“We can expect almost every publication in the region to be clogged
up with ‘Islam is Peaceful’ opinion pieces in the wake of the massacre,”
said Middle East expert Bella Cockpit. “These are expected to last for
at least the next two weeks. The public cannot say it hasn’t been
warned.”
Sources suggested that every regional broadsheet will point out in
leader columns that “The Prophet (PBUH) was a man of peace”, “These
people don’t represent us” and “I have many Muslim friends and none of
them are extremists.”
“Pointing out the painfully obvious is expected to continue well into
next month,” said Gulf media analyst Prof. Tim Meyer. “After all, The
Prophet was a man of peace, and these people don’t represent the average
Muslim and I have many Muslim friends and none of them are extremists,”
he explained.
Meanwhile, several publications have warned that their stockpiles of
‘Islam Is A Religion Of Peace’ articles were running dangerously low.
“With five scheduled each day for the next week, our supplies almost
depleted. We need at least another 20 pieces pointing out that Islam is a
religion of peace and that these people don’t’ represent the average
Muslim to see us through,” said The Daily Gulf’s regional editor, Sam
Saltan. “The thing we all need to realise is that all of us here in the
Middle East have Muslim friends and none of them are extremists,” he
noted.
‘I will only take on targets that won’t kill me, but steer clear of those who just might?’
A great piece by Nick Cohen in the London Spectator.
As there is much, much more in this vein coming, I offer you 10 truths that ought to be self-evident.
A religion is not a race. Sometimes, not always, it is a system of
violent beliefs that claims the right to subjugate others – most notably
its ‘own’ coerced adherents.
Undoubtedly there are white racists and Hindu nationalists who treat
religion as a race and hate Muslims because they are Muslims. Their
existence ought to present no problem to principled people, who should
fight, criticise and satirise them with the same force and for the same
reasons they fight religious obscurantism.
Criticism of religion – including bawdy irreverent criticism— is a defence against oppressive power.
In our time, the most oppressive religious movements are variants on
radical Islam. That may change. You only have to look at Hindu
fundamentalism in India or anti-Muslim Buddhist fundamentalism in Burma
to see how. But for the present we must fight the enemies in front of
us. What other choice do we have?
It is not ‘Islamophobic’ to satirise radical Islamists and their
beliefs – the main targets of radical Islamists include other Muslims as
well as Christians, Jews, Yazidis and secularists.
Even if in your confused liberal mind you think that it is, no one
has the right to stop satire or criticism because they are offended.
No one has the right to kill those who offend them.
If they claim that right, they are the most deserving targets of satire and criticism imaginable.
And if you do not then satirise and criticise them because you are frightened of ending up like Charlie Hebdo’s
dead journalists, or of taking a whipping in a PC backlash, how can you
in conscience satirise left or right wing politicians you despise, or
the evangelical Christians, Jewish fundamentalists, Catholic
reactionaries, Russian orthodox Putinists you deplore?
Are you not saying, if only when you are by yourself and think no
one is listening: ‘I will only take on targets that won’t kill me, but
steer clear of those who just might?’
Your TV tax at work: Channel 1's truly offensive promotional video
In an earlier post, I reported on a truly offensive promotional video, which was broadcast on Channel 1 (government television) to promote an anti-Right satire. In the video, Yigal Amir, Baruch Goldstein and Yona Avrushmi are seen dancing around celebrating.
The media's greatest detective, and Europe remains focused on what is truly important
The Tribal Update presents the true story of Kusra and Esh Kodesh, as
revealed by the greatest investigator of all time, and brings you a
glimpse of the indomitable European spirit.
LATMA's tribal update featuring Morsy's letter from Obama and an ode to the man who fled too much
Latma's Tribal Update presents Egyptian President Morsi receives a
letter from Obama, the results of the Likud primaries and an ode to the
man who fled too much.
A Dutch news show has stirred controversy by airing a fake satirical
video of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu bragging to US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about civilian deaths in Gaza.
“We
are trying to maximize the number of civilian casualties. We prefer
that,” Netanyahu is seen telling Clinton in the video, which the
broadcaster Vara aired on November 21, as part of the satirical corner
of the prime-time news show De Wereld Draait Door. Approximately 1.5 million viewers watch the show every evening.
The video, made to appear genuine through seamless splicing of sound
bites from previous speeches by Netanyahu, was spread by thousands of
Twitter and Facebook users who advertised it under the headline
“Netanyahu finally tells the truth.”
“We are conducting these surgical operations against schools, mosques,
hospitals, children,” Netanyahu is heard saying, adding: “This is
something I don’t have to explain to Americans.”
Let's go to the videotape.
I wonder what would happen if there were a video on Israeli television that claimed that Dutch Islamists were trying to murder Geert Wilders. Just satire of course. Maybe LATMA or Eretz Nehederet could try it.
Death threats for Dutch satirist over hit song Do the burqa
A Dutch satirist has declined to perform his hit song Do the burqa on stage due to death threats (Hat Tip: Jack W).
Dutch satirist Johan Vlemmix has decided not to perform his latest hit Do the Burqa onstage following death threats.
The song, a carnival parody to the music of Van McCoy's Do the Hustle, is a huge success on YouTube, so much so that the video provider has switched off the comments facility. Too many people were posting angry reactions saying that they had been insulted.
The images show a woman wearing a T-shirt which can be instantly converted into a burqa, be it one that does not cover the breasts.
Mr Vlemmix said he had expected some commotion over his song: "I'm not exactly dumb." But he had failed to anticipate the virulence of the reactions: "I really meant it as a joke. Because the burqa is banned in the Netherlands I thought it was fun to offer a carnival alternative for it: the burqa shirt."
Carnival, a colourful, musical and noisy feast celebrated annually in the southern half of the Netherlands, is often used to mock authorities and make fun of social issues by people dressed up or disguised in humorous creations.
...
He has not only stopped performing the song onstage, Johan Vlemmix has also cancelled the option to order the shirts via his website. But he stops short at pulling the video from Youtube: "I made it because I was convinced it was right, and I refuse to take it down."
The video (or at least a portion of it) is available at the link above. It's not appropriate for Orthodox Jews (although there's nothing wrong with the song, which has been played at Orthodox Jewish weddings for years).
About a week ago, I reported on a 'Palestinian' television satire that was getting a lot of powerful 'Palestinians' angry. I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear that it's being taken off the air.
[Attorney General Ahmad] Al-Mughni told Ma'an that the decision had been made to stop broadcasts of Watan Ala Watar [Homeland on a Thread] after Tuesday's episode because "it is full of mistakes, is meaningless and is a waste of time for people to watch."
The serial, aired during the holy month of Ramadan when broadcasters compete for captive audiences with soap operas and special series, had been praised the year earlier as an emblem of PA's ability to tolerate self-criticism.
Al-Mughni said Tuesday that the series is "harmful to Palestinian society."
"It mocks leaders terribly, and has a poor scenario," he said, adding that episodes had crossed "red lines."
"There are people and personalities that can't be imitated in any way," the Attorney General said.
But don't worry. Once all those suckers in the West vote for a 'Palestinian state,' they'll become a democracy with free expression just like us. And they'll even have educational television too.
'Palestinian' solidarity with the people of Norway
A new 'Palestinian' blog expresses solidarity with the people of Norway.
My sympathy at the terrible loss of life in Norway extends especially to their left-wing politicians who thankfully dominate the country's political narrative. I have just heard one of their senior government members on the BBC news claim that, with the 'possible exception of the Beslan massacre', the Norway attack was 'unprecedented because it was the only terrorist attack in history in which children were specifically targeted'.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
