Offensive Video Raises Questions About Censorship

Lalita Amos | 04/02/2008 - 14:04

I heard this story on NPR this morning, and thinking that the essence of the story was about censorship, I tracked it to learn more.

Offensive Video Raises Questions About Censorship -

Last week, after the controversial anti-Islamic film "Fitna" was released by a Dutch parliamentarian, questions resurfaced about how the media should best handle sensitive and offensive material. Hayden Hewitt, co-founder of LiveLeak.com, which initially aired the film, and NPR Ombudsman Lisa Shepard discuss media and censorship.

Seems LiveLeak had posted this 15 minute video on their site and quickly removed it after their staff received death threats to themselves and their families.

So, I tuned in to YouTube and watched as much as I could of this deeply disturbing truncated version (you are warned):


I have to admit this: I got all the way to about the fifth or sixth minute when I found myself shrieking in my office with my hands flying to my head. I'm working alone from my SOHO (small office/home office) today, but as soon as I post this I'm leaving to go be with people...lots of them.

I read some of the 45,000 (!) comments in this video...

...and gave up in dispair.

The hatred and venom (oh, and death threats), proselytizing (of both Christians and Muslims) and naked rage expressed there disgusted me.

What I'm still not sure about, though, is the fact that this NPR report was about the very civil notion of censorship. Certainly, as they say, this video was offensive, but not for reasons I usually think.

I'm not sure how to even consider a reasoned discussion on this one when there are people who believe that my opposition to their point of view is worthy of my death....oh, and that God's in their cheering section.

That's enough (hope it made some sense, though I'm not going to proofread--ain't going back there). Off to find some people.


Lalita Amos | 04/03/2008 - 16:12 |  A Response: From Ray Miller (by request)

Listened to the discussion and watched the video.

Although clearly anti-Islam there are too many aspects of the public discourse on Islam that should strike fear in democracies.

Muslims demand freedom to live as they choose, wear what they want to wear and that is perfectly fine.

BUT in every nation with an Islamic majority those same freedoms and rights are not allowed anyone else.

Honor killings are not prosecuted, terrorists are not turned into, beheadings, bombings, suicide bombings, are all brushed aside by “mainstream” Muslims as the acts of “a few extremists”.

Well let's look at that.

There are estimated to be about 1 billion Muslims globally. If there are only 1% extremists, that means that there are still somewhere around 10 million Muslims committed to the death of all infidels, us.

Many sources claim there are as many as 10% of the Muslim population that are extremists, which then makes the number 100 million. The US population is around 300 million today.

They revile Jews, and yet there may be a total of 10 to 12 million Jews left on the planet.

They preach sermons against other religions, they preach murder from the mosques and they dare not speak out against it or they too will die.

This is the problem. This IS a problem that must be addressed in a proactive way by “mainstream” Muslims.

The silence of Imams condemning these acts and words is deafening.

People are incensed at the Reverend Wrights words. At no time did he call for murder, mayhem, or the degradation of those who have marginalized him.

Growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home where all members of both parents families who did not leave Europe in time were murdered I have listened to hate speech, watched violence and desecration of  synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, and the random acts of violence against Jews climb in Europe in recent decades.

You do not hear of desecrations of mosques by non-Muslims. You do not see non-Muslims murder and attack innocents.

IT is a hard topic for me and I have little tolerance for complaints by Muslims for being profiled. Sorry, speak out, take action and demonstrate that you too are committed to the freedoms and bounty that this country provides you.

Yes mistakes will be made, have been made, but almost every major terrorist act has been performed by Muslims.

I do not condone torture, I do not condone water boarding, I do not condone unending imprisonment, and I do not condone the silence from the Muslim community against this global threat.

----------
Ray Miller



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