So Aljazeera English is a “Muslim Terrorist station”?

[Cyrano]

I told a friend that I’ve been watching Aljazeera English and he immediately informed me that it was a “Muslim Terrorist station.” He’s never watched it, nor will he, but he “knows” it’s a “hotbed for terrorists.”

Needless to say, my friend is a wingnut. However, we grew up together and, while he’s sane on many topics, talking politics with him is (obviously) impossible. The reason he “knows” Aljazeera is a “Terrorist station” is because so many others have told him so.

I wish I could convince him that Aljazeera English represents what journalism is supposed to be. I wish I could cure my friend of his wingnut sickness.

[RegieRocker]

1. It would take deprogramming and a lot of it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Too bad. Al Jazeera has become one of the best news stations out there.

Beats the crap out of anything we have in the U.S.

[Cyrano]

3. You bet. It's amazing that

true journalism has returned in, of all places, the Middle East. Absolutely amazing, encouraging and inspiring. They are putting the American MSM to shame.

[RKP5637]

10. +1000 +++ The media in the US is deplorable and so many Americans

seem clueless about it ...

[savalez]

4. If he used those words there may be little hope.

Keep trying though.

[Katarina]

5. here you go

This was in the local newspaper the other day...

DAYTONA BEACH --The airing of Al Jazeera English and Russia Today by Daytona State College's public television station has sparked a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission.

A Port Orange man, who believes the programs are anti-American, filed the complaint earlier this week accusing the college and its public television station, WDSC-TV, of violating FCC rules.

Jerry Kenney, who has hired an attorney in Georgia, wants the FCC to investigate the operation of the station as well as the agreement and take action, including fining the college or revoking its license. He said he would like the college to remove the news broadcasts and told the FCC he questions whether the shows are appropriate for a public television station funded by taxpayers.


http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/02/10/daytona-state-college-faces-complaint-over-public-tv-programming.html


No doubt this man probably watches Faux news all day...which in my opinion is way more anti-American than anything he can dig up.

[onethatcares]

6. we wouldn't want mr kenney

to actually think there are other points of view out there would we?

[Katarina]

13. Mr Kenney....

Is probably one of the jackasses that sits around and yells that he is going to "take back his country". Take it back from what I'm not sure and every time I hear that phrase I want to bunch the person upside their head repeatedly. He's not interested in other points of view. He's been spoon-fed the pablum and nothing we can say or do is going to make the slightest impact on his way of thinking.

In the article he states..."It's my responsibility as an American citizen. I have a duty to be vigilant."

This is their mindset...If it's not Fox News it's not worthy...

I do hope that he loses in this case...I hope DSC renews their contract and Mr. Kenney drops off the face of the planet never to be seen again but the reality is he will probably get his way because this is the way a good majority think...they had it flashed in front of them on a daily basis for 8 years and it's continued with that "news" station that they watch religiously. Why think for themselves when they have someone else to do it for them?

[Cyrano]

8. America is drowning in

ignorance, hate, fear and cruelty. A minority of know-nothings are dominating American public discourse, partially because we no longer have a media that can equal Aljeera English.

To paraphrase T.S. Eliot: This is the way American democracy ends, not with a bang but a whimper.

[RKP5637]

11. And it ends from within by the willful stupidity of many. We have far more to

fear from within our borders through willful stupidity than from outside. AJZ makes our media look/sound like a bunch of fools.

[Bigmack]

7. Friend?... I dunno how you do it. nt

[Cyrano]

9. I sometimes wonder myself.

However, there's a long history there that I won't discuss online.

[gratuitous]

12. Baby steps

Your friend says Aljazeera is a "terrorist station" solely on the basis of what others have told him. Plant the seed: Are those others trustworthy? You're a pretty independent thinker; don't you think you should investigate it for yourself and make up your own mind, rather than letting others do it for you?

