nothing old but the news
Aug. 28th, 2006 11:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sisyphusshruggedI really didn't expect the kind of conservative blowback on the gunpoint conversions to Islam of kidnapped Fox reporter Steve Centanni and his cameraman, Olaf Wiig that Jill Carroll was faced with after her gunpoint claim of not being mistreated by her kidnappers, because, well, Fox, and because everyone on all sides was so thoroughly disgusted with the behavior of lunatic right-wing blogger Debbie Schlussel in going after Carroll.
I was, however, pretty sure Debbie Schlussel was going to have something to say about it
I hasten to point out that Ms. Schlusssel is almost equally as unpopular with some right-wing bloggers as she is with, um, the more politically central because of just this sort of behavior.
In fairness, I then have to point out that 814 blogs link to her site, and she's a very popular figure with the conservative media, including (ironically enough) a number of shows on Fox.
Because I can't resist, I also have to point out that she proudly points out in her bio that she got her start in media working for the New Republic.
So she's clearly not extreme and hatefilled like some mere blogger who hasn't been chosen by The Serious People to engage in political discourse.
Except for the extremism, and the hate.
I was, however, pretty sure Debbie Schlussel was going to have something to say about it
While it's good that the FOX News crew was released, there are a few questions and points that need to be posited about FOX News reporter Steve Centanni and Cameraman Olaf Wiig:
1) They converted to Islam, so according to Islam they are considered Muslims forever. Even though they were forced to do so at gunpoint, the rule in Islam is not the circumstances of the conversion, but the fact that it took place. Once a Muslim, always a Muslim . . . or certain death. That's a core tenet of Islam.
That they apparently said the Shehadah, the oath to Islam (also known as the oath of Martyrdom) means that if they ever publicly denounce or renounce Islam--as they appear to have done--that is a mortal sin. And they're subject to a death sentence for it. Muslims can never leave the faith, no matter how they joined it. Good luck to them. Hope they have good security.
2) Centanni is said to be very pro-Palestinian prior to his kidnapping, and his comments after his captivity don't help:
I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it.
I just hope this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover this story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful, kind-hearted, loving people who the world need to know more about and so do not be discouraged. Come and tell the story. It's a wonderful story.
This completely absurd statement is already being met with cheers from the pro-terrorist Palestinian media, such as this headline from the "Palestine Chronicle":
"Freed Reporters Plead for Gaza Coverage"
Ditto for Wiig's comment:
That [scaring reporters from covering the Palestinians] would be a great tragedy for the people of Palestine and especially for the people of Gaza.
"Beautiful"? "Kind-hearted"? "Loving"? "Wonderful Story"? Hello? . . . These "beautiful, kind-hearted, loving" people support homicide bombings and mass murder of innocent civilians. They just elected HAMAS, a terrorist group, to run their "country." What a "wonderful story." Whatever. A reporter who truly believes this cannot accurately cover what's really going on there. Which is anything but those adjectives.
Hopefully, these are things that were said because Centanni was still with the Palestinians in Gaza, in the presence of HAMAS Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, and wanted to get out unscathed. But we shall see. Keep an eye on Centanni's reporting from the region from hereon.
3) It needs to be repeated that so many Americans captured by Muslims--including Arab and Muslim Americans in Iraq--have met slaughter and beheading. And yet apparently pro-Islamist journalists, like Jill Carroll and reportedly Steve Centanni, are released to freedom. It's troubling that if you have a certain point of view AND job (ie., reporter) that will help support that point of view, only you get to live. The rest meet certain slaughter.
Why doesn't that seem to upset anyone? It should upset us all.
I hasten to point out that Ms. Schlusssel is almost equally as unpopular with some right-wing bloggers as she is with, um, the more politically central because of just this sort of behavior.
In fairness, I then have to point out that 814 blogs link to her site, and she's a very popular figure with the conservative media, including (ironically enough) a number of shows on Fox.
Because I can't resist, I also have to point out that she proudly points out in her bio that she got her start in media working for the New Republic.
So she's clearly not extreme and hatefilled like some mere blogger who hasn't been chosen by The Serious People to engage in political discourse.
Except for the extremism, and the hate.
