Wafa Sultan, the psychologist, had some incredibly strong and disparaging things to say about the Muslim faith. She freely admited to being a secular Muslim, but she's still a member of that community and probably has family who are far more devoted than she. Her commentary boiled down a very simple statement; the current struggle between Islam and the West is akin to a struggle between civilization and backwardness.
The thing she made perfectly clear was that she wasn't just talking about fanatics or extremists, but the religion as a whole. That's not the sort of thing I'd expect to hear beyond the confines of The 700 Club myself, let along an Arab-language television news station.
Remember this show was not recorded for a Western audience, but for the Arab world. Now I'm sure there are some who are paranoid enough to say it's part of some really deep game they're playing; look what the corrupt West has done to this nice Muslim girl, but I find it highly unlikely. Nobody who believes that the West is corrupt needs that much convincing, and there are more effective ways of proving that point than having someone call you a bunch of despotic misogynists.
I'd think that the extremists would be incredibly pissed to hear these sentiments expressed at all. The fact that a woman is expressing them would make it even worse. To them it would represent an indication of how great an influence western secularism has had on Al-Jazeera. People like Bin Laddin, and others of like mind, would see airing that type of show as a betrayal of the highest order.
Would one of our major networks air a segment with a Christian making the same sort of comparison between Christianity and barbarism? They might, but they would receive a lot of pressure before and after the fact concerning their actions. It would be a brave thing for them to air such controversial opinions, just as it was for Al-Jazeera to have aired this program.
The next time you hear somebody going on about the bias of the press in the Middle East, ask yourself what that means and remember, like the person reporting on that bias, they're just repeating what they hear their politicians say. Under those circumstances, is there any such thing as an unbiased media?
Article comments
1 - troll
good post G
here's a link to the interview with Wafa Sultan refered to above still active as of this am
and here's the transcript
troll
2 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Very well written. Not all "right wing" folks get in a dither over Al Jazeera. I'm considered right wing over here (even though I am truly a leftist), and they're perfectly okay with me. They don't replay Palestinian suicide propaganda, and they take a point of view that makes many Arabs think.
I may not like what they say, or how they say it, but I'm sure listening to Israel National News would raise the hackles of any "Palestine" lover. It raised the hackles of the government so much here that they knocked them off the air altogether and now Israel National Radio is an internet station only.
3 - tommyd
There's more truthful reporting on one Al-Jazeera show than 1000 Fox "News" broadcasts. If one calls Al-Jazeera "propaganda" without saying the same about Fox "News", then I know that person is a liar, hypocrite and a dupe. It's so easy, try it sometime!
4 - Brian Sorrell
There is an excellent documentary about Al-Jazeera available:
Control Room
You learn that though AJ is an Arab-language station in its broadcasts, many behind the scenes are from the BBC. And yes, they speak English in the Control Room.
You also learn that AJ is not entirely about Iraq. They are renegades on many fronts, with respect to reporting.
It's a riveting documentary, whatever your persuasion.
5 - Eric Olsen
the answer to your title question, g-man, is "pressaganda"
6 - gypsyman
Okay Eric I'll bite, although I think I can guess, give me a definition of pressaganda. That's a great word by the why, take a patent out on it now, and may I use at some point in time? Of course I'll give full credit where credit is due.
I'm serious, I can't think of any better way of describing press outlets that have turned into shills for a government or political party or agenda. It can apply across the board in a completly non-partisan manner...
Ruvy, I would never think to put any labal on you, from what I've read and heard from you in letters, you don't tend to follow a political ism, just your heart.
I'd heard about the doc. Control room, I believe it was telecast on the C.B.C. a while back and I cursed myself for missing it. But I read a really good interview with the people who made it. That's what opened my eyes to the fact there was more to these people than was being portrayed in our media (I'm including Canada in that)
Troll thanks for the links to the transcripts, that will make for interesting reading.
gypsyman
7 - Eric Olsen
propaganda in the form of journalism and vice versa