There may even be a step or two before that, but nudge him off his starting point with a tiny appeal to his vanity.

[mmonk]

14. If Americans want Al Jazeera English, demand it.

There is a current campaign going on http://english.aljazeera.net/demandaljazeera/">here.

[tridim]

15. My Faux newz watching parents said the same thing.

I just told them they have been misinformed (as usual) and moved on.

It is a scientifically proven fact that Faux viewers are misinformed, so there is no debate necessary.

[fascisthunter]

16. right wing brainwashing.... FOX News

[Bumblebee]

17. Good piece on that in today's NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/world/middleeast/12watch.html?_r=1&hp

There was no hesitation on the English-language service of Al Jazeera, which covered the uprising 24 hours a day and provided an up-close, almost personal experience of populist revolt. At times, the coverage looked less like a front-row seat to history than a video game — World of Warcraft: Anti-Mubarak Edition.

Calling Mr. Suleiman’s statement “short but sweet,” the anchor Adrian Finighan said simply, “Hosni Mubarak is gone.” Reporters and anchors on other news programs rushed in over the commotion to describe the scene and begin speculating on what would happen next. Mr. Finighan stopped talking and let the outpouring of car horns, flags and tears tell the story.

It was Al Jazeera’s victory as well, of course, and that struggle was also fought live on television over the last 18 days, though more subliminally. The Mubarak government, which repeatedly tried to block the Arabic-language channel, treated Al Jazeera as an enemy that incited the protesters.

Al Jazeera English seemed intent on using the upheaval in Egypt to assume the kind of authoritative role that CNN had during the 1991 Persian Gulf war. The network fought back — with impassive resistance. Throughout the crisis, its correspondents covering the protests tried to hold themselves to a strict neutrality that even CNN reporters didn’t feign.

Most viewers in the United States can’t watch Al Jazeera English on television — though Link TV recently began simulcasting live programming for 12 hours a day. But lots of people are frustrated with the short attention span and distractions of American news programs. (On Thursday, when Mr. Mubarak was supposed to resign and didn’t, cable news programs were underscored with crawls about Kelsey Grammer’s divorce and Jennifer Hudson’s weight.)

As they did at the height of the Iraq war, many Americans chose to watch foreign newscasts, in particular streams of BBC World News and Al Jazeera English.

[liberal N proud]

18. The misinformed run amok

[Dennis Donovan]

19. I've heard that for 2 weeks...

I've had AJE on my fourth computer screen at work and I'd hear, "aren't they terrorists?" at least 2x a day.:eyes:

[Dappleganger]

25. You should tell them yes...

and that you're listening in so you can stay one step ahead. ;)

[treestar]

20. Rush told him that

And Rush is never wrong! :sarcasm:

[donheld]

21. Kinda like Fox is a Christian Terrorist Station?

[BOG PERSON]

22. what did you expect, a medal?

:eyes:

[L. Coyote]

23. So, I'm the leader of DU's "Muslim Terrorist" network, I guess.

Not bad for a Catholic altar boy :rofl:

***** EGYPT Live Blog ***** MUBARAK RESIGNS - Feb. 11 *****
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x394893

And all those who Blog posted are members of the Muslim Terrorist Nerdworks? :rofl:

Sometimes, you have to make fun of stupidity to get people past their inane conduct. Laugh in his /her face, I say. Make jest of it.

[Cyrano]

24. Homeland Security definitely has you in their sites, L. Coyote.

You've probably made it onto the "no-fly" list and your entire life is probably under scrutiny at this very moment. After all, how can beliefs and words like yours be tolerated "in the land of the free and the home of the whatever?"

Oops. The fact that I've even replied to you has probably put me on the "no-fly" list. Sigh.

[watercolors]

26. Had a family member say the same to me, only

she informed me Obama is a muslim & is responsible for the mess in Eygpt! I ignor her, she thinks Fox news is the only real honest channel, how can one argue with such stupidity?