ-to-college-kids/2 )in their stories. The most obvious question, of course, is why, if their stories are true, haven't these three self-proclaimed terrorists, who have been traveling the country for years admitting to numerous killings and other terrorist acts, not been deported or jailed. Well, apparently, even our government's terrorist hunters don't believe these guys. According to a New York Times article ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/us/07muslim.html?scp=1&sq=Shoebat&st=nyt ) about the trio's appearance at the Air Force Academy, "A spokesman for the F.B.I. said there were no warrants for their arrest."

After demands by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) for equal time to counter the anti-Muslim screed of the 3 ex-terrorists, the Air Force Academy eventually allowed MRFF founder and president, and Academy graduate, Mikey Weinstein, and two MRFF Advisory Board members, Islam expert Reza Aslan and former Ambassador Joe Wilson, to speak to (deprogram) the cadets.

In addition to Obsession cast members Brigitte Gabriel and Walid Shoebat speaking at U.S. military colleges, Gregory Ross, the film's co-writer and director, stated in an interview that the film is being used by the U.S. Navy. According to Ross, who is also Communications Director for Clarion Fund, the organization that produced the film and is now funding the DVD newspaper insert scheme, "I know that the U.S. Department of the Navy uses the film and that it has also been shown on Capitol Hill on many occasions in order to education politicians."

[Azlady]

35. Control through Fear, who the hell does that sound like???

Reminds of Captain Bunny Pants party way of doing things.
I received the DVD in the US Mail today. I will call the Postmaster General On Monday and complain. Control the masses through fear, I am so sick of the fear factor the Re - puke -licans try to shove down our throats everyday! The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

[2Design]

39. they mailed it to me and I put RETURN TO SENDER on it and wrote trash

AND told them on the outside to not ever send me hate mail again

[THUNDER HANDS]

40. I have a lot of experience with this very issue

When I was an editor on a college newspaper, we ran a 12-page insert in our paper from a known Holocaust denier. It caused a bit of a stir, mostly from people outside of campus. We were on all the news stations in New York. We did interviews on MSNBC and other places, on the radio, it sorta went national for a week.

We had the ADL protesting outside our door. We had people come up to our office and spit on us. We received death threats.

It was pretty nasty. The school even held a conference to discuss the issue with the community.

Ultimately, our position at the paper was that it was a free speech issue.

Me, personally, I'm still listed in a google search of my name under holocaust denial literature for an editorial I wrote in the school newspaper defending the paper's decision to run the insert. *I* never personally denied the holocaust, but I still ended up being labeled a denier, and so did everyone else in the paper, because we defended free speech.

Yeah, it was detestable what this holocaust denier was printing, as it is in the case of this DVD. But free speech isn't free if it's only limited to stuff you approve of.

[silverojo]

41. I want to see a DVD about radical Christians

You know, like Sarah Palin, Pat Robertson, and all their evil ilk.

[MisterP]

42. NYT and Chronicle of Higher Ed defended it as "free speech" expressed through

advertising: that's what happens when you conflate freedom and economic "freedom"